The Collegian

Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Myles Sandrian Senior Cody Strecker remains humble despite his success, his friends say. He admits, however, he has a messy side.

In high school he was voted Student Council Vice President, King of the Winter Ball and Most Likely to Succeed. College has been no different for this senior class president, homecoming king, Young Life leader, President's Ball king nominee and member of Sigma Chi.

Guess who.

Yes, this is the man who sported a blond Afro through his college freshman and sophomore years - senior Cody Strecker. He is currently growing out his curls again after cutting them junior year.

"He wants to graduate with an Afro," said junior Mary Dell, Strecker's girlfriend. "He told me one time he feels like his curly hair is a gift."

The humble
Dell said Strecker is humble, even with all his honors and high profile as a popular man on campus.

"He doesn't even mention when he is nominated for something. I find out through e-mail or something," Dell said.

But this seems to be Strecker's way of abating any possible ego inflation from his success and exposure.

"He admits he will struggle with not being prideful, but that is something that he recognizes," Dell said.

"As for the honors, I don't seek those out," Strecker said. "There are plenty of people that do a lot and are involved but not in a public way, that should be nominated."

The thoughtful
Senior Jeremiah Regan, Strecker's close friend, said he remembers the day he and Strecker met as "foolish, young freshmen." He said they were refereeing an intramural football game between Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Pi Beta Phi sorority. Both referees were taking heat from the older girls.

"After the game we were sitting on the field shell-shocked," Regan said. "Like two guys going to war together, there is bond that will never break."

Since then, Strecker and Regan have made the perfect team.

"I love going through ideas with him," Regan said. "We are like-minded but come at things from different directions. I'm more action oriented, and he's more thought oriented. We are involved in a lot of the same things, but we are pretty independent and don't cling to each other."

Dell also said Strecker puts a lot of thought into his actions.

"I think a lot of people just see the Cody after he has thought things through," she said. "I see the Cody that thinks a lot. His public face can be crazy and outgoing, but he is really a little bit of an introvert. To accomplish what he does, he needs quiet and alone time."

Strecker said he doesn't want to leave the academic environment after college. He is considering careers in the ministry, teaching and politics.

"I have always wanted to teach," he said. "I love interacting with people in that way."

The messy
With all the activities going on in his life, Strecker manages to keep a clean and organized mind, but his room is another story, Regan said.

"If you ever watch him pack his backpack, it's like a system, but when we get home..." Regan said with a laugh and explosion sound.

Yes, Strecker, who is so put together in thought and dress, has a messy room.

"I think he likes the whole messiness," said Nick Fox, Strecker's high school friend. "It gets him away from his proper side. He is sort of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

Deep in the recesses of his "unusable" desk is his homecoming crown, Regan said. The cupboard is filled with books, not food. Clothes, though folded, might be dirty, and materials relating to his senior thesis clutter the small space. Papers wait to enter the file cabinet he set up to aid in organization.

"I am orderly but not organized," Strecker said. "Being a perfectionist, in my mind it is better for it to be messy than halfway clean. I am not in my room much, but when I do clean it, it is really clean. Plus, I think Jeremiah's side of the room is worse than mine right now."

Strecker said when he was little he had a pack of 128 crayons that he color-coordinated in order of shade.

"Then my sister knocked them over and I had to redo it," he said.

Strecker's life has also included some mischief.

In eighth grade Strecker chucked his pencil out the window onto the roof hoping his teacher would let him out to get it. She, to spite him, went to get it herself. Strecker then shut the window on her and locked her out, Fox, 22, said.

"He didn't even get in trouble," he said. "Cody was one of the best students."

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