Jason Wehri, an environmental, safety and occupational health senior from Ottoville, Ohio, has found success both in the classroom and on the court as a student-athlete at The University of Findlay.
Wehri says he chose Findlay because he liked the atmosphere and the location and because “the faculty seemed like a really good fit.” He credits many of these faculty members for “cementing” his choice of major.
“The faculty members will tell stories and I always enjoy hearing their experiences,” says Wehri. “That tells me that I’m in the right place.”
One such faculty member who has positively influenced Wehri is Timothy Murphy, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental safety and health management.
“Dr. Murphy provided a lot of insight on what classes I should take and was always more than willing to sit down and listen to my concerns and do his best to address [them].”
Wehri says that, in addition to having welcoming faculty, the University let him follow his dream of playing basketball.
“It’s a game I enjoy. I’ve done it ever since I was big enough to throw a ball at the hoop to try and score, and also I have been lucky enough to have a lot of success when playing the game,” says Wehri.
Charlie Ernst, head men’s basketball coach, says Wehri was a key player throughout his four years at the University. Wehri was a member of the 2009 NCAA Division II national championship team.
“Playing basketball really taught me a lot about myself,” says Wehri. “You grow up fast when you have several projects due and you’re on a five-day road trip for basketball. It becomes a matter of prioritizing and time management, and those are skills I will most certainly use the rest of my life.”
Wehri put his time management skills to use as a member of the Oiler Environmental, Safety and Health Student Organization (OESHO) and the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).
After graduation, he will continue working as an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist at Kalida Manufacturing, a job he started in April.
Wehri says that the biggest lessons he learned in school that transfer to his career are the importance of teamwork and the ability to adjust in an ever-changing environment.
“Playing ball has taught me both of these skills,” says Wehri. “Teamwork is needed because you work together to accomplish things faster and with a better end result.”
By Katie Baumgart
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