Colleen Coleman-

Benji Huff is a Senior Geography and Religion double major, an academic assistant for the Religion Department, President of the United Christian Ministries, Co-President of the Environmental Action Coalition, President of the Whittling Club, on the President’s Environmental Sustainability Council, a Team Development Leader for the Gustie Guides, and a Gustie Greeter. Huff is also involved with Gustavus Youth Outreach, Proclaim, has been a Geography TA in the past, and sings in Chapel Choir.

One of Huff’s favorite parts about Gustavus is the connections made. “Coming into Gustavus, I was hoping to maybe have a group of friends, do my classes, and that would be it. I’ve found that it’s so easy to be involved with so many things, and there’s a huge network of people that are out there doing ‘the Gustavus Thing,’ which is being very involved in everything and being really friendly,” Huff said.

As a Gustie Greeter, Huff enjoys the involvement in the community. “Being a greeter this year and helping with first-year orientation is a really unique experience. Gustavus has a very comprehensive orientation model and that is very much in part to the style of leadership that is shown by the greeters,” Huff said. His role as a Gustie Guide also shows his commitment to the Gustavus community according to Wendy Bachman, Campus Visit Coordinator in Admission. “As a Gustie Guide, he exemplifies all that is awesome about Gusties and his visiting families adore him,” Bachman said.

Fellow Greeter and Senior Chloe Keller considers herself lucky and grateful to be friends with Huff. “Through all these interactions with him… being in Greeters together, in class together, and coworkers, I have always admired his ability to bring people together through his words and compassion. Benji is such a kind-hearted soul and one that is needed in our world,” Keller said. Another fellow Greeter and Junior, Addison Schloo, states that one of her favorite memories of Huff was when he “demonstrated his excellent dueling abilities while wearing some amazing neon pink shorts. Let’s just say that I would not want to be challenged by Benji in battle, especially if the pink shorts are involved!”

Huff considers being involved in Christmas in Christ Chapel as his favorite experiences at Gustavus, this being his fourth year participating in Chapel Choir. Huff sees CinCC as a capstone of all of his involvement on campus, with choir and various religious involvements. “When I met Benji my freshman year after joining Chapel Choir, I immediately knew he was someone I wanted to become friends with,” Schloo said. Dr. Andrew Kendall, director of Chapel Choir, describes Huff as the type of person who represents the best of Gustavus. “I know Benji’s positivity and outgoing personality are a true light to those around him and his positive influence is infectious to all whom he encounters,” Kendall said.

Numerous Gusties have noticed Huff’s positive spirit ever since his first year. “We met freshman year in the basement of Pittman… He is super friendly and outgoing, and he also always brings energy into whatever he does,” Senior Will Eikens said.

Huff’s excellence has been noticed in the classroom just as much as in his extracurriculars. “I have had Benji in my World Geography and Energy Geography courses, and he is just as positive and energetic in the classroom as he is in our Gustavus community,” Dr. Tiffany Grobelski said. Jodi Maas, Assistant Director of Church Relations, describes seeing Huff as a bright spot in her day. “His inquisitive personality brings a lot of joy to our office when he stops by,” Maas said. “When talking to Benji, he is the kind of person who is truly present and sincerely interested in you. He has a great sense of humor, radiates a warm kindness, and is wise beyond his years,” Chaplain Grady St. Dennis said.

Huff would advise first-years or prospective students to fully immerse themselves into life at Gustavus. “Completely jump in – whatever you put in is what you’re going to get out of your college experience,” Huff said. “Fully jumping into your classes, being a voice, finding groups of people who do things you like, and joining organizations and clubs, which is something that Gustavus does really well,” Huff added.

Huff shows this immersive lifestyle with his involvement and reformation as the president of the Whittling Club. Huff worked on transforming the Whittling Club from a small group of friends in his sophomore year, to numbers in the thirties and forties of today. “I’ve been very proud of the way that I’ve built and made this club public. There’s a large network of people who know the Whittling Club and I’m proud to be in it, especially for something as unique as whittling where we have a lot of new people trying it and loving it,” stated Huff. Huff also noted that it’s similar to the style of outreach he does, which is “non-conventional and lighthearted.”

After walking the graduation stage in May, Huff plans to hike the Appalachian Trail down in Georgia from summer through the fall. After, Huff plans to live and work in the community of Holden Village in the Northern Cascades of Washington State.