Class of 2024: Carl Feibusch

Carl Feibusch is an Environmental Studies major with a specialization in Policy and Management, minoring in Political Science and Religious Studies, from Timonium, Maryland.

When I took my first step on the Hill, I was: Unsure of what to expect in college courses, nervous to meet new people, and worried about being sent home for this little pandemic thing that was going on.

The me who will ring the Old Main bell on Commencement Day is: Someone who is confident to take my knowledge into the world and spread it to others. I will be someone who can make connections with all sorts of different people, allowing me to be the most effective communicator I can be.

Real-world experiences: Each summer, I had work experiences that I found on the federal government’s job board, working at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah, and Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. As far as school-related activities, I loved being able to do my capstone research related to education at the McDaniel Environmental Center (MEC).

My aha moment: I realized the importance of managing personal time and how to make decisions about what to get involved in activity-wise. Prioritization can be difficult, but it’s absolutely necessary, and better than the stress of being fully or over-booked.

Footprints I’m leaving on the Hill: I hope that people will remember me as someone who was kind, outgoing, and unafraid of exploring new topics and ideas. I hope others will be encouraged to do the same, whether by joining a cultural organization they don’t know much about, or taking classes about things they don’t have much background in, like Religious Studies courses.

Faculty or staff member who most influenced who I have become: This would definitely be Dr. Jason Scullion, associate professor of Environmental Studies, whose classes I have taken many of. He has been a great influence and example of how important enthusiasm can be when teaching about environmental topics and has helped me through lots of experiences. He helped me with the federal job application process multiple times, with creating educational programs, and even how to manage and turn down job offers when needed. He was one of the first people I talked to at an admissions event at McDaniel before becoming a student here, was a big reason I came here, and is a big reason why I have loved my time here.

Best class ever: My favorite class at McDaniel has to be Environmental Management, taught by Dr. Scullion. In this class, one of the main projects is to restore a plot of land next to McDaniel Run, a small stream at the MEC. The MEC is one of my favorite places, so being able to learn how to restore stream banks there, while also learning about local ecology, was super fun. I love being able to spot restoration projects all over Maryland and the country and be able to better identify plants throughout the mid-Atlantic when with friends or family.

Tell us a little about your activities, including sports, during your years at McDaniel: I’ve been involved in a handful of groups throughout my time at McDaniel, including Green Life, the Sunrise Movement, the Jewish Student Union, and Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a national co-ed service fraternity. My time in APO has probably been my favorite, as it’s been a great opportunity to meet like-minded students who are also motivated to help others in the community, while having fun doing so. Working with organizations like Carroll County Food Sunday, the Westminster Rescue Mission, the Carroll County Arts Council, the Red Cross, and more has been extremely valuable and rewarding, and APO has given me many of those opportunities. I am also very happy to call many of my fellow members lifelong brothers and friends.

Took me totally by surprise: I was super surprised to find myself in a Religious Studies course, and even more to find myself wanting to take another one, eventually taking a total of six during my time at McDaniel and becoming a Religious Studies minor. Dr. Brad Stoddard is a fantastic professor, and his passion and the way he teaches makes his courses super interesting and engaging, to the point where an Environmental Studies and Political Science student like myself decides to add a minor for no other reason than the fact that I liked taking his classes.

My favorite spot on campus: My favorite spot on campus is definitely Red Square, especially when it’s nice out (ideally 60-70 degrees, sunny, and a light breeze, for those wondering). I love its proximity to the Roj Student Center and Hoover Library, and I’ve always thought of it as sort of a crossroads, where you’re bound to see someone you know every time you go through. It’s also my favorite spot to do work or read when it’s nice out.

Most mind-boggling idea I learned at McDaniel: The thing I think about most is that there’s no real definition for religion, and it really only became a term in the 1600s (Shoutout again to Dr. Stoddard).

My capstone title: “Knowledge and Efficacy of McDaniel Local Visitors at the McDaniel Environmental Center.”

What it’s about in plain talk: I analyzed two years of surveys given to McDaniel Local students who visited the MEC as part of a service-learning project to see how their attitudes changed from before their visit to after.

What’s next: In July, I will start a seasonal position at White River National Forest in Minturn, Colorado, as a park ranger. After the summer, I’m hoping to find a similar position but longer term or for the winter season.

How will you stay connected to McDaniel? I will definitely stay caught up with McDaniel on social media like Instagram, and hopefully be able to come back for Homecoming and alumni events for many years to come.

If you received financial aid, what did that mean for you and your family? Financial aid was huge for me because it allowed me to attend a school like McDaniel where I could really feel like an individual in my classes and interact with others. Had it not been for financial aid, I probably would have had to attend a larger state school, where I think I would have been much more overwhelmed and not gained as much in terms of connections with faculty and the opportunities they have provided.