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David Paul Strohecker
Sociology
David Paul Strohecker is a junior
Sociology major and Asian Studies
minor with a Certificate in Gender
Issues. He was born in Skenectady,
New York, on July 2, 1985, and spent
the majority of his childhood moving
all over the United States before
landing a firm footing in Plano,
Texas, where he spent his
adolescence. Throughout his
childhood, David was exposed to the
cultures of the Far East, where his
father routinely did business for
various nuclear energy
transnationals and international
corporations. His interest in
foreign cultures has thus been
ingrained from an early age, and his
current emphasis on East Asia is not
at all surprising.
Throughout high school, David held
various leadership positions in
student government, athletics, and
other extracurricular clubs and
activities. His wide-range of
interests and keen ability to work
with all types of people awarded him
the chance to become an active
member in his school and community.
As Chairman for Health and Human
Safety, he successfully implemented
the largest one-day blood drive in
the nation to date and was awarded
the Carter Bloodcare Excellence
Award for this endeavor, receiving
nation-wide publicity for this
success. Not to be outdone with
community service alone, David was
also an active member of the male
cheerleading squad for his high
school, where he was named Captain
of White Guard for his 2005 Senior
Class. He also held the position of
Chairman of Student Services, where
he was able to delegate and organize
the school’s pep rallies, social
events, and eventually oversee the
planning of the high school’s senior
prom. He was named “Who’s Who Among
American High School Students” for
2005 and graduated with both
academic honors and scholarships
awarded.
David attended the University of
Texas at Austin, where he studied as
an Asian Studies major and was able
to further develop his keen interest
in foreign affairs and East Asian
culture. After falling seriously ill
and fracturing his spine, David
decided to heed the calling to be
with his siblings, and he soon
transferred to Texas A&M University
where his elder brother and younger
sister were in the Corps.
During his first year at Texas A&M,
David became an active member of
Japan Club and was a regular
participant in roundtable
conversation practice activities.
He has continued to thrive
academically and has been awarded
the Dean’s Honor Award for academic
excellence throughout his college
career both in Austin and College
Station. As the assistant manager
and events coordinator of Coffee
Station, a local barista bar and
coffeehouse, David has been able to
become an active member in local
arts and the community. He has
hosted a variety of musical events
and philanthropic activities at the
coffee house, and continues to book
concerts and fundraisers for local
charities.
Entering his junior year at
Aggieland, David has begun learning
Mandarin and hopes to study aboard
in summer 2008 in China or Taiwan.
He has been chosen as a delegate and
representative to attend the 2007
China-U.S. Foreign Relations Forum
in Washington D.C. this fall, and
will be meeting with Chinese
delegates and students to discuss
contemporary development, security,
and economic concerns facing
Sino-American relations.
As the sole proprietor of his
parents’ real estate investments,
David leases rooms out to
international students and practices
his language skills on a regular
basis with his Chinese-speaking
tenants. As the Chairman of
International Affairs for the
Student Government Diversity
Committee, David is adamant about
improving the educational
experiences of minority students and
those visiting Aggieland from
abroad. He plans on attending
graduate school, and hopes his
entrance into the Academy for Future
Leaders will allow him to further
his knowledge of international
affairs by providing an outlet with
which to engage in social welfare
and public activism.
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