Member Monday- Connor Jacobs

If you can't find Connor Jacobs at a coffee shop or longboarding around campus, he is probably brainstorming ideas for Colleges Against Cancer.  

Tell us about yourself.

From Algonquin, Ill. with dreams of making it out to LA, I am a junior majoring in public relations, even if it takes me another four years. I love coffee, trying to eat healthy and play basketball too much. As for hobbies, you’ll find me longboarding around campus, playing guitar or doing something music-related. I am an unashamed “Game of Thrones” nerd, hoping to finish up my second reread by the time season four officially starts.  

What is your role and involvement with ISU Relay for Life and ISU Colleges Against Cancer?

As President of Colleges Against Cancer, my typical day consists of meetings with our advisers, team members, American Cancer Society and groups around campus such as athletics, to brainstorm and plan for our events to promote cancer awareness, like during Breast Cancer Awareness Week and Relay for Life. Relay for Life, which takes place on the quad on Friday, April 25, is our biggest fundraising effort along with the biggest philanthropic event at ISU. Since I am in a management role, my focus is on managing our team, making sure we meet our goals and staying on task.  

Why is this an important and meaningful cause for you to be a part of?

With cancer being such a widespread disease, we all have loved ones whose lives have been altered by cancer. For me, it clicked when my dad was diagnosed with leukemia my freshman year of college. His diagnosis reminded me that this disease does not discriminate, and we all can and should take action to fight back against cancer.  

How has your public relations and PRSSA experiences helped you in your role for the organization?

Public relations and PRSSA has definitely made me a stronger leader and also more creative when it comes to promoting our events, especially with social media. We have gained around 175 Facebook likes this year and about 50 Twitter followers. With so many incredibly talented people in our Chapter and major, I am always learning, and I like to think a little bit of their talent has rubbed off on me.  

What is your favorite part of working to end the fight against cancer, and why should more students get involved?

One reason more students should get involved with Colleges Against Cancer or any philanthropic group is for how rewarding it is. For Valentine’s Day, we donated flowers to survivors at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, and it was incredible to see how much hope flowers and some kind words can give someone, even if it just distracted them from treatment for a little while. It was truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. My favorite part about working with Colleges Against Cancer is that once we finally finish the fight against cancer, just like we have with every other major disease that has haunted this earth, I will be able to smile and I know I played a small role. 

If you are interested in joining our team or making a Relay team of your own, check us out on Facebook or Twitter at ISU Colleges Against Cancer and @ISURelayForLife.  


Questions composed by Lisa Crocco

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