The Community Foundation for Crawford County is pleased to introduce Douglas Weinandy, a 2023 recipient of one of the 19 Doug and Renee Leuthold Scholarship awards, one of the nine Glen and Alice Beers Scholarship awards, and one of the 19 Margaret and Donald Wenner, MD Scholarship awards.
Douglas, the son of Gregg Weinandy and Terri Searcy, is a 2004 graduate of Bucyrus High School. He will be entering his first year of a Doctoral Degree in Criminal Justice at Liberty University this fall.
What is your favorite aspect of college life?
“My favorite aspect of college life is being challenged intellectually and academically by my college professors. These individuals have been very influential in helping me achieve my goals throughout my time in college. Professors have challenged me in many ways that have brought out the best I have to offer in this world. They continue to challenge me on a daily basis by making me think outside of the box. All of the hard work and sacrifices pay off when we put forth our best effort in all we do. However, I owe a lot of thanks to my friends, family, colleagues, and mentors that have also helped me along the way. All of these individuals have helped me achieve my personal goals inside and outside of the classroom.”
What new interest or courses of study have you discovered at college?
“There are a couple of areas of study that have piqued my interest throughout college. Recently, I have developed an interest in criminological theories that are explanations and critiques of crime and the criminalization processes in our society. These theories help us gain an understanding of crime and the criminal justice system. Criminologists conduct research and investigate the behavioral patterns of crime and criminals, and they also examine society’s response to crime. Therefore, sociological, psychological, biological, and other explanations of crime can better inform our society how to respond to crime and lower the amount of recidivism or reoffending in the future. I have also developed an interest in learning more about leadership within our society. Political, ethical, and emotional intelligence are very important when discussing leadership. Leadership in society must use these forms of intelligence to effectively lead organizations today.”
In what ways has the college experience changed/improved you?
“My experiences in college have given me a sense of purpose and the ability to grow as a person. I’m an entirely different person than I was before my experiences at the collegiate level. It’s very motivating to be surrounded by other students who are eager to achieve their life-long goals and find their own path to achieving those goals. I enjoy spending my time with these individuals and learning as much as I can from my instructors and peers. My professors have believed in me and encourage me to pursue my goals. Without their positive encouragement, I might not have pursued those lifelong goals. Networking and building these connections have opened up so many opportunities to advance my leadership abilities in all of my life pursuits.”
What advice would you give an incoming college freshman?
“College is about abandoning our comfort zones and taking more risks. Incoming freshmen should challenge themselves to become a better person every day. Unique experiences and situations will present themselves throughout those college years. Look at these experiences as the foundation to build the future you want. Take advantage of the help people offer throughout those years, and use those experiences to help you achieve your goals. Don’t be afraid to ask for help either. There are a lot of people who can help every student achieve their goals. There are also plenty of opportunities to be a part of athletic organizations, academic organizations, intramural sports, and various other organizations. All of these activities can help make the transition to college much easier, and students can thoroughly enjoy their time during those college years.”
What is one item on your bucket list?
“One item on my bucket list is to take an extended road trip across the United States. I would love to get in my car, roll the windows down, and drive into the open countryside. I enjoy driving on the open road and having that sense of freedom. There is so much open land to explore, people to meet, and places to eat at across the country. Along the way, I would have to take aerial photographs and videos of all the amazing places with my drones. Must see places would include: Yosemite National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Glacier National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park. Taking a long road trip across the country would allow me to create memories that last a lifetime. Hopefully, it would also encourage everyone to take a trip with friends and family across the country.”
Congratulations and good luck in the future, Douglas!
To learn more about the scholarships offered through the Foundation, visit www.cfcrawford.org/scholarships.
