Determination pays off for YSU graduate

He had to overcome his
attention deficit disorder to earn his degree.

YOUNGSTOWN —When Kurt Weber walks across the stage of the Beeghly Center gymnasium to accept his bachelor of science degree in business administration, he will be leaving Youngstown State University with much more than a degree.

The North Canton native admits that at times it was a struggle to succeed in his coursework because he has attention deficit disorder.

Weber is one of nearly 500 graduates at YSU’s commencement at 10 a.m. today.

“Working with my classmates helped a lot, as did the smaller class sizes and the relationship I was able to develop with my professors,” he said.

Why he picked YSU

One of the reasons Weber came to YSU was the student/teacher ratio.

“I was much more comfortable in smaller classes than in a huge lecture hall with 500 other students,” said the first-generation college graduate. He also said he “fell in love” with the campus when he first visited in 2000.

Though it took Weber seven years to earn the diploma — he said his parents, Barry and Diane Weber, jokingly call him “Dr. Weber” — it was his level of determination to succeed that kept him going. “My family is extremely happy and proud of my accomplishment,” he said.

Weber spent more than two years gaining experience in the marketing field as a student supervisor in YSU’s Office of Marketing and Communications.

Part of his duties included selling advertising for the Youngstown State University Magazine, contributing to advertising campaigns, serving as a university representative at the Scrappers baseball games and assisting with Academic Challenge, a partnership between News Channel 33 and the university.

Finding a fit

“The job gave me the opportunity to network with administrators on campus and business leaders off-campus. I found I had a knack for marketing — it fit my personality,” he said.

When he first came to YSU, Weber was a computer science major. However, he said he found it difficult to sit behind a desk and to work on a computer. “I like to mingle with people,” he said.

His membership in Sigma Alpha Epsilon since 2000 demonstrates that. Since he joined the 30-member fraternity, he’s served in several leadership positions, including rush chairman.

“Being in the fraternity gave me the opportunity to meet people and directed me to my major. Without my fraternity brothers, I would not have finished college,” he said.

Though he could walk into a position at his father’s company, Lifetouch School Photography in North Canton, he said he decided to find a job on his own. In addition to conducting career searches in Northeast Ohio, he’s looking to the Carolinas for potential opportunities.

“I think Youngstown is great. Since I’ve been here, the town has really improved. I feel in another 10 years, it will be even better and rise above its roots in steel,” he said.

“I am going to miss the YSU community, my fraternity brothers and my co-workers.”