The Communique

Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Feature

Media Credit: Racheal Kephart Reverend Phillip E. Schmitt said he is ready to share his knowledge with the students of Kirkwood.

"I would like people to know that I am available not just to students but faculty," the Rev. Phillip E. Schmitt, Kirkwood Community College's campus chaplain, said.

Schmitt worked with Kirkwood for 11 years before taking a job that required him to leave Cedar Rapids but in 2000 he returned. " [The college] used to refer students to me now they don't even know I'm here. I've been here seven years now and people don't know who I am," he said.

The Reverend began his life in humbled beginnings. He said he grew up in a German Catholic community. "I always wanted to be a priest and in my community it was just understood that if a child wanted to be a priest they would be one, no one objected," said Schmitt. "I have always said if you ever want to get away with something just tell them [teachers] you want to be a priest."

"I wasn't bad but I was always stirring something up," he said.

He attended Loras College for seminary training and was ordained 51 years ago in Dubuque. He then began teaching in what has become a very long list of schools and worked in several churches. He has a degree in Latin, as well as a degree in philosophy and masters degrees in counseling and education administration. He said he taught a wide range of subjects including religion, Latin, speech, drama and English. He coached baseball and basketball and served as the Metropolitan Coordinator of Catholic Education. Schmitt said he started teaching because he thought "if I was supposed to coordinate the schools I needed to know who I was doing it for."

"I just love being with young people and seeing them grow and having some influence with them," he added.

Schmitt said he still gets invited to class reunions of the first class that he ever taught at Regis High School in Cedar Rapids.

He said he remembers a young girl who was the daughter of someone he studied with and she used to sit on his lap and say 'Father some day you will marry me.' When she was grown Schmitt said she called him and said, 'Father you promised me you would marry me when I found someone.' He said, "It's times like that that make it all worth it."

"It's true that not everyone needs me all the time but when they do I add a spiritual aspect to counseling that some of the other counselors don't," said Schmitt.

"Some people are uncomfortable talking with me about their personal problems," he said. He added he is always open to talking to student no matter how big or small their issue may be.

"If you're sick, how sick do you have to be before you ask for help? If you need to talk about something, if its interfering with your school work or life, I am here to help you bounce ideas off," said Schmitt.

Schmitt is available to students and faculty at any time and can be reached on e-mail at DBQPSchmitt@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us or by phone at 319-895-0404. He can also be reached at the student life office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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