by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders
If you would like to recommend a student to be considered for this feature area, please contact The Newsleader office at news@thenewsleaders.com or call 320-363-7741.
As the newly elected University of Minnesota-Twin Cities student body president, Mike Schmit, along with his team, have some big goals for the 2013-14 school year.
Schmit said two major projects they will work on are mental health and college affordability.
“We’ve recognized that mental health is a really important topic for many students, not only at the U of M, but across the country as well,” Schmit said. “We’ll be working to increase mental-health resources on campus.”
Schmit said they will also work to help make college more affordable for students.
“We’re working to make college more affordable by creating services to reduce immediate costs, such as textbooks and course fees,” Schmit said. “We’ll be rolling out an online textbook exchange service this fall.”
Schmit is the 20-year-old son of Rick and Jo Schmit of St. Joseph. He has two brothers, Tony, 22; and JP, 9; and one sister, Maria , 16.
Besides being active with student government, Schmit is also involved in the Investment and Finance Club and is a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
Schmit is double majoring in finance and supply-chain-and-operations management. This summer he will intern in the finance department at Boston Scientific in Maple Grove. After graduation, Schmit would like to work in the consulting field.
“I’m a problem-solver at my core, and facing a constant stream of new challenges is something that really interests me,” Schmit said.
Besides his internship, Schmit said he will spend a lot of hours at the student government office and would also like to learn how to cook something more than Ramen noodles and buttered toast this summer.
Fun Facts about Schmit:
Favorite subject: Finance, supply-chain-and-operations management and biology.
Favorite leisure activity: Schmit said he stays very busy with school and extra-curriculars, but really enjoys meeting new people when he has any free time. He said it’s a good thing there are more than 50,000 students at the university.
Favorite music: Schmit has become a big fan of folk and bluegrass music lately. Some of his current favorites are Mumford and Sons and Trampled by Turtles.
Favorite movies: Shawshank Redemption and Good Will Hunting.
“They’re both very thought-provoking movies,” Schmit said.
Favorite thing he likes to help other people do: “I like making people feel good about themselves and about life in general,” Schmit said. “It’s crazy what a smile can do.”
Favorite restaurant and food: “I wouldn’t truly be from St. Joe if I didn’t say Kay’s Kitchen, right?” Schmit said.
Something he would change if he could: “World peace is great and all, but it’s far too clichéd,” Schmit said. “If I could change one thing, I would make the Gopher football team a real contender in the Big Ten. Go Gophers.”
The thing he likes best about St. Joseph: Schmit said he enjoys the natural beauty of central Minnesota.
“One of my roommates is from Cold Spring, and we were just talking about how much we miss seeing stars at night,” Schmit said. “I love the (Twin ) Cities, but the natural beauty of central Minnesota is something I really miss.”
- [/media-credit] As the newly elected University of Minnesota-Twin Cities student body president, Mike Schmit and his team have some big goals for the 2013-14 school year. Two major projects they will work on are college affordability and mental health.
