91Â鶹¾«Æ·

Justin Spencer ’05 says he has the best of both worlds at 91Â鶹¾«Æ·.

He plays hockey for the Division I Raiders and is a math and physics double major, so he is used to splitting his time between research and the rink.  The ability to pursue both endeavors factored heavily in his college decision process.

‘I got to 91Â鶹¾«Æ· and I realized that I couldn’t have done any better than this.  I could have gone other places, but the academics weren’t nearly as good.  As a person who gets to pursue athletics as well, I have the best of both worlds,’ said Spencer.

Spencer recalled a time in a chemistry class when a lab conflicted with hockey practice.  The professor left the door open for him and let Spencer complete the lab on his own, after practice.

‘The lack of graduate students, as compared to the Ivy Leagues, was surprisingly appealing to me when I was looking at schools.  It’s something people don’t think about but it makes a huge difference when everything is taught by a professor and not teaching assistants.’

That surprise appeal has certainly materialized.

Spencer remained on campus last summer to work alongside physics professor Kiko Galvez on researching lasers.  In his downtime, Spencer focused on training, skating, and lifting for the upcoming season.  He was able to utilize 91Â鶹¾«Æ· facilities all summer long.

‘When I went in, I said that I wanted to do research over the summer, and he (Galvez) showed me the projects he was working on and asked me which one I’d be most interested in working on.  There was dialogue as to where I’d go with the research, but he wasn’t telling me what to do.  I wasn’t doing his work.  It was a mutual decision on where to go.  I had input,’ Spencer says.

‘It gave me a chance to test the waters before I get into graduate school study; to see if that’s what I want to do.  Not many undergrads get this opportunity.  The faculty here is  entirely focused on undergrads.  They’re here because they want to teach, not do their own research with graduate students,’ Spencer says. 

Spencer said he doesn’t feel like he’s missed anything from the college experience because of his busy schedule, which includes practicing during the hockey season, doing extra conditioning, and pursuing his studies.

‘We get to do all the stuff the other students get to do, it’s just that they don’t get to do what we do,’ he joked.  ‘Any hockey team is usually a close knit group and this is no exception.  You’re with a group of 25 guys who you’re best friends with.  Not many people can say that.’

But outside of the rink and the lab, the other defining factor of Spencer’s 91Â鶹¾«Æ· experience is the sense of community.

‘I just like having a big circle of friends that I have with my team and the people in my classes, and knowing that anywhere I go, I’ll see someone I know.  I love that sense of community.  It’s neat having all these people being really excited up there in the stands.  It always is.  But what’s so cool is that these are the people in your classes, your professors.  Not people you don’t know.  You’re going to see these people again in another venue, and it makes it more exciting when they’re cheering for you.’

Sacrifices are something Spencer has never had to make at 91Â鶹¾«Æ·.  He has the time to excel in the laboratory, on the rink, and around campus.   

‘I was able to come here and be a player and not have to sacrifice hockey for school and vice versa.’

Jess Buchsbaum
Office of Communications and Public Relations
315.228.6637