Class of 1971: Charlie Scheidegger

I was graduating from Cannelton High School, Cannelton, Indiana, in 1967 at 17 years old. The motivation for male high school grads to attend college in 1967 was the Vietnam War, which was at full throttle, and yes, there was a draft if you weren't enrolled in college full-time. I had two college options: a basketball scholarship at a startup college or an ISUE academic tuition scholarship. I chose basketball and spent [my] first college quarter at Northwood Institute, where I made it to the final cut but didn't make the team. I moved back to Cannelton and enrolled at ISUE/USI.

During my three and a half years at ISUE/USI, I worked 30-35 hours a week at Arby's on the east side—full time during the summer—and dated my high school sweetheart, Cindy. We married in October of my senior year. I joined the Army Reserve in June after graduating, because I would have been drafted in July.

My ISUE/USI degree helped me secure my first job, helped me move into management for two years and allowed me to be a "personnel specialist" in the Army Reserve. I had a successful 30-year career in sales. I’m proud to see how amazingly far the University has advanced in 50 years.

Charlie Scheidegger '71

Marketing