A Note to Parents,

One of the advantages of sending our two sons to Anderson University has been the opportunity for them to participate in intercollegiate athletics.  Division III athletics at Anderson University provides an opportunity for young people to continue their passion for their particular sport beyond high school.  The intent of this letter to current and prospective AU parents is to express that we, as parents, have been very pleased with the overall athletic experience at Anderson University, and through contacts with other students, extend this compliment to other areas of extra-curricular activities at AU.

Competition with other colleges and performances on and off campus enable these students to improve their performance levels while experiencing the camaraderie of the team or group.  Often it is the trips and performances with their friends that are most memorable.  It has been our experience in extra-curricular activities that close friendships occur within these groups that enable students to become more acclimated to college and less homesick.  At the same time, our sons learned quickly that taking a full load of college coursework and playing a sport required time management strategies which often involved tough choices.  As long as the workload is not overwhelming, staying busy in college is a good thing from a parent’s perspective.

Our experience with the coaches that mentored our sons has been outstanding.  Coach Brandon in baseball and Coach Gray in golf are both inspirational leaders of young men and are strong role models for their players.  A recent story on the AU website describing the emotions of the current AU baseball team and Coach Brandon following the tragic deaths of Bluffton University baseball players epitomizes the Christian attitude that AU brings to athletics.  A quote within that article stated that players should remember that baseball is only a game and should be kept in the proper perspective.  The picture on the website showed the baseball team kneeling as a group in prayer for their fallen competitors.  It has been our experience that those who lead these extra-curricular teams and groups at AU are truly spiritual leaders and, while expecting great things from the students, keep the activities in their proper perspective.

Gary and Sue Schomburg
AU Parent Council
Proud Parents of Andy '04 and Scott '08