Hi there! I have never written a blog post so bear with me on this journey of written prose. I find it is best when dealing with something new to jump right in!

I am one of seven Student Fellows at the IUAA who are working in marketing, administration, and a variety of community departments. My full name – George T. Lukemeyer III – has felt foreign to me my entire life since I have gone by Trip – for triple George – since I was born. I grew up in Bloomington, home of Indiana University and the capital of Hoosier Nation, so it was an easy decision to gain my collegiate education in my own backyard and where the Georges before me attended.

This past spring I concluded my undergraduate career with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology in Sport Marketing and Management with minors in Business and Marketing. However, in order to pursue my professional dreams, I realized that I must attain an advanced degree. I am currently enrolled in the Athletic Administration Master’s program here at IU with a concentration in Marketing, with hopes of working for a collegiate athletic program upon graduation.

So now that you know a little about me, you might be wondering about the position I hold within the Student Fellows program. I work with the I Association, the alumni group for varsity letter winners. My roles include assisting with pre-football game tailgates, distinguished alumni banquets, membership development, and “other duties as assigned” (always an adventure).

I truly enjoy my work; unlike other positions or internships that either myself or friends have held, I contribute directly to the organization with more than an occasional coffee run. My ideas, work ethic, and attitude are not only respected by the I Association and the IU Alumni Association, they are taken into consideration. As someone ready to move into the next phase of life, I feel that the program has given me the skills needed to succeed professionally.

Make no mistake, this is not a position that you include on your resume to show you did more than sit on your butt. It will become what I speak of when writing a cover letter to show my aptitude for employment, and the answer to the tough interview questions of how to handle myself professionally.

Given that I haven’t written a blog before and am unsure how to end this, I choose to finish with a piece of advice. My grandfather, who was the Associate Executive Dean of the IU School of Medicine for many years, always told me to “be a good man, take care of the family.” I urge you to take it a step further: Be a good person, take care of each other.