Meet Shane Jackson, '11

Shane Jackson conducted his college search like many other prospective students. The only difference was that Jackson was stationed on a Navy submarine at Pearl Harbor, his six-year stint as a machinist's mate first-class coming to an end. After being deployed on missions in the Western Pacific as part of the global war on terrorism – and earning two medals for his service – Jackson set his eye on college.

"I wanted to find a smaller college," the Minnesota native says. "I didn't want to disappear in a crowd. There are a lot of opportunities to get involved here rather than just going to class and going home."

Jackson tackled college life with as much zeal as he mastered his submarine's five watch stations. He graduated cum laude as an economics and management major and English minor. He was also a member of the Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management, completing internships in banking and investments. In addition, Jackson was secretary of the Investment Club and service chair of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and worked as an assistant in the College's archives. Today, he is making his mark as a financial consultant in the Detroit area.