Matthew Van Dyke, Elder Law Scholar

"Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the high road to pride, self esteem, and personal satisfaction."
         — Margaret Thatcher

Matt, a 2009 Oswego High School graduate, is our first Elder Law Scholar. The mission of the Elder Law Scholar is to be a relationship catalyst to "make things happen" in building bridges between high school/university students and senior citizens. The primary goal is to be a communication sparkplug to ignite happier and higher quality lives for everyone involved.

Matt has always had natural drive. At the age of four he once viewed a gigantic United States flag as it waved majestically in the breeze. Something was triggered and he felt he just had to know more about flags, maps, politics, and people. As a young adult he is keenly interested in "the ways and the whys" of how both individuals and groups function and dysfunction.

Before he could discuss or comprehend society as a whole, he began to study it, with his parent's encouragement. Later, during his junior high years, he was positively influenced by his history teacher, Mr. Dan Hallahan. Mr. Hallahan is a Vietnam veteran and is the kind of person that a student can easily admire. Matthew was especially impressed that his teacher spoke to 13-year-old students with a profound respect. He is a model of inspiring young people to behave in a more adult fashion.

In the summer of 2009, Matt visited Costa Rica, Central America, where he enjoyed beautiful Manzanillo beach and had animated discussions about politics. Not surprisingly, one of his favorite "likes" is public speaking. He began public speaking in eighth grade when he was invited to present to the Kendall County Republican Women's Group. During the last two years he competed as a member of the Oswego High School Speech Team, focusing in impromptu speaking. One of the things that really bugs Matthew is losing in a game. He states, "I don't like losing a game, especially if it's for no apparent reason." His hobbies are playing tennis, watching football, hanging out with friends, and not surprisingly, reading geographic atlases and history books.

His personal resume would include graduating from Oswego High School in 2009 and starting his freshman year at Olivet Nazarene University in Burbonnais, IL in the fall of 2009, where he will be majoring in criminal justice on a pre-law track.