WATCH: Student Body President Issues Greeting to New and Returning Students

UC Student Body President Alan Hagerty has a prize antique on the wall in his Student Government Office, located in Room 655 of the Steger Student Life Center. It’s a composite picture of the UC Law School in 1900 – which includes a portrait of his great, great uncle, John M. Hagerty.

“My grandparents gave me his composite photo and his degree,” says Hagerty. “It was just sitting in their closet, so they asked me if I’d like it, and I thought it was quite special.”

The 22-year old Centerville, Ohio native and graduate of Centerville High School says he fell in love with UC when he took a campus tour through UC Admissions. “I can’t explain it, but when I visited here, I just felt happier. It felt different than anywhere else that I had visited.”

Hagerty adds that UC offered an academic program that was unlike any other. He’s in the ACCEND Program, a five-year program that allows him to earn his bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering as well as his MBA from the Carl H. Lindner College of Business.

After being a walk-on for the varsity soccer team his freshman year, then joining the club team (serving as president of the club team for three years) Hagerty says he knew there was nowhere else he’d rather be. “Academics, athletics, affordability and location – I really didn’t know the city of Cincinnati very well when I first started here, but I’ve fallen in love with the city since.”

Hagerty is also a supporter of UC’s Fraternity and Sorority Life under UC’s Student Activities and Leadership Development (SALD) Office. He joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon his freshman year, which he says led to his first involvement in Student Government, where he initially served as director of sustainability. “It related to my major, so I thought it would be a great opportunity,” he says.

More opportunities followed, leading to his role as UC’s 2011-12 Student Body President. The platform he established with Student Body Vice President Michael Linger is “Bringing Your Priorities to MainStreet.”

Those priorities include student safety, student life, academic priorities, supporting school spirit with UC athletics and growing student sustainability efforts. “We’re already on our way to announcing accomplishments, including growing UC’s Nightwalk Program to promote student safety, and contributing a student voice to UC’s semester conversion in Fall 2012.”

“We’re planning a sustainability retreat as part of Sustainability Month in October,” adds Hagerty. “This will be the first time ever where students will go on a retreat to brainstorm about sustainability and about what they want to accomplish in the coming year.”

Hagerty emphasizes that fellow students will enhance their UC experience by building connections both in and out of the classroom. He has accomplished building a great number of connections, despite a demanding academic program. He says opportunity also abounds at UC through cooperative education, of which UC is the world founder. Through his co-ops with GE, he has gained valuable, paid work experience.

He says the secret to his success is time management, which can be a challenge for new students. “Every student should get a Google calendar,” he says. “Put all of your classes in there and you’ll realize how much time you have during the day.”

“I definitely advise students to block out lunches,” says Hagerty. “Block out time to do your homework.”

Hagerty’s additional advice for new students: “Don’t just go to class, go to college. The transformational opportunities that led me to where I am today came from getting involved in Greek life and in Student Government. It’s also how I developed all of my friendships and relationships.”

“Long after I graduate, when I look back on all of my friends and the experiences we share, these will be the times that make college truly special.”

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