Catching Up With Lucas Frye
Lucas Frye, who just graduated from the University of Illinois in May 2015, spent his senior year as the student trustee for the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University of Illinois. We caught up with him to ask him about the experience.
Q&A With Lucas Frye
What prompted you to run for student trustee?
I had been in the campus-wide student leadership circles for a few years, and at committee meetings, lunches, etc. the Student Trustee was always the go-to person for whichever administrator was hosting the conversation. Historically, the seat has been held by College of Business or LAS Political Science students that come out of the ranks of Student Government involvement. Coming into Junior year, I truly believed that my past experiences serving in many capacities in the College of ACES, working with the Alumni Association in planning and emceeing large events, and spearheading campus marketing efforts with the Athletic Department for the Assembly Hall Renovation gave me a unique perspective and established relationships into the main units of the University. I was confident in a distinct vision to transform the functionality of the position outside of the Board to the tune of collaborating on a few larger student-led initiatives with the main campus student leaders from across campus. In the end, I put together some creative marketing and crafted a message about my past and prospective plan for the future.
What was the biggest highlight of the year?
All of the unique events and invites were pretty fun to participate in throughout the year. The big board item was the passing of the first college in 60 years in the first-of-its-kind Medical School which was an exciting conversation to be a part of. I would say my top highlight would be split between two. One, would definitely have to be the opportunity to be a part of the interview and selection process for the new President. The second is a sort of compilation of moments. Before each regular meeting there is a bright and early breakfast for the Board and University Officers. At each meeting President Easter, Chair McMillan, and myself would be the first to arrive by almost a half hour. Those ACES-Aggie breakfast conversations will certainly stand out.
What was it like to serve with another Nabor alumnus, Ed McMillan?
Having the opportunity to serve with a fellow Nabor enriched the experience. We are truly blessed to have an alum as the now Chairman of the Board of Trustees, a university leader grounded in Nabor House Ideals. Throughout my short time on the Board, Ed was a consistent voice of reason throughout the conversations and would always advocate on behalf of the rural perspective. I think I told several other Nabors throughout the year, after any major event—be it with alumni, board dinners, or foundation annual meeting, etc.—Ed McMillan would have a line-up of people waiting to talk to him: a simple testament to the relationships he has fostered and the impact he has created throughout all of his service to the University of Illinois.
What goals did you accomplish in your year for U of I students?
My original platform focused on three things: create a cabinet of student leadership from the larger organizations across campus, innovate an online compilation of every event happening on campus daily for students to access easily, and push for more multi-faceted degree tracks. It was exciting to establish the Cabinet and strengthen college student leadership relations. Throughout the year, we collaborated on multiple fronts from working together on start-up solutions to the event streaming idea to a unified attempt at hosting one of the premiere Governor debates on campus last fall. Although it didn’t come to fruition, we hosted a summit with the other state universities’ student leaders on our campus. Lastly, the university strategic plan calls for more interdisciplinary work from faculty to students. From a student initiative, I worked in the last few months to begin conversations around establishing a campus-wide minor in Entrepreneurship. We have several entrepreneurial course offerings and activities, but lack a structured, defined track opened to the masses. Inducing creativity and foundations of business into curriculum offerings is of high interest to students across campus and increased entrepreneurism will be imperative for the future of the university and state of Illinois.
Were there any Nabor ideals that you noticed helping with the experience of being on the BOT?
Cooperation. The Board is comprised of nine individuals appointed by the Governor with no more than five being from one political party, and three student trustees elected by their respective campus—Springfield, Chicago, Urbana. Amongst the group there was certainly a wide range of backgrounds and ideologies. At the end of the day, decisions were made, a majority of the time, in consensus. It was a fascinating process to participate in: articulating views, consensus building, towards the ultimate end decision where everyone was still friends once it is all said and done.
Final Thoughts?
At the capstone of all this, I want to thank Ed McMillan for the mentorship he has provided over the past year, the guys at Nabor House for the support from the campaign through a lot of the house activities that I missed, my two brothers Landon and Logan for leading the way and providing the appropriate amount of critique and motivation throughout. But most importantly my parents for the early Illini exposure they provided the three of us when we were little—those first memories of campus, attending sporting events, and visiting Nabor House—up through graduation made this past year serving as Student Trustee of the University of Illinois that much more special.
I had been in the campus-wide student leadership circles for a few years, and at committee meetings, lunches, etc. the Student Trustee was always the go-to person for whichever administrator was hosting the conversation. Historically, the seat has been held by College of Business or LAS Political Science students that come out of the ranks of Student Government involvement. Coming into Junior year, I truly believed that my past experiences serving in many capacities in the College of ACES, working with the Alumni Association in planning and emceeing large events, and spearheading campus marketing efforts with the Athletic Department for the Assembly Hall Renovation gave me a unique perspective and established relationships into the main units of the University. I was confident in a distinct vision to transform the functionality of the position outside of the Board to the tune of collaborating on a few larger student-led initiatives with the main campus student leaders from across campus. In the end, I put together some creative marketing and crafted a message about my past and prospective plan for the future.
What was the biggest highlight of the year?
All of the unique events and invites were pretty fun to participate in throughout the year. The big board item was the passing of the first college in 60 years in the first-of-its-kind Medical School which was an exciting conversation to be a part of. I would say my top highlight would be split between two. One, would definitely have to be the opportunity to be a part of the interview and selection process for the new President. The second is a sort of compilation of moments. Before each regular meeting there is a bright and early breakfast for the Board and University Officers. At each meeting President Easter, Chair McMillan, and myself would be the first to arrive by almost a half hour. Those ACES-Aggie breakfast conversations will certainly stand out.
What was it like to serve with another Nabor alumnus, Ed McMillan?
Having the opportunity to serve with a fellow Nabor enriched the experience. We are truly blessed to have an alum as the now Chairman of the Board of Trustees, a university leader grounded in Nabor House Ideals. Throughout my short time on the Board, Ed was a consistent voice of reason throughout the conversations and would always advocate on behalf of the rural perspective. I think I told several other Nabors throughout the year, after any major event—be it with alumni, board dinners, or foundation annual meeting, etc.—Ed McMillan would have a line-up of people waiting to talk to him: a simple testament to the relationships he has fostered and the impact he has created throughout all of his service to the University of Illinois.
What goals did you accomplish in your year for U of I students?
My original platform focused on three things: create a cabinet of student leadership from the larger organizations across campus, innovate an online compilation of every event happening on campus daily for students to access easily, and push for more multi-faceted degree tracks. It was exciting to establish the Cabinet and strengthen college student leadership relations. Throughout the year, we collaborated on multiple fronts from working together on start-up solutions to the event streaming idea to a unified attempt at hosting one of the premiere Governor debates on campus last fall. Although it didn’t come to fruition, we hosted a summit with the other state universities’ student leaders on our campus. Lastly, the university strategic plan calls for more interdisciplinary work from faculty to students. From a student initiative, I worked in the last few months to begin conversations around establishing a campus-wide minor in Entrepreneurship. We have several entrepreneurial course offerings and activities, but lack a structured, defined track opened to the masses. Inducing creativity and foundations of business into curriculum offerings is of high interest to students across campus and increased entrepreneurism will be imperative for the future of the university and state of Illinois.
Were there any Nabor ideals that you noticed helping with the experience of being on the BOT?
Cooperation. The Board is comprised of nine individuals appointed by the Governor with no more than five being from one political party, and three student trustees elected by their respective campus—Springfield, Chicago, Urbana. Amongst the group there was certainly a wide range of backgrounds and ideologies. At the end of the day, decisions were made, a majority of the time, in consensus. It was a fascinating process to participate in: articulating views, consensus building, towards the ultimate end decision where everyone was still friends once it is all said and done.
Final Thoughts?
At the capstone of all this, I want to thank Ed McMillan for the mentorship he has provided over the past year, the guys at Nabor House for the support from the campaign through a lot of the house activities that I missed, my two brothers Landon and Logan for leading the way and providing the appropriate amount of critique and motivation throughout. But most importantly my parents for the early Illini exposure they provided the three of us when we were little—those first memories of campus, attending sporting events, and visiting Nabor House—up through graduation made this past year serving as Student Trustee of the University of Illinois that much more special.