{"id":1847,"date":"2026-05-14T08:00:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T08:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/?p=1847"},"modified":"2026-05-08T15:46:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:46:17","slug":"degree-lifelong-memories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/2026\/05\/14\/degree-lifelong-memories\/","title":{"rendered":"A Degree and Lifelong Memories"},"content":{"rendered":"
When Jack Dowling first arrived on Marshall\u2019s campus from Loveland, Ohio, he hoped to find a university that felt welcoming, supportive and full of opportunity. Now, as a new graduate of the Lewis College of Business, he\u2019s leaving with far more than a degree. He\u2019s leaving with unforgettable memories, lifelong friendships and a story that most Herd fans only recognize from the sidelines.<\/p>\n

\"Jack<\/p>\n

\u201cMarshall was the perfect distance from home \u2014 far enough to start my new life, but close enough to still see my family,\u201d Jack said. \u201cI didn\u2019t want a huge school, but I also didn\u2019t want something too small. Marshall\u2019s size was just right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack discovered Marshall while researching colleges with his family. After a virtual tour and campus visit, he quickly felt at home.<\/p>\n

\n\t \u201cBeing Marco has been such a fun and rewarding experience.<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t- Jack Dowling<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

\u201cI loved that you could walk from one side of campus to the other in about 15 minutes,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s such a beautiful campus. I knew pretty quickly this was where I wanted to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally undecided about his major, Jack found his path during his first business class, Principles of Accounting. Hearing from professionals about the many directions within the field sparked his interest and ultimately led him to declare accounting as his major.<\/p>\n

\"Marshall<\/p>\n

That decision opened doors to leadership, networking and hands-on experience through Beta Alpha Psi<\/a>, a professional business fraternity that helped Jack build confidence and secure internship experiences.<\/p>\n

While Jack\u2019s classroom and professional experiences shaped his career path, one role came to define his Marshall experience in an entirely different way.<\/p>\n

Few students can say they spent their college years as one of the most recognizable figures on campus. For Jack, becoming Marco, the university mascot, was more than a fun opportunity \u2014 it became one of the most meaningful experiences of his time at Marshall.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing Marco has been such a fun and rewarding experience,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s no better feeling than putting a smile on someone\u2019s face, taking pictures and making someone\u2019s day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Marshall<\/p>\n

From football games and campus events to community appearances, Jack spent countless hours bringing Herd spirit to life. For him, one moment stands out above the rest.<\/p>\n

\u201cCheering from the sidelines during the Marshall football game against the University of Georgia was unforgettable,\u201d he said. \u201cThe stadium was packed, the energy was incredible, and getting to represent Marshall in that moment meant everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jack<\/p>\n

Through the mascot role, Jack learned leadership, confidence and the power of creating joy for others \u2014 lessons that are sure to stay with him long after graduation.<\/p>\n

Outside of academics and his time as Marco, Jack stayed involved on campus through Greek life. As a member of Kappa Sigma, he held several leadership positions, including vice president, assistant treasurer and risk manager.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoining a fraternity was one of the best decisions I made,\u201d he said. \u201cIt gave me lifelong friends and helped me grow as a leader. Our philanthropy supports veterans and their families, which is something I\u2019m really proud to be part of.\u201d<\/p>\n

Between student organizations, football Saturdays and exploring the beauty of West Virginia, Huntington quickly became Jack\u2019s home away from home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWest Virginia is so underrated. It\u2019s beautiful,\u201d he said. \u201cSome of my favorite memories are road trips through the mountains with friends. Those are moments I\u2019ll always carry with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Jack crossed the commencement stage, he reflected on how far he\u2019s come since first arriving on campus.<\/p>\n

\n\t \u201c\u201cI\u2019m leaving with a degree, incredible experiences and so many unforgettable memories. Choosing Marshall was the best decision I\u2019ve ever made.<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t- Jack Dowling<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

\u201cComing here from out of state was nerve-wracking at first,\u201d he said. \u201cBut putting myself out there changed everything. Between Kappa Sigma, Beta Alpha Psi and being Marco, I built friendships and memories that will last forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking back, he says the decision to attend Marshall shaped both his future and who he has become.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarshall gave me opportunities I never imagined,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m leaving with a degree, incredible experiences and so many unforgettable memories. Choosing Marshall was the best decision I\u2019ve ever made.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Jack Dowling first arrived on Marshall\u2019s campus from Loveland, Ohio, he hoped to find a university that felt welcoming, supportive and full of opportunity. Now, as a new graduate of the Lewis College of Business, he\u2019s leaving with far more than a degree. He\u2019s leaving with unforgettable memories, lifelong friendships and a story that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":198,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-moments"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/198"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1847"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1861,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1847\/revisions\/1861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/moments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}