MC Spotlight: Scott Hopper

“Thanks to UPS, I graduated debt-free with two degrees and immediately found a great job,” said Metropolitan College alum, Scott Hopper.

Hopper graduated from Logan County High School in Russellville, KY. “I had a couple friends in high school that told me about a family friend that had tried the {Metropolitan College] program. I quickly looked into it and loved the thought of this opportunity,” said Hopper.

In the summer of 2002, right after high school graduation, Hopper began working part-time as a package handler at UPS Worldport in Louisville, KY to qualify for the company’s tuition benefit.

With a strong interest in wellness and health promotions, Hopper attended the University of Louisville (UofL) where he majored in health and human performance. However, with the newfound freedom of living away from home and not having anyone to tell him to attend class or do homework, Hopper’s first year of college presented challenges and served as an adjustment period.

“The wake-up call [for me] was failing one of my classes. I got back on track and became determined to focus and work as I knew I should each day,” said Hopper. Hopper’s advice to current and prospective Metropolitan College participants looking make to the most out of the program, “Be disciplined. Go to your classes.”

Hopper eventually promoted to a supervisor position at UPS in the small sort where he remained for three years before transferring to the training department to teach new hire classes and to provide hands-on training.

During Hopper’s last few semesters at UofL, he completed his student teaching field experience requirement during the day, took graduate level courses in the evening and continued to work nights at UPS. In 2007, Hopper earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance with a track in Physical Education. In 2008 he achieved a Master of Arts in Teaching in Physical Education.

Today, Hopper teaches physical education and health classes for Kindergarten through 5th grade at Wilt Elementary School in Louisville, KY.

Hopper has been teaching at Wilt for the for the past ten years and also coaches various sports for elementary and middle school age children. Wilt Elementary School has been designated as a Proficient School by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), which means Wilt is among the top 30 percent of schools according to the state’s assessment system and also recognized as a Health Promotion School of Excellence (HPSE).

In view of that, Hopper volunteered to be a mentor for the Metropolitan College Online Career Guide Program, a new career development initiative which connects current students and recent graduates with experienced professionals for valuable career advice and one-time feedback on their resume, LinkedIn profile, and online career portfolio.

Hopper hopes to inspire and connect with current students and recent graduates with shared interests through the Online Career Guide Program.

Learn more about Scott Hopper’s Metropolitan College experience and career advice in this Q&A.

Q: What professional skills and qualities do you find to be most valuable in the workplace and why?

Integrity, hard work, and being able to adapt are all must haves in teaching as well as many other fields. Put in the time and work to be prepared both with lesson planning and staying on top of best practices for your field.

Q: What is the best career advice that you ever received?

Busy students do not have time to cause problems and get into mischief.

Q: What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your field?

Make yourself indispensable to your building. Get involved and make a difference. The teaching of students isn’t the hard part. It is learning to manage a classroom and getting down a routine. Get involved with coworkers and students. Sponsor a club or team. The more connected a teacher becomes, the more valuable he/she is to the students, fellow teachers, administration, and the community.

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment in life so far?

Graduating college with a bachelors and a master’s degree debt-free is one of my proudest accomplishments. I also met my wife at UPS and we now have two beautiful and healthy children.

Q: What if your favorite quote/life motto?

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

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We are proud of our current students and alumni and their incredible accomplishments! The MC Spotlight is a way for us to highlight the amazing things our current students and alumni are doing. As you read their stories, you will learn how their Metropolitan College experiences helped to shape their futures and influence their careers.

We are always on the lookout for inspiring MC Spotlight stories. If you or someone you know is interested in sharing a story with us, contact us at askmetro@kctcs.edu.

Note: At Metropolitan College, we consider our alumni anyone who has ever completed coursework and received tuition benefits with us.