Staff Writer- Amelia Dewberry

This week’s Gustie of the Week is Senior Brandon Wilcek. Wilcek is highly visible on campus as a Swim and Dive Captain, Gustie Greeter, Captain of a Caring Hands team, Co-President of Pre-Physician Assistant Club, and a member of Pediatric Cancer Outreach Crew and Tri-Beta. 

For Wilcek, involvement in student organizations has been essential to his Gustavus experience. “They all allow me to explore my different interests, and the community built within each club is great. Being involved has allowed me to meet so many amazing individuals on campus. I also love that I am able to make an impact in the Gustie community and beyond!” Wilcek said. 

He appreciates that Gustavus allows him to grow not only academically but also as an individual: “I can learn from my peers, professors, and the Gustie community as a whole. Every day when I am on campus, I know that everyone will say hi!”

Wilcek’s impact in the Gustie community is marked by his extraordinary leadership across his variety of roles. Director of Campus Activities Andrea Junso has worked with Wilcek in the Gustie Greeter program. She describes his leadership as “both visible and deeply collaborative.” Wilcek helped facilitate new and transfer student orientation and January transfer student orientation, translating feedback into action to improve the program. 

“He consistently demonstrates that leadership is not about position or recognition, but about showing up with integrity, reliability, and a genuine desire to support others. His presence on campus is marked by positivity and a deep sense of responsibility to the communities he serves,” Junso commented. 

Being a student-athlete has been a highlight of Wilcek’s time at Gustavus. He has enjoyed swimming on the 7-time repeating men’s MIAC championship teams and dual championing with the women for three years in a row. “Our team culture is wonderful, and I am so thankful to be a student-athlete at Gustavus,” Wilcek added. 

Assistant Swimming Coach & Recruiting Coordinator Luke Weyandt has coached Wilcek for the past three years. He noted Wilcek’s impact on the Gustavus Swim & Dive team. “The world needs more Brandon Wilceks! His willingness to serve the team as a leader through his words and actions has been one that fellow teammates have modeled after,” Weyandt said. “I’m sad he is graduating, but excited for his journey forward! The definition of a Gustie Student-Athlete!”

As a Biology major, Wilcek has appreciated learning from a caring faculty. He expressed, “I love that I can learn about various topics in Biology and that the faculty cares about my learning. They truly want me to grow as a learner and learn more about myself.”

Wilcek spent fall break in Belize on a department trip with Senior Continuing Assistant Professor of Biology Amy Kochsiek. “He got along well with all the other students, he was resilient when things didn’t go perfectly, and he was just an all-around joy to get to know,” Kochsiek described.

After he graduates this spring, Wilcek will attend Physician Assistant school at Sullivan University in Louisville, Kentucky, beginning this summer. It is clear that Wilcek’s sustained commitment to learning, leadership, and service will serve him well in his next step. 

As he prepares to leave Gustavus, Wilcek’s advice for younger students is to “try new things and meet new people! Live life ready to explore and learn from new perspectives!”