Students walk Relay for Life for many reasons

As graduation and summer approach, many students are waiting for calls from potential employers to hear those two small words--you’re hired.  For two Wilkes students, the Colonel delivered that call.

Student Development recently announced that Shawn Klitsch, junior mechanical engineering major, and Bruce Chesson, freshman nursing major, will serve as two of the three students to portray the Colonel next fall.  The third Colonel has yet to be announced.

In the fall semester, Wilkes went on the hunt for the new Colonel by gathering names of students who would like to try out to see if they are rowdy and school spirited enough to handle the job of the Colonel.  Many students applied.

Though any Wilkes student, graduate or undergraduate, can apply for the position there are some requirements that applicants must meet. One must be at least 5 feet 6 inches in height, have a GPA of a 2.0 or higher, be in good physical condition and have tons of school spirit.

Melissa Howells, coordinator of student development, advises the Colonel program. She also oversees the scheduling of the appearances of the Colonel.

Howells explains that the Colonel is a major part of every event on campus. “Duties of the Colonels would be attending sporting and community service events, welcome new students to Wilkes and teaching them to Be Colonel, [and] helping Wilkes University win.”

Though being the Colonel holds many duties, the one that excites Klitsch is using the tee-shirt gun, and for Chesson it is attending the sporting events and  envoking school spirit.

These two students were inspired to become one of the new Colonels by their love of school spirit, the thought of being crazy without anyone knowing who they are, and the current Colonels themselves.

“The current Colonels inspired me, in particular Jason [Woloski]. I couldn’t believe it was him inside the suit. When I found out it was him and how he was able to act crazy, I said, ‘I want to do that’,” said Klitsch.

Chesson explained that he wanted to become the Colonel for other reasons. “I’m an outgoing person; I like to make people laugh. You get to fool around and act like a complete idiot, but it’s all cool because no one can see you,” said Chesson.

Chesson’s friends were not all surprised that he is one of the students behind the Colonel costume at Wilkes. “A lot of the friends I told said I would be perfect for it, they were excited for me,” said Chessons.

Klitsch, on the other hand, explained that half of his friends would be surprised to hear he is one of the Colonels at Wilkes. “I was in swimming, band and drama club. I’d say half and half. Some would, some wouldn’t [believe me],” said Klitsch.

Be Colonel means something different to everyone. Klitsch explained that to him Be Colonel means “having pride in your school. From doing my co-ops I run into a lot of engineers that went to big schools like Lehigh and Virginia Tech, which is a little intimidating, but when you find out you know just as much as them, you get a good feeling that you go to Wilkes.”

Next year you can see the Colonels in action at any sporting event, or an event on campus that just needs that burst of school spirit. If believe you are a person with the right enthusiasm and energy for the job, look for the table in the Henry Student Center next year for sign ups. You may also contact Melissa Howells at melissa.howells@wilkes.edu.