Outstanding Students

Hunter Schmolze

Q: Where are you from? (city, state) 

A: I’m from Cascade, Iowa.

Q: Why did you choose Kirkwood? 

A: My high school offered Kirkwood classes, during our senior year, at the regional center located in Monticello.  So after I completed my classes, it only seemed logical to continue my education after high school. 

Q: What is your major and how did you choose it? 

A:   I am majoring in Advanced Welding Technologies. I was given a booklet (at the end of junior year of high school) of all the available programs offered by Kirkwood. At the time, I was with one of my good friends and he asked me if I knew what I wanted to pursue, and of course I had no clue. He proposed that I take the Advanced Manufacturing/Welding program with him; verbatim, I asked him, “Isn’t welding that thing people do with all the sparks and the cool helmet?” He confirmed it, and that’s when I decided to pursue it. A few months down the road and I discovered that I very much enjoyed the welding program, so after graduating high school, I came to main campus to continue with the program. 

Q: What has been your proudest moment at Kirkwood?  

A: Receiving this award! 

Q: What are your plans after Kirkwood? 

A: Ideally I can find a good place to go to work, and eventually I can find a nice place of my own. 

Q: What inspires or motivates you?

A:  I just really enjoy my study and what I do; gaining experience and being productive is all that I need for finding motivation. 

Q: Tell us about who you are outside of Kirkwood – hobbies, family, other interests, etc.

A: Outside of Kirkwood, I play guitar in a heavy psych/doom metal band, I collect vinyl records, I draw and have done some commissions for other local music artists, I am also a bit of a bookworm and have recently finished reading all of the DUNE books written by Frank Herbert. Lastly I am a huge fan of horror movies, good and bad. 

Q: What does being named an Outstanding Student mean to you? 

A:   It’s an honor, and I certainly didn’t expect it. There’s some serious talent floating around in that weld lab and I’m very appreciative of receiving the nomination. 

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add? 

A:  Is this gonna be on the test? 

Categories: Outstanding Students