Ryan Polite - Admissons Counselor
Ryan Polite, who is originally from Dallas, Texas, and graduated from Evangel University in the Spring of ’09 with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in General Science and Legal Studies, is now an admissions counselor EU. However, a job in recruiting students to come Evangel was definitely an unforeseen job choice for someone who only a few years ago had never even heard of the Assemblies of God.
“My senior year I was at practice for the [Dallas/Fort Worth] football all star game and I met with coach Gehring. He told me about Evangel and that they wanted to recruit me. My parents wanted me to go to ORU where my brother graduated from,” Polite said; adding, “ORU didn’t have a football team so I was still looking for a university I could play at when Evangel came along. So, I went for it and loved it.”
Polite’s passion for physical sports and hobbies has led him to multiple doors of opportunity. Like many men, Polite says he enjoys football, basketball, rock climbing and pretty much anything competitive.
“My grandpa was a famous boxer in New Orleans and had the knockout record for his weight class back in the day,” Polite said, “I started trying Muay Thai in high school and played around with it all through college.”
His interest in Muay Thai boxing in combination with a school trip afforded him an experience unique to most Americans. On a trip to Thailand in the summer of 2008, Polite got to a chance to study the martial art in its country of origin. Polite said, “ [I] won my first Professional fight when I knocked out a Thai fighter.”
Polite says he love being able to connect with prospective students as an admissions counselor, and hopes to stay in Springfield for a while. “I didn't see being an admissions counselor in my future before it happened, but the Lord has a way of doing that with you. I know he has given me certain desires and interests but I'm not sure how I will end up using them just yet, so I guess I'm still waiting on that,” said Polite.