photo by Globe Photographer
Julian Singleton, a native from Dover, PA., is a biology major who is involved with University Singers, USG president, cheerleader and orientation leader. He will be joining the National Guard June 6.
Mornings starting at 6:30 a.m. are almost unheard of for college students, but when your schedule is filled as much as Julian Singleton’s, getting up early is a necessary and usual practice when trying to cram everything that needs to be done into a short 24 hours.
Singleton, 23, a biology major from Dover, Pa., is not only busy with science classes and work, but is also president of the United Student Government (USG).
“It’s been a long four years with its share of challenges and triumphs,” Singleton said.
Singleton has been a part of USG since he was a freshman. He credits his involvement with the organization to a previous member who suggested he apply.
“Ever since then, I’ve gotten as involved as I could with student government. I’ve always loved it,” Singleton said.
He was a senator until his junior year when the previous USG president approached him and asked him to run for his position. Singleton agreed and ended up running unopposed for the presidential position.
“I really care about Point Park,” he said. “Student government is the right thing for me.”
Singleton said it was a great learning experience, and it especially taught him how to react in different situations.
“Sometimes you have to be in a room with your peers and be in charge of them. Then there are situations when you’re just another friend,” Singleton said. “It’s weird to be a student in charge of other students, but you make great connections with professors and other students.”
During his term as president, Singleton worked toward a change in the food service, but this project was delayed because of false accusations he faced during the first semester of his senior year.
Aside from the business of daily life, Singleton enjoys singing and was originally going to attend Point Park for musical theatre. Although he changed his major to biology, he still participates in University Singers, the choir on campus. Singleton is also a cheerleader for Point Park and an orientation leader.
“Being an orientation leader is definitely the best job there is on campus,” Singleton said. “You get to hang in Pittsburgh over [the] summer, and you get to meet freshmen. The best part is that you get to see a transition in the students. You can look at them a year later and see a difference and how Point Park has changed them.”
After college, Singleton plans to attend dental school at the University of Pittsburgh to become an oral surgeon or a pediatric dentist.
“It’s the only thing I’ve wanted to do since I was 10,” he said.
On June 9, Singleton is leaving for the National Guard, inspired by his father and brothers’ military careers.
Singleton is mostly motivated by his brothers, but by some of his professors, too. Laura Frost, associate professor of biology and assistant director of the Honors Program, said she pushes him and inspires him with all of his work.
Frost said she had the privilege of watching Singleton mature into a young leader.
“It’s very rewarding to watch that sort of transformation and nice to be a part of it,” Frost said.
Frost said she knows the amount of extracurricular activities Singleton takes on and encourages him academically.
“He’s impacted the Point Park community, and I’m sure he will have the opportunity to influence others once he leaves here,” Frost said. “I’m proud of him. He¹s the kind of student that we should all be proud of, and he’s going to go on to bigger and better things.”
