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Steven Schmidt
“It is my aspiration to make a difference in the world.”
- Program: 2008 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
- Resides: Glastonbury, CT
- Hometown: Glastonbury, CT
- Age: 39
- Community College: Manchester Community College
- Four-year College or University: Trinity College
- Graduate School: University of Connecticut
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Computing / IT, Education / Academia, Health Care, Nonprofits, Psychology / Therapy, Public Policy
- Other Interests: Honor Society, Literature, Performing Arts / Theatre, Volunteer Work
Biography
PROFILE: Steven Schmidt was working as an enterprise operations controller and database administrator for a manufacturer when illness changed his life. “In 1997 I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a bone marrow transplant. During my treatment and recovery I was touched by the selfless acts of so many individuals who volunteered their time. While my recovery was certainly a time to heal my body, it was also a retreat to heal my attitude toward life.”
Finding that income and job title were no longer his top priorities, Steven became increasingly interested in psychology. His academic career is now focused on studying the development and maintenance of gender roles over the lifespan, including motivations toward altruistic behaviors, personal relationships, health psychology, and work-family dynamics and conflict. Having conducted his thesis study already on married male managers—which illuminated relationship satisfaction and work issues, he is using his new avocation in ways that may shed light on the workplace.
INSPIRATION: Steven has been especially inspired to “pay it forward” after receiving bone marrow from a donor in Germany. “She had no idea who I was, yet she selflessly donated her marrow, which saved my life. We met in 2002, which was one of the happiest moments in my life.”
ASPIRATION: Steven plans to teach at the college level and do his own research.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Steven is co-organizer of Nikki’s Run, Walk & Roll, a 5K event that has raised over $100,000 for pediatric cancer research in the past five years. He also gives his time to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
ACCOLADES: In addition to his Phi Beta Kappa induction this year, Steven was an All-USA First Team Scholar, Phi Theta Kappa Guistwhite Scholar and New Century Scholar, and Coca-Cola Scholar. He served with Phi Theta Kappa as Northeast Regional President.
INTERESTING FACT: Since Steven carries his female bone marrow donor’s DNA in his blood, he jokes that ever since his transplant he has a greater liking for chocolate, romantic movies, and shopping for clothes.
Other Scholars Like Steven
Natalie Black
Graduate Scholar
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Elizabeth Roberts
College Scholar
Yale University
Lisa Vavricka
College Scholar
University of Notre Dame
Roland Lamb
Graduate Scholar
TBD