Although the University of Wisconsin-Superior is five hours from his hometown of Green Bay, JD Glampe has already found a place that feels like home. The university offers the perfect blend of academics and athletics, giving him the opportunity to pursue both his educational goals and passion for golf.

Glampe has been playing golf since the eighth grade, and joining the Yellowjackets men’s golf team has allowed him to continue competing at a high level. But golf isn’t the only thing that drew him to UW-Superior. He’s also exploring an academic path that runs in his family and enjoying the natural surroundings – especially the proximity to Lake Superior, which has quickly become one of his favorite parts of college life.

“My favorite thing about UWS – outside of golf – would be Lake Superior, for sure,” Glampe said. “Recently, we went to the beach as a team and hung out, which was fun. I like fishing, I like the water, so being this close to Lake Superior is perfect for me.”

Familiar territory far from home

Though UW-Superior is a few hours from Green Bay, Glampe was already familiar with the area thanks to family connections and frequent visits.

“We come through this area a lot when we go to Canada for fishing trips,” he said. “My grandma doesn’t live too far from here, so I’ve always been up around Superior.”

When visiting colleges, Glampe was immediately drawn to the size and layout of UW-Superior.

“This campus is more secluded, and I really liked that aspect of it,” he said. “That’s why I chose it, for sure. The campus isn’t too big. I’m not a big-campus kind of person. I visited a few larger schools and just wasn’t a fan. I really liked how everything here is all in one area.”

Exploring a family tradition in criminal justice

Although Glampe started college undecided on a major, he soon gravitated toward criminal justice – a field that runs in the family.

“My parents both studied criminal justice, so I’ve been around it for a while,” he said. “Early on, I didn’t want to do that at all. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to really like the criminal justice side of things.”

One of the biggest highlights of Glampe’s experience so far has been the sense of community on campus – especially with the golf team.

“The guys on the team are super helpful,” he said. “If I have any questions, they’re always there. Coach Paul Eberhardt is the same way. I know I can ask him pretty much anything – he’s always there for me, which is nice.”

Looking ahead to the UMAC Tournament

On the course, Glampe continues to improve his game with the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) tournament in October as a major goal. But for him, golf is just as much about relationships as it is about competition.

“Meeting all the new people throughout the season is what I enjoy the most,” he said. “Even when we play the same conference schools, you still meet new people. It’s great getting to know everyone and seeing what they’re like.”