Atchison & Bio

This picture is a view of Atchison from historic Jackson Park. It presents a view of a town that is more scenic and more historical than other Kansas towns. This is one of my favorite views of the city.

Here we see the heart of Atchison from main street. In the distance you can see MGP. This is a view that so many BC students are used to seeing, as it is on the way to Wal-Mart.

To me, Atchison is a small Kansas town that goes beyond the common stereotypes of small town America. It is a very industrial town, but there are business aspects as well. People from around the world admire the quality of some of the large, stately, historic homes in this community.


I am originally from Topeka and am a senior majoring in International Business and plan on graduating this semester. I am blessed to have a great family back in Topeka. Community involvement has always been important to me throughout my life. In high school, I was involved in many different clubs and organizations. I was fortunate enough to be a member and President of the Topeka Youth Council, which acted as the mayor's youth advisory council. We advocated our agenda to the mayor and city council. As a member of the Topeka Youth Council, I was a founding member of the Topeka Shawnee County Youth Court. I was able to work my way up to being a judge.

While at Benedictine, I have been fortunate enough to be involved in many different organizations. I am the treasurer of the Young Democrats, Chairman of the Thomas M. Hoenig Student International Business Council (SIBC), and Vice President of the Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO). I am also a member of the Jimmy Martinez Chapter of the GI Forum and am on the team of Lucca Leadership North America (LLNA).

Perhaps my most significant involvement has been in the SIBC. I recently finished my term as President of the council, which exists to promote "Peace through Commerce". The organization works to do what is essentially international business consulting. It works to give students leadership opportunities that truly make a difference in the world, specifically with the aim of enhancing the capabilities of businesses that have socially responsible goals, particularly in the third world.

To me, leadership is a hard thing to define by words. I have traveled around the world to grasp what leadership is yet every time that I am asked what leadership is, I use different words to describe just what leadership is. I feel that to me leadership is many things. Leadership is awareness. Leadership is being patient. Leadership is being ethical. Leadership is knowing what to do in a given situation. Leadership is being humble. Leadership is knowing my own weaknesses. Leadership is empowering others to lead.

I am taking this class because I really do want to offer my skills and knowledge to the community. I also take this class with the knowledge that learning is a continual quest. I am aware of my own weaknesses and want to utilize this class as a means of improving my own capabilities to better lead.

-Anthony J. Martinez