To look at Aaron Peterman's list of accomplishments, you would think that "getting involved" is second nature for this young man. Nothing could be further from the truth. As a student at Homestead High School in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Aaron says that he "wanted to take part in things, but just didn't know how to." That changed when he came to the University of Evansville.

After spending an "uneventful" (his description) first semester at Evansville, Aaron began to notice that virtually everyone else on campus was participating in something, and that they we re having fun. So, he decided to join the Residence Hall Council and became a representative for Moore Hall. "That's where my experience with leadership began, and the momentum started to build. I felt good about the skills that I was developing and found out that I was pretty good at it, too." From that point, Aaron never looked back.

He joined the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and was elected historian, an office that, as Aaron admitted, "kept a scrapbook and that's about all." With Aaron, that was about to change. "I'm not one to just let things lay. If something is broken, I fix it. If something can be done a better way, I do it." So he decided to upgrade the position of historian and make it significant and meaningful to the fraternity. He researched their history and discovered a lot of really interesting facts. He then incorporated those facts into the chapter's educational program, something that has been beneficial to all of the members. "We all gained a greater appreciation of our fraternity and felt more connected to it, knowing more about its history," he said.

His success as historian not only boosted Aaron's self confidence, but also grabbed the attention of his fraternity brothers, who were quite impressed with the once quiet low-key sophomore member. With some subtle (and not so subtle) persuading, Aaron decided to run for president and was elected to the post his junior year.

While Aaron's fraternity involvement has been a significant part of his experience at the University of Evansville, so has his education and career preparation, studying art and sculpture. It was Professor Les Miley who was instrumental, not only in recruiting Aaron to the University, but also in fostering his growth as an artist and a student leader in the department. Miley impacted Aaron with his teaching style. "His teaching is a process. He doesn't just present information. He empowers students. He lets them take the lead until they finally figure it out."

Aaron first met Professor Miley as a high school student when he was visiting the University of Evansville. A sense of mutual trust and respect between the two of them developed immediately. While on campus, Aaron had a "gut feeling" that he had not only found the right school, but also a mentor who would cultivate his success. "I'll never forget what Professor Miley said to me at that visit. It was huge. He said, 'I want the University of Evansville to be the school from which Aaron Peterman graduates.' I knew instantly that I wanted to learn from him."

By the time Aaron Peterman was a senior, he was well known and regarded as an active, involved student and leader. He had studied at Harlaxton College, the University of Evansville's British campus. He was selected to be an Orientation Leader and an Admission Ambassador. He was always pursuing something new. One of his more successful endeavors was the Clay Club. Along with some fellow art majors, he founded the club and it immediately had a mission – raising money.

There was a national conference scheduled in Kansas City for collegiate artists and the Clay Club wanted to send a contingency from Evansville. They decided to have a "throw-a-thon" and created 500 ceramic bowls, each one beautifully glazed. Then they hosted a chili cook-off and sold the chili in the bowls they had made. People from the University and the Evansville community clamored to buy their favorite bowl. The all-day event was a huge success, not to mention a sell out!

The money was raised and the Evansville art majors were able to make the trip. As it turned out, Aaron did not go due to a schedule conflict. "I didn't go to Kansas City, but that was okay. What was more important to me was that I was part of the process. I saw a problem and created a solution. I helped to make it work. That's what it's all about."

Aaron Peterman's entire experience at the University of Evansville has been a process. No one could have known that the introverted freshman from Ft. Wayne would grow to embrace the opportunities of a liberal arts and sciences education, as well as create some of his own. But it did not happen in a day. Rather, it was a process during which each experience taught Aaron something and positioned him to do more. "The University of Evansville didn't make me the person I am today. No, what it did for me was more. The University of Evansville gave me the opportunity to become my own person."