Benton Simpson

Political Science/Criminal Justice

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Class Year: 2025

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Why did you choose to attend UE?

I chose UE because of the extremely welcoming environment. I came for a campus visit and it was so organized, and everyone was so helpful. I also would receive letters and postcards that were handwritten by students and admission counselors. To me that showed how much UE valued me as a prospective student, and that feeling has continued and expanded during my time as a student here.

What activities or organizations have you been involved with at UE? How have these impacted your college career?

I have been involved in Admission Ambassadors, the Student Government Association, the University of Evansville Leadership Academy, and Phi Gamma Delta. These organizations gave me a great integration into campus life. Right from the start these organizations helped me find a group of people with similar interests, working for a similar goal. It made me feel like part of the community and allowed me to meet a wide range of people on campus. It also allowed me to get my face and name out there, which really increased the opportunities that were being presented to me. It helped build an early relationship with faculty, even if they weren’t my major, and it allowed me to make friends with a wide range of people. This made it easy to find someone to turn to for advice on all subject matters.

Through these organizations, I have also gained immense amounts of leadership experience that will give me a major head start on my career path. I have been able to lead groups of people and manage a wide range of projects.

Why do you recommend UE?

I recommend UE because it allows students to gain as much experience as they can set their minds to. There are amazing faculty that give you personalized attention whenever you need it. You are bound to learn something if you’re willing to apply yourself, and no matter what, you can take the lead on something and get the real hands-on experience that will benefit you for the rest of your life. The small size makes it easy to succeed.

What advice would you share with incoming students?

I would advise incoming students to get involved in a good number of organizations, but don’t be afraid to say no to something if it's not your thing or you just don’t have time. Involvement is important, but over involvement can be detrimental. It is also important to remember that time doesn’t stop, and your time here is limited. Study, get good grades, but don’t be afraid to make mistakes or drop the ball every now and then. You need to have fun sometimes to remember why it’s important to work hard.