PJ Recker came to UNI looking for a place that felt similar to home, and he found that, not just in his classes but in late-night dorm conversations, sporting events and long-lasting friendships that have all shaped his college experience.
Recker is majoring in sports public relations with a minor in sports administration. He grew up about 50 minutes east of campus in a small town called Manchester, Iowa.
“I chose to go to UNI because I loved the small school feeling,” he said. “I wanted to go to a place that made me feel like a person rather than a number.”
Like most incoming students, Recker arrived with early expectations, such as classes being difficult, which overall put a damper on his social life. But after the first week, he quickly came to realize how welcoming the atmosphere was and how supportive the faculty is.
“For students, making friends can be easy because most of the other students are also looking to create friendships,” he said. “When it comes to faculty, they understand how students feel arriving on campus for the first time, so they go above and beyond to help out.”
Some of Recker’s favorite college memories were simple yet are ones that turned into lasting friendships.
“Some of my most fond memories at UNI were hanging out in the dorms with friends, watching sporting events and playing video games.”
Recker will miss coming home from class or work and hanging out with his roommates or attending a sporting event that evening.
Recker’s passion for sports goes beyond watching on the sidelines as he spent his college years on the UNI sports communications team creating social media posts, becoming a SID for the track and field team and keeping statistics for the men’s and women’s basketball team.
“Some of the best memories I have from UNI come from working with the athletics department, whether it was getting an inside look at how college sports are run or being courtside for one of the biggest basketball games; there weren’t any dull days,” he said.
As graduation approaches, Recker is focused on the next step, although it may be unclear at the moment.
“I’m still looking for a full-time job, but I’ve been sending out plenty of applications,” he said. “I know that the right job will come to me and that I just need to be persistent.”
Throughout his college career, professors were a huge part of how he stayed motivated. Recker credits his journalism professor, Anelia Dimitrova, for teaching him skills that go beyond the classroom.
“She was by far the most caring professor I had over my four years,” he said. “After working with her more, it felt less like a student-to-professor relationship and more like a role model in my life.”
Looking back, Recker encourages students to make the most of the town, both on campus and in the surrounding area.
“Although I had some great times hanging around in my dorm, exploring the town and visiting different businesses has opened my mind up to just how great Cedar Falls is,” he said. Businesses are popping up everywhere and just visiting some can create a new place to hang out while at school.”
