Foster MSO President
06/27/2022
Karl Foster '24
Foster extends welcoming community
Karl Foster ’24, a sport and recreation leadership major from Detroit, Mich., chose Bluffton University because “from my first visit, it felt like home.”
“The community was great,” said Foster. “Everybody was really friendly.”
As the incoming president of Multicultural Student Organization (MSO), Foster is preparing to welcome a new class of students to Bluffton this fall just as he was welcomed in his first year.
“The upperclassmen were really helping out the different students. As I made my way through the program, I also wanted to be that helping hand for the new students coming in and give them the same treatment that I got when I came in,” said Foster, who previously served as vice president. “I want to show them that they’re welcome.”
On the academic side, Foster declined to name a favorite professor and instead shared that they’ve all provided a “helping hand.” However, he credits more time in the Learning Resource Center with Jacqui Slinger, director of academic development services, and Christy Garmatter, tutoring and accommodations coordinator, for helping him with study habits and skills to improve his grades during the spring semester.
“I put more hours in and focused,” said Foster. “They’re [Slinger and Garmatter] very good at tutoring and keeping you on track.”
Foster is also a student-athlete and plays defensive back for Beavers Football. However, he initially pursued basketball and didn’t play football until his freshman year of high school.
“Everything just clicked with football,” said Foster, who has a coaching minor. “I really want to get into coaching because I just want to be around the sport and help little kids find the dream that I found.”
This summer, Foster is working at Wannemacher Total Logistics in Lima, whose chairman Greg Wannemacher ’77 is a Bluffton football alum. He’s also utilizing the fitness center in Sommer Center to get in shape for the fall.
“I feel like the program is more team oriented,” said Foster, of the leadership of Coach Matthew Nardo. “We’re going to have a great season.”