Lance Wischler
B.A. Liberal Studies, 2007
There were numerous factors that brought Lance Wischler to Antioch.
"First and foremost," he says "was the personal attention I experienced from my first phone call to the admissions department. This personal touch allowed me to feel like I mattered, and that I was not simply another number to be shuffled through the process."
Additional reasoning that played into Wischler's decision to enroll at Antioch:
- University values in line with his own
- Scheduling that fit his needs (he took care of his son weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for 18 months)
- A unique curriculum approach in Leadership and Organizational Studies, his area of concentration"The camaraderie and support I felt with my peers as we supported one another through this pinnacle of our respective academic journeys [the Senior Symposium] was beyond words."
- Prior learning/credit for life experience
- Potential to take courses in Antioch's graduate programs
- Faculty expertise
- A collaborative learning environment
Prior to becoming an Antioch student, he had earned an associate of applied science degree in business from North Seattle Community College. Professionally, he had participated as a volunteer service worker for a nonprofit organization in high-profile leadership positions for nearly six years. Added to that, he had just begun a newfound journey into the world of parenting. His son Logan was born just two months before the start of fall quarter 2005.
When prospective students ask him about Antioch, Wischler says, "I ask them if they are ready to be challenged in ways they have never imagined. Then I tell them Antioch offers a truly transformational learning experience. However, I believe you get out of it what you put into it. Self-motivation is another term I mention as important to capturing the potential available from the Antioch academic experience!"
He tells anyone considering Antioch to keep in mind that Antioch's educational offering is a quality investment in yourself, what you can potentially offer employers and the community at large.
Wischler not only received financial aid but also the Dan Soloff Memorial Scholarship.
"Use all of the available resources," he recommends. "Time spent looking for scholarships is not time wasted. The financial aid process at Antioch is very straightforward, and the people who work in the financial aid office are friendly and extremely helpful. I could not have attended Antioch and finished my degree without the availability of the financial aid."
He took part in three independent studies as he worked toward his bachelor's degree.
"They were all very challenging, and extremely enriching and rewarding to my academic, as well as professional development. I was blessed to have an Antioch core faculty member (Sue Woehrlin) as my evaluator on all of my independent studies, and she was very helpful in the role as guide and mentor toward assisting my process," he says.
All core and adjunct faculty members he had contact with inspired him in one way or another, he notes, yet if Wischler had to choose one who was especially inspirational it would be Sue Woehrlin.
"Her expertise in the area of systems, and her style of teaching and mentoring impacted me profoundly," he says.
His favorite memory is the experience he gained from his participation in the Senior Symposium presentation.
"The camaraderie and support I felt with my peers as we supported one another through this pinnacle of our respective academic journeys was beyond words," he describes.
Wischler received prior learning credits (credit for life experience), which he says enriched his degree process in some key ways:
- He graduated a quarter early.
- He was able to earn credits in subjects not directly offered through Antioch.
- He designed courses that demonstrated academic learning from previous work and volunteer experience.
- He improved his writing skill and proficiency.
- He received valuable support and insight in the feedback from his prior-learning evaluator.
Pursuing his education at Antioch has led to a new career path for him: he's following his passion for helping organizations make better use of their people.
"I am currently working in organizational consulting, and this has been a goal of mine for quite some time. Antioch has helped to make this goal a reality," he says.
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