Author, www.innocencebetrayedbyclergy.com

I’m the proud father of four wonderful daughters. Since graduating from Hillsdale, I’ve taught and coached at the junior high school level. In the business community, I spent many years as an account representative with Hilti International. Recently, I’ve co-authored a book called “Innocence Betrayed – A Dad’s Story of Clergy Misconduct” with my high school sweetheart, Helen Wisocki. It’s about professional exploitation and misconduct, and we’ve written a companion workbook for individuals and for group discussions to bring awareness to the techniques used in the “grooming process” and where to go for help.

Having smaller class sizes at Hillsdale College, I was free to ask as many questions as needed, which helped me tremendously to learn at a faster rate. Many professors after class would comment on how grateful they were that I was not afraid to ask questions. That was very important to me. It also taught me to be an independent thinker.

If you really have a desire to learn at your own rate and ask questions in a small class environment, Hillsdale College is the place to be. My friends who went to colleges with large class sizes had to learn from the professor speaking from a big-screen television. I wouldn’t have learned as much in that type of setting and been able to ask questions like I did. I felt extremely lucky attending Hillsdale College.

Seven members of my family have graduated from Hillsdale College. I first started coming to visit Hillsdale when I was in grade school to watch my oldest cousin play on the football team. I knew Hillsdale and remembered it from my childhood, so it was like home for me! All of us who have attended have fond memories of the school that made us who we are today!

I learned to always believe in myself as a person at Hillsdale. It helped to prepare me to take on difficult obstacles in life and business. I’m a better quality person because of the wonderful family values I learned along the way. But most of all, it’s the people that I met at Hillsdale; they always made me feel that I was part of an extended family!

My athletic career was the highlight of my Hillsdale experience. I humbly played for the College Football Hall of Fame Coach Muddy Waters as a four-year member of the Hillsdale football team. Coach Muddy Waters was a great person, and I was lucky to meet and learn from him. He believed in me right out of high school and gave me the opportunity to attend Hillsdale. He taught me that it’s not the size of the man, but the size of the heart of the man that matters most. Starting way back in that very special fall of 1969, I want to thank my teammates for all the wonderful memories we shared. Thank you, Hillsdale College!

curtszajnecki@comcast.net