For Austin Karstetter, being involved in his community is easy.
Diamond Koloski | Argonaut
ASUI presidential candidate Austin Karstetter campaigns Monday in the Idaho Commons. He is running with vice presidential candidate Cruz Botello.
Karstetter, one of the two candidates running for ASUI president, is an international studies and organizational science major with a marketing minor from Quincy, Washington, and is the current ASUI Communications Board Chair. He is also a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, Student Alumni Relations Board and Homecoming Committee. He said when he isn”t busy with work or school, he enjoys swimming at the UI Swim Center, skiing and engaging with other students.
Karstetter said he has been doing that since he first got to the University of Idaho and takes pride in how involved he has stayed in the Moscow community while also maintaining good grades.
He said during his time with ASUI, his greatest accomplishment was the ASUI Town and Gown Soiree he coordinated when he was ASUI Senate Pro Tempore.
“Before the Town and Gown Soiree I feel like I really didn”t know a lot of the administrators at the university,” Karstetter said. “I got to meet a bunch of people who are leaders in our community as well as administration.”
Karstetter said it was his mother who originally taught him the value of being active and involved in his community and interested in politics.
“She”s just one of those people that puts a lot of time and effort into everything she does,” Karstetter said. “She has always told me, “If you can”t put 100 percent of your time into something, then get rid of it.””
And during his time at UI, Karstetter believes he has been able to put 100 percent of his time into his university.
“I love interacting and talking with students. They give me a lot of great ideas and I just like to work and collaborate with them,” Karstetter said. “I love UI and I want to make it better and I always have.”
Jessica Gee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @JessicaC_Gee