Leveraging the knowledge and enduring skills gained through the Gettysburg Approach, students like Michael Woods ’25 connect academic and co-curricular activities to pursue their leadership potential.
Upon arriving at Gettysburg College, Michael Woods ’25 found a place where young people can pursue their passions and make a difference on campus and beyond.
Throughout his four years, he has applied the knowledge and enduring skills from the Gettysburg Approach to support his leadership development in academic and co-curricular activities. Now serving as Student Senate President, he continues to seize new opportunities and advocate for the well-being of students, who look to him as a leader across campus.
Where history meets possibility
Woods first learned about Gettysburg College during his senior year at Southern Lehigh High School in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Acting Director of Admissions for Recruitment and Selection Mary Smith ’00 visited his high school, where she shared information about Gettysburg’s impressive academics and historic location with Woods.
Together, the College’s strong Political Science and Economics Departments and the historic campus location solidified his decision to apply to Gettysburg and ultimately accept the College’s offer of admission.
Making discoveries across the curriculum
As he thinks about his transformative experiences at Gettysburg, Woods acknowledges the impactful academic advising and mentoring of countless Gettysburg faculty members.
He enrolled in Professor Hartzell’s Introduction to International Relations course—his first as a Gettysburg student—and soon immersed himself in international studies. He took further courses with Professor Hartzell, who soon became his academic advisor.
Woods also enjoyed his methods courses with Political Science Professor Roy Dawes.
“His teaching style and enthusiasm made the subject fascinating, and I’m now the PLA (Peer Learning Associate) for his class. Getting to make that meaningful connection as a sophomore was an amazing opportunity, and now I get to help new students utilize political analysis software in their coursework,” he added.
“What you learn today will be of consequence to your future career. This encompasses everything that you do on this campus.”
– Michael Woods ’25
Throughout his First-Year Seminar, Plato, Personhood, and Popcorn, taught by Interdisciplinary Studies Professor Vernon Cisney, Woods relished the moments when he got to discuss the philosophy of film.
“It was the perfect way to get introduced to Gettysburg,” he said, noting that many of the movies reviewed, such as “The Matrix” and “Interstellar,” are pop culture classics. “They were films I was familiar with, but I learned how to interpret them differently.”
In every economics class he’s taken with Professor O’Brien, Woods appreciates the interactivity of the courses and how he makes the study of economics applicable to the real world.
Additionally, his Political Science courses have proved invaluable in fostering teamwork through group projects and presentations. In a Foreign Relations class taught by Political Science Professor Lindsay Reid, Woods and his classmates conducted a U.S. National Security Council simulation, researching and taking on the roles of various positions. The activity illustrated how the National Security Council makes decisions in a real-world setting.
Getting involved across campus
Gettysburg College’s co-curricular experiences enable students like Woods to gain and develop enduring skills that they can apply to what they’re learning in their major and within Gettysburg’s core curriculum.
One of his most memorable experiences, which he learned about before committing to Gettysburg, was joining the yearly Orlando Trek team, led by Greg Edelson ’87, P’18, P’21. This program gives Gettysburg students access to the business and marketing departments of companies such as Coca-Cola, Disney World, Loews Hotels, Universal Studios, SeaWorld Orlando, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort. After participating in this immersive learning experience in January 2023, Woods can attest to its uniqueness.
“No other college has that program. It is a Gettysburg exclusive, and it’s completely unmatched,” he confirmed. “It was the perfect balance of education and fun.”
Throughout his time at Gettysburg, Woods has explored many of the co-curricular experiences available to students. During his first year, he participated in the Garthwait Leadership Center’s Leadership Certificate program, through which he developed his leadership skills and met members of the Gettysburg community.
“That experience connected me with people who were in Student Senate, and some of the many students I met through the program are still close friends,” he explained.
In the fall of 2021, Woods was elected to the Student Senate, serving as a senator during his first year and as a committee chairman during his sophomore year. He regularly met with students and College administrators to discuss matters related to the student experience at Gettysburg.
As a junior, he served as parliamentarian and was elected Student Senate President in his senior year. Leading the Senate has been an invaluable way to exercise and polish his communicative abilities.
“I represent student life on a number of faculty committees, run our Student Senate meetings, and reach out to new members. Part of my job is building connections by going to different activities and talking with students,” he said. “I’ve grown adept at giving speeches on the floor and collaborating with student groups. Student Senate has also been a great opportunity to learn about organization and advocacy,” he said.
Woods describes Gettysburg as “a campus filled with opportunities. There’s a nice balance here between diverse student-led programming and College-led programming,” he said. He sees these opportunities as open doors to meeting new people through shared activities like trivia nights, his personal favorite.
After graduation, Woods plans to attend law school and become an attorney specializing in copyright or international law. He believes A Consequential Education at Gettysburg is a lifelong asset that students can use throughout their personal lives and professional careers.
“What you learn today will be of consequence to your future career,” he said. “This encompasses everything that you do on this campus.”
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By Michael Vyskocil
Header photo by Diptiman Das ’27
Posted: 11/22/24
