Jacob Zerull | Student

A Full Plate

When Jacob Zerull ’29 arrived at DePauw from his hometown of Lake Forest Ill., he wasted no time making his mark across campus.

“My approach has been to stay engaged and keep myself busy,” he says. “Some people value having plenty of free time, and I respect that approach. I’ve just never been a big fan of hanging out with nothing to do.”

Within his first year, Zerull secured a seat on the Allocations Board of DePauw Student Government, worked with the admission office as an overnight host, served as an ambassador for the Management Fellows Program, started laying the foundation for two new campus organizations, photographed the Monon Bell game at field level for The DePauw newspaper, joined the DePauw Investment Group and filled a spreadsheet with alumni and business leaders he was able to connect with. It’s not that he felt obligated to do all these things; he simply enjoys the process of building relationships with new people and making a difference in his community.

“Being involved in my high school was something that was very important to me,” says Zerull, “so I really wanted to get involved in the club atmosphere here, as well. I’ve been trying to load up on doing things that I love to do.”

Yet Zerull’s path to DePauw was somewhat accidental. Originally, he had his sights set on attending a larger school. It was through a family friend that he became aware of an entirely different option – a small liberal arts university located in Greencastle, Ind.

“I applied to DePauw after a quick campus visit based on a recommendation from an alum,” he says. “I really wasn’t sure what to expect. But once I got on campus, it left an impression on me. It stayed on my list throughout the whole college application process, and what ended up putting it over the top was when I heard someone tell me to love the school that loves you back. From the start, DePauw had loved me, and I had fallen in love with it. When I heard that phrase, I realized DePauw was the right fit.”

Now that he’s fully immersed in his collegiate studies, Zerull admits that he doesn’t see himself learning effectively in a large lecture hall. Instead, he’s found that he thrives in an environment where he can develop intentional points of connection with professors and peers, both inside and outside the classroom.

“Having meaningful relationships with professors has opened up opportunities I never would have heard of and never would have expected,” he says. “That's why I always encourage people to engage closely and make meaningful connections with their professors. Without that, I don't know where I'd be.”

Although he hit the ground running as a first-year student, Zerull has no plans to slow down. He wants to maximize his time at DePauw and continue finding new ways to invest in the people he comes in contact with.

“The number one thing I hope to get out of these four years is meaningful relationships,” he says. “I want to be able to come out of DePauw and go, ‘Wow, I made so many amazing friends.’ At the end of the day, I just want to make a positive impact.”