Streaking to classes and football games
Katherine Poythress
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Focus
Sophomore Stephanie Sobey says she did not miss a single day of school from third through twelth grades. Her attendance streak has continued into college, though she sometimes misses class for her Charger swim meets.
Sobey shares her personal streak of perfect school attendance with swim teammate sophomore Kelsey Gomberg, who says she never missed class in high school and has not yet skipped a single class at Hillsdale.
Gomberg doesn't think she is an anomaly because many of her friends are equally dedicated to their classes.
Sobey says she really enjoys "classes for the sake of classes" at Hillsdale, and aside from swim meets, "nothing could ever cause me to skip class, unless I was throwing up sick."
Sobey partly dedicates herself to attending class because it was never optional in her family. But her perfect attendance can also be attributed to her conscientious nature.
"It's in my personality to not miss school," she says.
Gomberg says if she ever missed class she would feel guilty. She set a personal goal of having perfect attendance in college, and her so-far perfect record has reinforced that commitment in her mind.
"It's kind of a personal vendetta now," Gomberg says, although she expresses some doubt about being able to uphold her record two and a half more years.
Associate Professor of Biology Anthony Swinehart has a personal streak of a different kind, dating back to 1996. Since October that year, he says he has not missed a single
home football game for Purdue University, his alma mater.
"I'm trying to give back to Purdue with my loyalty because it fulfilled my dream to get a doctorate," Swinehart says. "I owe my career to Purdue."
Every weekend Purdue plays a home game, Swinehart drives four hours to West Lafayette, Ind. in his truck decked with a Purdue swag. Riding in the back is the "Broilermaker Special," a grill in the shape of a steam locomotive he made for tailgating with the Knuckleheads, his close-knit group of fellow Purdue fans.
The Knuckleheads met in an online fan forum and decided to begin meeting before games. They now consider their group an unofficial fraternity, with about 40 official Knuckleheads and approximately 15 to 20 attending any given game. Swinehart said he is one of the most regular attendees.
The Knuckleheads tailgate together and then sing the Alma Mater and Fight Song before going to the game, Swinehart said.
Four years ago, the group initiated Knucklehead Charities, which raises funds to send underprivileged children to athletic events they might not otherwise be able to attend.
For the last five or six years, Swinehart bought a second season ticket so he can bring guests to share the excitement, and says if he ever gets married he will probably propose to the lucky lady at a Purdue game.
"I don't know if I really would," he said later. "It would be kind of tacky."
Swinehart says probably only a serious illness in his family could keep him from a Purdue home game.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
Sobey shares her personal streak of perfect school attendance with swim teammate sophomore Kelsey Gomberg, who says she never missed class in high school and has not yet skipped a single class at Hillsdale.
Gomberg doesn't think she is an anomaly because many of her friends are equally dedicated to their classes.
Sobey says she really enjoys "classes for the sake of classes" at Hillsdale, and aside from swim meets, "nothing could ever cause me to skip class, unless I was throwing up sick."
Sobey partly dedicates herself to attending class because it was never optional in her family. But her perfect attendance can also be attributed to her conscientious nature.
"It's in my personality to not miss school," she says.
Gomberg says if she ever missed class she would feel guilty. She set a personal goal of having perfect attendance in college, and her so-far perfect record has reinforced that commitment in her mind.
"It's kind of a personal vendetta now," Gomberg says, although she expresses some doubt about being able to uphold her record two and a half more years.
Associate Professor of Biology Anthony Swinehart has a personal streak of a different kind, dating back to 1996. Since October that year, he says he has not missed a single
home football game for Purdue University, his alma mater.
"I'm trying to give back to Purdue with my loyalty because it fulfilled my dream to get a doctorate," Swinehart says. "I owe my career to Purdue."
Every weekend Purdue plays a home game, Swinehart drives four hours to West Lafayette, Ind. in his truck decked with a Purdue swag. Riding in the back is the "Broilermaker Special," a grill in the shape of a steam locomotive he made for tailgating with the Knuckleheads, his close-knit group of fellow Purdue fans.
The Knuckleheads met in an online fan forum and decided to begin meeting before games. They now consider their group an unofficial fraternity, with about 40 official Knuckleheads and approximately 15 to 20 attending any given game. Swinehart said he is one of the most regular attendees.
The Knuckleheads tailgate together and then sing the Alma Mater and Fight Song before going to the game, Swinehart said.
Four years ago, the group initiated Knucklehead Charities, which raises funds to send underprivileged children to athletic events they might not otherwise be able to attend.
For the last five or six years, Swinehart bought a second season ticket so he can bring guests to share the excitement, and says if he ever gets married he will probably propose to the lucky lady at a Purdue game.
"I don't know if I really would," he said later. "It would be kind of tacky."
Swinehart says probably only a serious illness in his family could keep him from a Purdue home game.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
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