Fall 2007 - Northwestern College

Northwestern Classic
Roger Ewoldt
Facevalue
Roger Ewoldt
Accountant, loan collector, ping pong player
What is your role at NWC?
I generate the monthly budget
reports for the department
chairpersons and the Administrative
Council. A lot of my
work is with loan collections.
I also do exit interviews with
students who are leaving the
college.
Why do you value working
at Northwestern?
It’s a place that makes a difference
in a lot of people’s
lives, and I like being a part
of that.
What is your unique perspective
on the college?
I see the quality of the graduates
versus those from a lot
of other schools. That’s
reflected even in our loan
default rates. Our graduates
feel an obligation and a connection
with the school, so
they’re willing to repay and
support Northwestern.
What has surprised you
about students’ comments
in their exit interviews?
The level of satisfaction
among people who are not
returning for various reasons.
They rate Northwestern
very high in most
areas. They’re leaving for
another academic program
or for some other reason, but
they still feel good about
their NWC experience.
Describe yourself in
three words.
Quiet, active and
competitive.
What do you value?
Family, spiritual things and
keeping busy. I’m always
busy doing something; I
don’t like to sit.
What are your hobbies?
I go camping and fishing
when I can. I play ping pong
or pool at lunch in the student
center. I basically take
on all comers, even if they
whip me pretty good.
What is it about ping pong
and pool that is fun for
you?
The competitiveness of it.
And I enjoy the time away
from the office and the
opportunity to interact with
students a little.
Do you have a secret
weapon in ping pong?
I use a lot of spin on the ball.
How did you feel about the
game room’s demolition as
part of the RSC renovation?
It’s been underutilized, so I
could see it coming. But I
was sad to see it go.
How else does your competitiveness
come out?
I played cribbage a lot when
I served in the Navy as an
electronics technician. I used
to have five guys playing the
other hand, trying to beat
me. I got a kick out of it.
One guy always bugged me
to play for money. I said, OK,
a dime a game, a penny a
point. I had won $3 dollars
after 3 games, and he said,
“Let’s just play for fun.”
What do you hope for?
Continued good health and
being able to see my children
and grandchildren grow up.
What are you about?
I try to treat others as I’d like
to be treated myself.
A 1974 Northwestern graduate with a business administration degree, Roger
Ewoldt has been an accountant in the NWC business office for 30 years.
10 ▲ Fall 2007