Fourth generation Boilermaker used leadership skills gained in Greek life to connect Agriculture to the medical industry
Name: Matthew Jaeger
Hometown: Kokomo, IN
High school: Northwestern High School
Major & Concentration: Agricultural Sales and Marketing with a minor in Biotechnology
Why did you come to Purdue: I am a fourth generation Boilermaker, so I was brought up favoring Purdue. The university exceeded my expectations in every way. I came here to find opportunities to aid in my personal growth and excel in a sales program.
Favorite Purdue tradition: Old Oaken Bucket Game
Top three influences at Purdue:
- Brent Bible – FarmHouse Chapter Advisor
- Greek Life
- Brandon Cutler – Fraternity, Sorority, Cooperative Life (FSCL) Director
Five words to describe Purdue:
- Amazing
- Inspiring
- Challenging
- Opportunistic
- Supportive
Top five highlights of your career:
- Getting a bid from FarmHouse Fraternity
- Joining IFC
- Dinner with Mitch Daniels
- Sledding on Slayter Hill
- Watching the Ohio State vs Purdue football game
Something you wish you would have done at Purdue: Gone to more Purdue baseball games
Places you have been as a Purdue student:
- Farmhouse Leadership Institute in Kansas City Missouri
- To Be and Become, a FarmHouse Freshmen Development Conference in Kansas City
- Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values (AFLV), an IFC National Conference at JW Marriott in Indianapolis
- Council officers and chapter President Leadership Advance (CPLA), a FSCL weekend conference at Camp Tecumseh
- Abbott Nutrition internship in Columbus, Ohio
- Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex Sales and Marketing Internship
Have to redo college in a major not in Ag: Biomedical Engineering
Favorite club/organization: FarmHouse Fraternity
Favorite Student-led event/initiative: Paint Crew
Favorite Purdue event: Grand Prix Week
Favorite place to study: Rawls
Over your career where were you most likely to be found on campus: The Co-Rec
Favorite spot on campus: Engineering Fountain
Favorite thing about CoA: Everyone knows everyone
Favorite thing about AGEC: People are always ready to help each other
Favorite thing about your major: I get to work with people who love building lasting relationships
Favorite class: AGEC 331
Favorite professor: Dr. Scott Downey
Coolest project: My junior year I had to isolate and amplify a virus known as a bacteriophage. The goal was to classify the identified phage and create a lysate in that could be shipped off to a research facility in hopes of finding medicinal properties for future use in healthcare.
Three biggest accomplishments:
- Becoming IFC VP of Risk Management
- Being hired for the #1 Medical Internship in the nation
- Working on an IFC executive board that won the NIC Council of Distinction Award (#1 IFC in the Nation)
Things on your resume not listed above: IFC Justice, Director of Risk Management for FarmHouse Fraternity, Ag Econ Envoy, Purdue Horizon tutor
Three words to describe you:
What are you passionate for: Making an impact one step at a time.
What intrigues you about the Ag industry: I like the science behind it. The agriculture industry has many areas of various research that impacts our lives every day.
What motivates you: To accomplish things others have not.
Favorite quote: "If you set your goals ridiculously high and it's a failure, you will fail above everyone else's successes." – James Cameron
Personal Motto: You will never be the smartest person in the room. Instead, be the most prepared.
Accepted employment: Currently reviewing offers at this point in time.
Where do you want to end up: I hope to have a career in medical device sales or obtaining my master's degree and moving into a Hospital Administration role working with physicians.
Advice for underclassman: Enjoy every minute during your time at Purdue
Biggest takeaway from Purdue: I was able to work with and meet more people than I could have ever imagined that I still speak to frequently.