I still remember the day that I got the call asking if I wanted to help call basketball games for The Witmarsum. I was hesitant at first, but after some convincing I agreed to help. It was one of the best decisions of my life.
Working for The Witmarsum allowed me to attend some of the best events on campus. I was able to be up close on the action during basketball and football games. It also pushed me to attend other events on campus to ensure I knew what I was talking about.
I will never forget these experiences, especially my favorite event on campus thanks to Andrew Renner. He hit a buzzer beating, game tying three-pointer against Hanover College last season that ultimately led to an overtime Bluffton Beaver win.
Still one of the craziest shots that I have ever seen and I had the pleasure to be commentating when he hit that shot.
Marathana Prothro, The Witmarsum advisor, was my Becoming a Scholar professor the first semester on campus. She really pushed me to become the best student I could be and I want to thank her for everything she has done for me throughout my four years at Bluffton University.
Dave Woodward, the radio station guru, ensures that the radio station is always running. The amount of times I have called him has probably raised his phone bill, but I am so thankful that he was available any time that I had problems.
Trent Mast and Ty Avila deserve all of the credit for getting me on the radio. They took a lot of time to convince me to join as well as teach me everything I needed to know about running the board in the radio station as well as how to call a sporting event on the radio.
Finally, my last thank you has to be all of our loyal readers and listeners each week. I thank you for spending time reading or listening to the work that we do on a weekly basis.
Patrick Spillman, graduated with a B.A. in business administration and sport management. Photo by Nicole Centofanti.
The Witmarsum came to me when I was a sophomore that had no idea what a convergent journalist did on a daily basis. I leave The Witmarsum as someone who has grown to be a mentor for other students and one of the biggest ambassadors of this student-driven media organization.
It has been a pleasure to work for The Witmarsum the past three years, and I look forward to seeing the next crop of Witmarsum students and the work they put out.
