John Stupp '10

"I'm actually a college major, which means I had the opportunity to design my own program to study and essentially create a curriculum. The title of my major is management information systems, which is basically a double major between management and computer science."

Management information systems: St. Louis, Mo.

Why Bucknell?

“I came to Bucknell because of the combination of great academics and the opportunity to play on a Division I water polo team. I first visited on a recruiting trip during water-polo season when I was in high school. After meeting the team and seeing the campus, it was an easy decision. I went to a small private high school, so as a small liberal arts university, Bucknell felt like home.”

My Major

“I’m actually a college major, which means I had the opportunity to design my own program to study and essentially create a curriculum. The title of my major is management information systems, which is basically a double major between management and computer science. I chose this because technology is a booming industry today, but it’s also important to have a management background to be prepared to work in the business world.

“To create my own major, I went through a five-month proposal process where I created my own course requirements and described to an academic review board why my major would better Bucknell’s education system. I found two faculty members who would be my academic advisers. Once I got approved, I was allowed to move forward.”

My Activities

“I play water polo for the varsity team, which takes up most of my time outside the classroom. During the season, we have 20 hours of practice per week: three to five hours per day, and one hour of lifting three times a week. We also have seven or eight away weekends in the fall, and play a total of 37 games in a season. In the off-season, we practice from seven to nine every morning and lift three times a week. Even though it demands lots of time, I love it. It keeps me focused and really helps with time management, which is a very important tool at a place like Bucknell.

“I’m also on the Student Athletic Committee, which is made up of two athletes from every team and provides the opportunity to participate in philanthropic and community service events. There are also monthly meetings, when professional athletes or faculty members talk about sportsmanship, season regulations and other interesting topics.”

Interview by Chris Palmer, Class of 2009 and executive intern in the Division of Communications.

Posted March 11, 2009