(Published Friday, April 27, 2007 11:28:04 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Carla McCann/Gazette Staff
WHITEWATER
Thirteen years after enrolling at UW-Whitewater, Johnny Lechner is ready to graduate.
"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't want to do it," Lechner said. "I'm not graduating because other people want me to. I really feel like I've done everything there is to do at college.
"I've decided that it is time to hang up my toga and put on a graduation gown."
In his years on campus, the 30-year-old student has partied, studied in Europe and Africa, gone on a dozen spring break trips, written a book about his extended college career.
He has received national attention, including front-page exposure in The New York Times, quotes in Newsweek, an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman," and inclusion in People magazine's "hottest bachelor" list earlier this school year.
Lechner has earned three major and four minor degrees in education, theatre, communications, liberal studies, women's studies, health and social work.
"I'm over-educated for any job I want to pursue," Lechner said.
And when he graduates, Lechner says he'll be the first in his immediate family to earn a college degree. Or, in his case, many degrees.
Lechner has no regrets. Not even being charged a "slacker tax"-double full-time student tuition charged to those who stay long past the usual four or five years it takes to earn an undergraduate degree-has swayed his enthusiasm for being a student.
"I've done a good job at identifying and participating in the social part of college," Lechner said.
Lechner also says that each year he's gained additional skills through his studies.
"I'm in a very comfortable and happy place," he said. "I couldn't imagine having done anything else with the past 13 years of my life."
Lechner's memories will include good times spent with the many roommates he's shared through the years. And living with a group of party-minded people has made every day an adventure, he said.
"It's like the movie 'Animal House,'" he said.
Though Lechner said he followed his heart in staying in college so long, he's received criticism from some other UW-Whitewater students. He's been bashed in the online college student directory Facebook.com and in The Royal Purple, the student newspaper.
But that doesn't seem to phase him.
"What closed-minded person gets mad at someone who, instead of graduating and getting a job, continues to take classes?" Lechner said. "That makes no sense."
Still, while some have called for Lechner to leave, he claims to have received at least 100 e-mails in the past four days asking him not to graduate.
Lechner had planned to end his college career last spring, but withdrew his application for graduation five days before commencement.
"I realized that if I went one more year, I could study abroad," Lechner said. "That was one thing I hadn't done."
Now he has. And now he believes he's done it all.
"I've done everything you can possibly do with your college years," Lechner said. "I couldn't imagine another excuse to come back another year."
Lechner isn't sure what type of career will follow graduation. He'd like to work with at-risk teens as a counselor, but he's also a musician and songwriter and plans to pursue that goal.
"I've been getting job offers consistently the past two and a half years from all over the United States," Lechner said. "I'm seriously ready for the next challenge."
