Jared Hildabrant was on a mission ... and, suddenly, Way of the Warrior was born.
In 2011, an electrician within the facilities management department and a member of
ESU’s staff advisory committee directly linked to the university’s strategic plan,
Jared Hildabrant, decided ESU needed to provide a framework for the institution's
values that could be shared with the entire campus community. He researched other
universities’ codes of ethics. “I found them to be like user agreements, filled with
stuff that was hard to digest,” he said. “I wanted to make ESU’s something you can
read and process in 15 seconds. I wanted something simple.”
Hildabrant started doodling in a notebook. He wrote down a few words that describe
a warrior, and suddenly, an image popped into his head. His vision took him back to
some old Kung Fu movies he had seen, and reminded him of Bushido, the traditional
Samurai code of honor, discipline and morality. It is also known as “the way of the
warrior.”
A slogan – “Way of the Warrior” – came to life.
Hildabrant shared his idea with members of the staff advisory committee. “I could
see by the look in their eyes we were on to something during the meeting,” Hildabrant
said. “There was never really a doubt.” As he shared his idea it was obvious the slogan
and seven core values skyrocketed with popularity among the committee members.
A few weeks later, the Way of the Warrior was presented to the University Senate,
which consists of staff, faculty, students and administrators, where it received a
cohesive, positive response.
The entire University has been embracing the Way of the Warrior ever since. In 2015
The Walk of the Warrior began. The Walk is typically the last event of move-in weekend
each fall semester, and serves an opportunity to welcome in students to campus ingraining in
them what it means to be a Warrior.
A slogan – “Way of the Warrior” – came to life.
Hildabrant shared his idea with members of the staff advisory committee. “I could
see by the look in their eyes we were on to something during the meeting,” Hildabrant
said. “There was never really a doubt.” As he shared his idea it was obvious the slogan
and seven core values skyrocketed with popularity among the committee members.
A few weeks later, the Way of the Warrior was presented to the University Senate,
which consists of staff, faculty, students and administrators, where it received a
cohesive, positive response.
The entire University has been embracing the Way of the Warrior ever since. In 2015
The Walk of the Warrior began. The Walk is typically the last event of move-in weekend
each fall semester, and serves an opportunity to welcome in students to campus ingraining in
them what it means to be a Warrior.
