THE CARROLL NEWS: Senior Schroeder excels on links, in classroom

Senior Schroeder excels on links, in classroom
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Tim Ertle on 17 April, 2008 02:00:00
 
John Carroll University senior Paul Schroeder spends a lot of his time playing
golf. He attempts to play  every day of the week. Schroeder commutes 35 to 40
minutes to Fowler’s Mill Golf Course in Chesterland to play nine holes a
day, 18 holes when he can find the time.
But his days are not filled with just fun and games. After he hits the links he
hits the books. And Schroeder hits the books hard. 
In order to be a student-athlete, you obviously have to be a student.
That’s where Paul Schroeder really starts to separate himself from the
rest.
Schroeder, a native of Strongsville, Ohio and graduate of Padua Franciscan High
School, is a chemistry major with a biochemistry and molecular biology
concentration. 
He was the recipient of the Outstanding Student Award for general chemistry,
organic chemistry and analytical chemistry and owns a 3.98 grade point
average. 
Schroeder was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American
third-team, one of just two JCU athletes to receive that high honor.
On top of his golf team responsibilities, he is also a member of the JCU
singing group Rhapsody Blue.
“I was able to combine a successful academic career while implementing my
musical and athletic talents here at JCU,” he said.
Schroeder will graduate from JCU in May, but his academic career is far from
over. 
He is set to begin an eight-year program through the University of
Toledo’s College of Medicine. As a result of his fantastic academic
record, Schroeder is receiving a full tuition scholarship for both medical and
graduate school.
The first two years of the program will be spent in traditional medical
school. 
After that, Schroeder will spend his next four years in graduate school,
earning his Ph.D. in a science-related field. 
The last two years will be spent finishing medical school. Schroeder will leave
the program with both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees.
Schroeder hopes to become a physician’s scientist. “I hope to see
patients once or twice a week while also working in the lab during the other
days in order to research the diseases affecting my patients,” he
said. 
“I want to work in oncology or cardiology and take what I see with the
patients back to the lab, see if there are any commonalities, and then research
eliminating the mechanism that is causing the disease.”
Now that he has been accepted to medical school, Schroeder can shift focus back
to golf – where he is equally accomplished. 
Schroeder is a four-year letter winner for the Blue Streaks and has been the
squad’s No. 1 golfer each of the past two seasons. He has twice earned
All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors for his outstanding play.
Schroeder will have an opportunity to earn All-OAC honors for the third time at
the end of this month – an accomplishment he has thought about. “To
be named All-OAC for the third time would be way beyond the expectations I had
for myself before coming to JCU. I would love to make this season count,
especially because it is my senior season. I’ve been playing really well
lately, and I’ve put a lot of hard work in so hopefully I can make it
happen again.”
As his career at JCU comes to a close, Schroeder is thankful for the time he
spent here. Like most seniors, he will be sad to see his time in University
Heights come to an end.
“If our team does reach the NCAA Tournament, that would be a terrific
memory to take with me.”
Aside from the successes on the links and in the classroom, Schroeder was able
to perform the National Anthem with Rhapsody Blue at Progressive Field and
traveled as far as Denver to present research he conducted with the chemistry
department.
By all accounts, Schroeder had a successful career at JCU.
In a day and age when college athletics are a hundred-million dollar a year
business and athletic programs have graduation rates lower than a standout
basketball players shooting percentage, Paul Schroeder is a breath of fresh air
and the epitome of what college athletics should really be about.
NCAA commercials remind fans that “most college athletes go pro in
something other than sports.”
Paul Schroeder is one of those – except most college athletes don’t
go pro in the medical field.