What drives the decision to attend a specific college? Is it the academic program, the balance with extra-curricular activities, the opportunities available following graduation? For students who want to play sports on the college level, perhaps it is the coaching staff, the success of the program, the future teammates, the environment around the program.
 
Eleven men's soccer alumni took the opportunity to explain why they chose the University of Rochester as the perfect place for them. They discussed a favorite memory from their playing days, recalled academic courses and professors whom they valued highly, and revealed how their professional careers have gone since completing their degree.
 
These are the men who answered. The list includes the alum's class and his undergraduate major(s): Michael Chen '03 (Chemical Engineering), Gisli Hjalmtysson '87 (Applied Math and Computer Science  - double major), Emeka Iheme '98 (Mechanical Engineering), Chris Lee '06 (Economics), Peter Martin '18 (Business), Nate Micklos '05, '09M (Political Science and Philosophy -  double major, MBA William E. Simon School of Business), Julian Premus '84 (Biology), Alex Swanger '15 (Financial Economics), Samuel Tasker '01 (Political Science), Steve Welles '11 (Financial Economics and Mathematics – double major), Jeff White '05 (Mechanical Engineering).
 
Why Rochester As A College Choice?

Michael Chen '03: It was the best Chem Eng program that I was accepted into and had a competitive D3 soccer program. My focus was education but playing soccer at a competitive level was also a must have.   
 
Gisli Hjalmtysson '87: Academic excellence. It was suggested when I won a Fulbright Scholarship.
 
Emeka Iheme '98: I knew I wanted to attend a small, intimate school and get a technical degree.  I was also being recruited for soccer and had a great visit.  The fact that the university was highly ranked nationally in a number of fields, the hospitality of the soccer team hosts during my visit, and the fact that I had close friends from my high school who also chose U of R sealed my decision.
 
Chris Lee '06: Great combination of academics and athletics, as well as the lack of required classes that gave the ability to take classes that interested me.
 
Peter Martin '18: The basis upon which the soccer program and university are structured is what drew me. I don't think I quite knew what Meliora meant when I first visited, yet the concept is exactly why Rochester is such an attractive college experience.  The pursuit to be "Ever Better" is an energy that you can feel as a consistent pulse running through campus and is truly embodied by the students and faculty.
 
Nate Micklos '05, '09M: A perfect blend of athletics (including the appeal of playing in the UAA conference) and academics (including the open curriculum which allowed me to pursue a wide variety of subjects and different ways to think). 

 
Julian Premus '84: Playing soccer was a key objective for me in addition to getting a quality education.  The UofR felt like home when I first set foot on the beautiful River Campus.  I met the Captains (Frank Mobilio & David Porter) who were absolutely one of the top reasons for making a decision before I even left campus on my official visit.
 
Alex Swanger '15: My dad and my grandpa both attended Rochester, and my dad had also played on the soccer team.  I had known Coach Apple and the staff at Rochester for several years and there was a great deal of familiarity and comfort with the program.  I knew that there would be plenty of opportunities to compete at a high level and to play in the NCAA tournament.  I also knew that I wanted to attend medical school after completing my undergraduate education, and felt that the U of R would be a good place to help me achieve that goal.  Rochester's curriculum also allowed me to have the flexibility to complete all of my pre-medical school requirements while also majoring in an area outside of the natural sciences (financial economics).
 
Samuel Tasker '01: There are four primary reasons: I had an NROTC scholarship. I liked the small size and the beautiful historic campus. Rochester was ranked highly, both academically and athletically, and I liked the geographic region of the country.
 
Steve Welles '11: The economics program and the soccer team. Also far enough away from family but not across the country either. 
 
Jeff White '05: U of R was the perfect combination of my college plans; a strong engineering department, a competitive soccer program, and a Navy ROTC program.  Also, I came on a weekend recruiting visit with the soccer team and developed a great impression of student-athletes at U of R - even during the cold winter months! 
 
Your Best Athletic Memory Playing for UR?
Chen: I don't remember a single best memory; however, the soft skills that I learned from Coach Pilger and Coach Apple had the largest impact on my life. Both coaches put an emphasis on teamwork and the team always came before the individual. This is a philosophy that I have used throughout my career and has been critical to many of my successes.   
 

Hjalmtysson: Beating RIT, 2-0, in my senior year in the first round of the NCAA tournament after they had beaten us, 5-0, in the regular season. It was our first NCAA playoff appearance.
 
Iheme: Too many to name; but I'd say it's a toss-up between beating Wash U at Fauver under the lights with a minute or so to go in OT, and beating Fredonia away in the freezing rain to make the NCAA tournament.
 
Lee: Actually I don't have a particular best memory.  Really enjoyed the ongoing competition, focus on improvement, and the time on/off the field with teammates. 
 
Martin: The feeling of returning to campus for preseason each year, singing in the locker room/on the bus after each win, especially those in the 2017 NCAAs. Every time that it was about more than just soccer, those were the moments that you think back on, the ones that remain so special today.
 
Micklos: Our senior year. We had a 16-0 regular season record and earned the first berth in the NCAA tournament as an undefeated team in the program. Everything clicked that year and it was a great final season for our class.
 
Premus: Big games and key wins are memorable, but my greatest memory is the time spent with my teammates during training sessions and road trips.  To this day, on a hot & humid August day when I get the scent of fresh cut grass in the air, I remember walking across campus from my fraternity house to training.  My most cherished friends to this day are my old teammates.  I also thoroughly enjoy meeting those who came after me b/c they continue our Meliora mantra.
 
Swanger: Clinching the UAA title in 2013 with a 1-0 victory at Case Western.  Also, assisting my brother, Ben, in the first round of the 2014 NCAA tournament.
 
Tasker: The 1997-98 freshman year. We hosted an NCAA playoff at Fauver against Ithaca.. A late week snowfall meant the University had to clear piles of snow off the track. I have fond memories of the 12 seniors on the team. I played with the legendary Kirk Dietrich who was an All-American. Lastly, Mike Pilger, our iconic head coach who made me a better player than I had ever been.
 
Welles: Scoring my first goal OR stepping onto the field to play Messiah my freshman year OR friendships I built and still have. There a lot of moments there not one or two.

 
White:  My best athletic memory was a 2-0 victory over St. Lawrence on Fauver Stadium during my senior season.  They had been a really strong opponent all 4 years, and we had never defeated them.  That season our team built a really strong belief in each other, and this was a game where 4 years of hard work came together perfectly.
 
Favorite Classes or Professors?
Chen: I was never able to develop significant relationships with any of the professors. Professor Jorne was the most impactful. I struggled with my first few semesters of introductory classes and then came back strong when the classes were more engineering focused. Professor Jorne recognized this and supported me throughout my time at UR. I believe that on some occasions he even defended me for my MS acceptance and my MS final test.
 
Hjalmtysson: Mathematical Cryptography, Complexity theory
 
Iheme: Differential Equations - Professor Clark.
 
Lee: I really enjoyed some classes at the Simon School as well as an independent study where I researched my family genealogy.  Professor Gamm was a great teacher and advisor.  
 
Martin: MKT 203 with Professor Vincent Hope.  I loved the competitive and project-oriented atmosphere that he brought to the classroom, as well as how he tied the course into daily life.
 
Micklos: Moral Problems, Robert Holmes  and a Logic/Reason & Argument course really taught me how to think in a linear and structured manner. This has proven helpful in both my professional and personal life.

 
Premus: Jack Kampmeier, Chemistry. He took a chance on a lowly freshman to include him in his research.  He was a huge influence on me despite the long walk to Hutchinson Hall from Susan B Anthony on those cold days😳 He was quite humble with a brilliant mind and great communication skills.  Prof Kampmeier also had a great (dry) sense of humor which resonated with me!
 
Swanger: I worked for Professor Gamm as a research assistant for three years and even though he was not my actual academic advisor and I never actually took any of his classes, he has been one of my most important mentors in my time as an undergrad and beyond.
 
Tasker: Professor Harris, History of Social Movements - he was patient with me as a young student-athlete and inspired me to follow history. Professor Regenstreif, politics in Canada - he stood up for me when I was quoted in the D&C and the NROTC staff was very bothered by it. Lastly, Professor Gamm - he supported our team in and out of the classroom
 
Welles: Rizzo (Econ), Gage (Math), Brooks (Religion).
 
White: In my first semester I took a Quest class (ME 104Q) with Prof. Peruccio as an introduction to classical mechanics.  He had an infectious enthusiasm for engineering and really confirmed that I chose the right major.  One of the structures we studied was the incredible Roman aqueduct at Pont du Garde. Twelve years later, while living in Europe, my wife and I made the trip to the South of France to see this engineering marvel and I could feel that enthusiasm come rushing back!
 
Post-Graduate Career and Current Position:
Chen: I have been lucky enough to experience the entire value chain of technology development from R&D to product engineering to manufacturing and operations. Today I am a Director of Procurement at Apple. I rely heavily on the technical education and the team leadership experiences I received from UR for my everyday work.    
 
Hjalmtysson: Startup - software house, academia post Ph.D., venture capital. I am currently the Dean for the School of Technology at Reykjavik University in Iceland.
 
Iheme: Vice President, Client Service Operations, running an operations team in a Healthcare technology firm.
 
Lee: Managing Director, Municipal Sales and Trading at Wells Fargo.
 

Martin: I currently live and work in New York City with Rochester grads. I travel to Canada, as well as England semi-annually where I have taken in Premier League matches with former teammates. I am the Head Natural Gas Liquids Trader at Vectra Capital LLC.
 
Micklos:  From a short stint in professional soccer (fulfilling a childhood dream), I returned to Rochester to get my MBA at the Simon School. I had the opportunity to work at a couple large global companies as a Brand Manager, which paved the way for an opportunity with my current employer Amazon in Seattle. I am now a Principal Product Manager for Amazon Web Services (AWS), responsible for international expansion strategy.
 
Premus: After a year immersing myself in Italian to head to medical school at the University of Bologna, I became enthralled with technology while supplementing my savings account with a job at MetLife Insurance Company in NYC.  I disappointed my Italian mother and pursued IT coursework at NYU and eventually worked with the first personal computers and burgeoning TCP/IP networking (the basis of the internet).  I've spent the last 35+ years in various management positions at large financial institutions in and around NYC. Currently, I am the Director Technology Service Delivery, BNY Mellon
 
Swanger: I stayed at Rochester for two years following graduation, working in the Colorectal Surgery department as a research assistant and also as an assistant coach with the soccer team.  I am now in my fourth year of medical school at Stanford University and plan on pursuing a career in Anesthesiology. 
 
Tasker: I served in the United States Navy from 2001 to 2008. Since then, I have been involved in Wind Energy Operations and Sales, serving as Vice-President of Sales in WindESCo.
 
Welles: Wall Street (Goldman Sachs) and then leading my own venture backed start-up. I am the CEO of Ikos Holdings Inc.
  
White: At graduation, I was commissioned as an Officer in the Navy, and I have served on active duty ever since.  I spent the first four years after graduation serving on Navy ships, making two overseas deployments.  After a Headquarters tour in Germany working on European plans and strategy, I changed fields to engineering and headed to MIT for the Naval Construction and Engineering Program.  As an engineer, I worked first in construction oversight for aircraft carriers, and now in engineering management for construction and testing new destroyers. I am a Lieutenant Commander in the USN.