When senior Stuart Donlan first stepped onto campus after arriving from his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana, he immediately sensed something genuine about The University of Olivet.
“I chose Olivet somewhat on a whim. I had gone on visits to a lot of different schools, and each had great things to offer. I was really conflicted about where I wanted to go and what major I was going to choose, and I ended up choosing Olivet because it felt authentic. Every school I visited talked about the community atmosphere, but here, it seemed real, and in my experience, it has been.”
That initial gut feeling set off a chain reaction that would shape Stuart’s college experience and lead him to a truly unexpected place. What started as a spontaneous decision to attend Olivet eventually sparked his passion for wrestling and media production — all of which came together in an inspiring independent study project.
Stuart’s love for wrestling was a major influence on his decision to come to Olivet. “Being on the wrestling team has been one of the greatest joys of my time at Olivet,” he says. This passion for wrestling would later inspire one of his most important college projects. But first, Stuart had to make another important decision — his major.
“I landed on media production and communication just because it sounded interesting,” Stuart says. “That decision has pushed me to get out of my comfort zone more than any other decision I have ever made. I don’t get to hide in my room and write a research paper. I have to go out and talk to people and ask them questions. That has made me be more confident and outgoing.”
Preserving History
This chain of seemingly random decisions — choosing Olivet, wrestling and media production and communications — culminated in a unique and meaningful independent study. For his project, Stuart explored the Olivet community, interviewing individuals who have spent years shaping and enriching the town.
“Last year, I did a short video piece where I interviewed UOlivet wrestling legend, Coach Jare Klein. It got a lot of great reactions from people who had either wrestled for him or just knew him in some way. Coach Klein really was very appreciative of it all. It was nice to know that he was getting a lot of phone calls and messages from people he hadn’t heard from or talked to in a while, and to simultaneously be preserving a bit of Olivet history in the stories he told me.”
This initial video sparked the idea for his independent study. “Coach Klein asked me to make a full-length, uncut version of our conversation as something he could pass on to his kids, grandkids or the school. That’s where the idea for this independent study came from. I wanted to create a permanent piece of Olivet history and hopefully get some of the incredible people I talked to the recognition they deserve.”
For his independent study, Stuart had the opportunity to interview Olivetians Don Rowe, Don Walker, Mike and Judy Fales and Charlotte Stevens.
“Between Don Rowe and Don Walker, you have 95 years of experience in teaching at Olivet. That’s an incredible amount of knowledge and perspective to try and take in. Listening to Mike and Judy Fales talk about navigating life with an autistic child was very real and inspiring. Charlotte Stevens has lived an amazing life of over 100 years. It is amazing to get to hear from someone like that, and I am very blessed to have been able to do it,” Stuart said.
The True Olivet Experience
Stuart wouldn’t have had a true Olivet experience if he didn’t have a little help along the way. “I have incredible coaches here that I try and take advice from on and off the wrestling mat. In terms of this project, I have to give credit to Professor Daine Pavloski,” Stuart expressed. “He was the one who worked with me to set it all up, he helped me navigate different challenges and he was also the one who taught me to do all of the things that I have been trying to do. He has always given me the feedback that is necessary to evolve in my major and in general. I really cannot sing his praises enough.”
As Stuart reflects back on his project, he said “I think this project has affirmed the things that I already believed about Olivet. It has proved that my experience over the last three and half years has not been a fluke. This is a community of people that care for one another.”
Stuart’s journey at The University of Olivet shows how a single decision can ignite a chain of events that leads to unexpected growth and accomplishment. From a spontaneous choice to attend Olivet to a meaningful independent study project, his story highlights the power of following one’s instincts and embracing the opportunities that come along the way.
Watch Stuart’s Video Interviews
Donald Rowe – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsD9–wGVls&t=6s
Mike and Judy Fales – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjDnzBkt1Z0&t=18s
Donald Walker – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYcMGVtPApA
Charlotte Stevens – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMhdYjSZYxI
Learn more about The University of Olivet by contacting the Office of Admission at Admissions@UOlivet.edu or 269-749-7635