Eric Armbrust is an inspired guy. Among his favorite quotes: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” He is always ready for adventure, especially if it involves the outdoors and helping humanity.<\/p>\n
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The Eagan native will graduate from Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ in December with a degree in business administration. His interests are quite broad, however. Armbrust has been winter camping in the Boundary Waters, kayaking in Montana and hiking the Superior Hiking Trail. At Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, he has volunteered with Bemidji’s homeless, sung with the Bemidji Choir and worked with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Foundation.<\/p>\n
One of his dreams is to build a program that brings inner city and suburban youth together to explore the outdoors and their relationship with God. “I’d like to help students and young adults realize that there’s a lot more to life than what you’re born into,” he said.<\/p>\n
A natural at sales and fundraising, Armbrust gravitated to business. In elementary school, he once gathered nearly 200 marathon pledges to raise $900. In high school, he raised funds so friends who otherwise couldn’t afford camps could still attend. Then in college, he spent two summers selling books door-to-door, once finishing 23rd in sales out of 3,000 interns.<\/p>\n
Chris Hoffman of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ student services first met Armbrust at a high school wilderness canoe camp on Lake of the Woods. Armbrust stood out as a leader.<\/p>\n
“He modeled enthusiasm … brought everybody’s enthusiasm up,” said Hoffman, who suggested he explore Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ. Armbrust did.<\/p>\n
“The first time I came here, I fell in love with it,” Armbrust said. “It was the combination of the small community and the outdoors. It was the kind of place that could impact me and I could impact it.”<\/p>\n
In high school, Armbrust joined Young Life, a national faith-based youth organization that sparked his passion for community service. In 2011, he started a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ chapter of Young Life, the first student-led college chapter in the nation. Club gatherings sometimes draw nearly 50 students. In the fall, he plans to raise funds for a paid director position.<\/p>\n
This summer, Armbrust is volunteering at a Young Life camp in Colorado and then on an organic farm in Alaska through another organization, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. “I’ve never worked on an organic farm, and I love gaining world perspective,” he said of his next adventure.<\/p>\n
His life motto: “Make a difference every day.”<\/p>\n
“I just never want to lose that spark,” he said.<\/p>\n