Southwood Alumni Dr. Zach Hobson to Speak at Banquet

MSD of Wabash County has announced the speaker for the 34th Annual Academic Recognition Banquet. Dr. Zach Hobson, a 2014 Southwood High School graduate, will present to students and guests on March 6, 2023, in the Honeywell Center Legacy Hall. MSD of Wabash County seniors with an ‘A’ cumulative grade point average receive an invitation to this annual banquet, honoring their academic success.

Following graduation from Southwood, Hobson pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training at Indiana Wesleyan University. During his time at IWU, Zach was a recipient of the Emerging Leader in Athletic Training Award for the 2014-2015 school year and the Dr. Jared Jones Servant Leadership Award for the 2016-2017 school year. Upon graduating from IWU in the spring of 2017, Zach went on to pursue a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology at the Pennsylvania State University while serving as a graduate teaching and research assistant.

Zach and his wife, Amy, then moved to Atlanta, GA, where Zach joined the Athletic Training staff at Oglethorpe University. After a brief stent as an Assistant Athletic Trainer, Zach was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer in the spring of 2020. He was later named the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine in the fall of 2020 following his efforts on the university's COVID-19 task force. During his time at Oglethorpe, Zach also completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Educational Leadership through Liberty University.

Zach and his family returned to Indiana in the spring of 2022 when he accepted a Staff Assistant Athletic Trainer position at Indiana Wesleyan University. He was then promoted to his current position as the Head Athletic Trainer, where he oversees the university's Athletic Training Department and provides services to the IWU Volleyball and Softball teams.

"I genuinely believe I would not be where I am in my career today if it weren't for the faculty and staff at Southwood High School."

When asked about the role Southwood played in his post-high school success, Hobson stated, "I genuinely believe I would not be where I am in my career today if it weren't for the faculty and staff at Southwood High School. Numerous teachers pushed me to achieve in the classroom at a high level, which prepared me for the rigor of my undergraduate and graduate studies. The various opportunities for AP and dual credit courses at Southwood enabled me to get a head start on my college education and, as a result, graduate with my bachelor's degree in just three years. Furthermore, my involvement in the athletic department at SHS was instrumental in the development of my leadership skills, as I was influenced by many great coaches during my time as a student-athlete. Finally, my interactions with our athletic trainer, Mr. Ryan Barley, ultimately led me to pursue a career in the field of athletic training. The investment in my personal growth was evident across the board at Southwood, which has made all the difference in where I am today!"