Blugold brass: Honors graduate and marching band leader Jack Petrizzo

While exploring university options, Jack Petrizzo was searching for a home for the next chapter of his life. Originally from Grayslake, Illinois, he knew he wanted to stay in the Midwest. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, self-guided and virtual tours of potential campuses made it difficult to get the full picture. But at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Petrizzo met a Campus Ambassador that made it feel like home.

“I had a real guided tour here,” he recalls. “That obviously helped with my decision.”

Three and a half years later, as he prepares to graduate, Petrizzo reflects on all that UW–Eau Claire has helped him accomplish — from leading 75 students as a Blugold Marching Band trumpet section leader, to joining the Mark Stephen Cosby Honors College, to serving as a Campus Ambassador and showing the next generation of students a home away from home.

Building knowledge in industry and culture

Coming into the university undecided on a major, Petrizzo took his time exploring career options and paths. As a musician and lover of music, a music major seemed the most obvious option.

“I was a little nervous about if I did music, whether it would change my perception, if I tried to make a career out of it,” he explains.

Petrizzo chose not to risk it; he kept music a passionate hobby and is pursuing a career in business, where he has discovered an interest in marketing and communications strategy. Whether in advertising, event planning, management, analysis or any of the career options a marketing degree provides, he thinks he’s found the industry for him.

“I really enjoy the content with marketing and just how broad it is,” he notes.

Part of the joy of his marketing major is reflected in Petrizzo’s attention to diverse audiences. He is graduating with a certificate in social diversity, a program that equips students with the training to notice difference, see inequality and make positive change. Although marketing is a consumer-driven industry, and the ability to understand customer audiences is just as crucial for his professional success, Petrizzo’s interest in the program wasn’t merely intellectual.

“I'm a big fan of — in general, not even in academia — learning about different people.”

From honors student to honors mentor

Petrizzo feels he was productively driven out of his shell as a student in the Cosby Honors College. In his first year, he remembers being intimidated by the discussion-based classes that are typical of honors.

“I was so scared to open my mouth,” he laughs.

Now, Petrizzo is leading the charge as an honors mentor for first-year students in Honors 100, the first-year seminar that provides new UW-Eau Claire students a supportive, accelerated start to their academic lives. Drawing from his own experience as a first-year, he takes pride in helping new students transition into college life.

“I just really like helping people navigate things.”

Petrizzo also values the wide variety of perspectives and opportunities that the honors college offers. One of his favorite honors courses, “Debating the Perfect University,” with instructor Jamie Browning, allowed students to dissect different aspects of universities as institutions. By comparing universities around the country and world, and discussing personal views about what college should look like, Petrizzo and his classmates gained new perspectives on a variety of global university cultures, which brought all of them closer.

“That variety of people is really valuable,” he emphasizes. “It's really cool to see all these different types of interests and passions come together in one setting to just kind of share our thoughts.”

Leadership in BMB and beyond

Even before his arrival at UW-Eau Claire, Petrizzo knew he wanted to be a part of the Blugold Marching Band (BMB). During his time in his high school marching band, he saw the BMB perform at one of their competitions. Immediately, he felt called to be part of the magic.

“It just looks like a big party out there,” he says. “And now I'm doing that.”

For the last two years, Petrizzo has served as a trumpet section leader, where he oversees 75 other trumpeters. The role has taught him valuable lessons about leadership, peer-to-peer relationships and living up to the faith others have in him as a decision-maker. To him, the trust his fellow trumpeters place in him is what makes the work meaningful. 

“It’s really a privilege to serve,” he says.

The BMB has also given Petrizzo many opportunities to explore the world in global learning. Most memorably, in January 2023, he and the entire organization went on a 21-day adventure to Colombia, the Panama Canal, Panama, Guatemala and Mexico.

“I got to go hop on a cruise ship with 400 of my best friends,” he reminisces. “It was so much fun.”

Music is an essential part of Petrizzo’s life. From the BMB to concert band to jazz ensembles, he has excelled in the musical arts. Outside of the programs at UW-Eau Claire, Petrizzo has created his own brass band with other members of the local music community, and they’ve played throughout the Chippewa Valley.

“There's a lot of great people in this area, and I've discovered most of them through doing music,” he shares.

His leadership and organizing acumen go beyond brass sections and bands. Petrizzo has been involved with Campus Ambassadors, a group of students working in Admissions to guide prospective students and visiting families around UW-Eau Claire’s campus.

“That tour guide I had freshman year was, quite frankly, the biggest reason I decided to come here,” Petrizzo explains. “And I want to give other people that experience as well.”

Given his experience in the BMB, Campus Ambassadors and honors mentoring, Petrizzo is especially excited to use the leadership skills he’s developed in his future career. Business leadership done well, Petrizzo muses, requires a great deal of care and open-mindedness, and he sees his honors experiences as ones that have prepared him for success.

“The way your mind gets to develop differently and talk about all these different critical thinking skills — you’re just learning.”

Petrizzo plans to stay in Eau Claire following graduation and pursue a job in university administration or corporate marketing.

In his words: “I'm not done with Eau Claire yet.”

Written by Cami Hoth, a second-year junior studying business communication and marketing at UW-Eau Claire. She is from Stewartville, Minnesota.