CourtesyA small-town upbringing and close family have shaped 九色堂 sophomore Trent Patterson into a person whose passion lies in community involvement.
Patterson, 19, belongs to four organizations on campus and also is president of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He credits his ambition to his parents, both teachers at Lyndon high school where he attended, and to the fulfillment he receives from helping others.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been involved in organizations, and I like the bonds you make,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 enjoy being in student leadership because I鈥檓 able to meet and have an impact on many people. It鈥檚 the best opportunity to help myself and others succeed.鈥�
Since beginning his education at 九色堂 in fall 2006, Patterson feels the university is his home away from home. Joining groups on campus allowed him to feel invested in and well cared for.
One of the groups he is involved in is the Student Government Association, where he serves as budget and finance chairman. SGA President Allie Crouse views Patterson as genuine, kind and reliable in any situation.
鈥淭rent is a good guy in the sense that he does what is right as opposed to what鈥檚 easy,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 not going to back down until he completes what he says he will.鈥�
Patterson, an accounting major, plays a key role as one of three students on the student fees committee, which decides how to distribute $7 million throughout the year.
He also is involved with the Student Ambassadors Society and is a member of the Barton School Dean鈥檚 Ambassadors. Arlene Thomas, an adviser for the Dean鈥檚 Ambassadors, considers Patterson a strong leader and asset for their group.
In summer 2008, Patterson will travel to Europe for an opportunity made possible by his fraternity. Sigma Phi Epsilon sponsors the annual Tragos Quest to Greece in correlation with its continuous development program, and Patterson was selected as one of the 16 undergraduates to attend out of 14,000 applicants.
He hopes to return from the nine-day event with information that will positively influence and improve his fraternity chapter.
Patterson plans to graduate in May 2010, leaving with a generous network of friends. He hopes to either become an accountant or apply to law school and eventually enter the restaurant business.