Jacob Quick grew up in a Christian home where his parents served in their local church, nurturing his relationship with Christ from an early age. In 2011, he enrolled at IWU while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in sports management.
Although he had a relationship with the Lord before college, Jacob believes that his time at IWU helped to truly solidify and strengthen his faith. While at IWU, chapel services, working with the men’s basketball team, and conversations in his residence hall helped Jacob to make his faith his own.
“IWU fostered a faith foundation and perspective on life that I carry with me every day,” Jacob shared.
In 2014, Jacob stepped into the role of director of basketball operations for the men’s basketball team. That year, he learned to look at his life as one part of God’s greater story, helping him to have a proper perspective on himself and those around him.
Prior to that season, Jacob and the team took a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, where they served alongside local churches in Santiago and helped with the early building stages of a new sports ministry complex. At the end of the year, the team won the NAIA DII National Championship, providing the perfect conclusion to a great year.
“The journey of that season was one of the most impactful years of my life,” said Jacob. “My outlook on life shifted to seeing it as my journey in God’s greater story, a reminder that I live for something greater than myself.”
After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in spring 2015, Jacob began a master’s degree in organizational leadership that fall. He helped cover the 2016 men’s basketball national championship run while serving as a graduate assistant. During this time, he also benefited from the mentorship of then-athletic director Mark DeMichael. In 2017, he graduated for a second time and began pursuing new career opportunities.
Over the next few years, Jacob juggled multiple roles, serving as the director of media for the IWU women’s soccer team, the manager of social media and marketing at Gas City I-69 Speedway, and the marketing coordinator for Insurance Management Group—these roles overlapping as he worked three jobs at once. In 2022, Jacob used the skills and experience he had gained at IWU and in his subsequent roles to become the digital content creator for Team Penske.
Throughout his time with the team, he took part in victories at the Daytona 500, NASCAR Cup Series Championships, an NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship, and an Indianapolis 500 victory. Jacob has had the honor of working at the Indianapolis 500 in three separate capacities, having worked for the track and the series in addition to being on a winning team. As of 2024, Jacob now works as a social media content specialist for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and as a freelance graphic designer, photographer, and videographer.
Looking back on his time at IWU, Jacob is thankful for the ways IWU contributed to his spiritual and professional development, giving him strong foundations in both which have served him well since his departure.
“The greatest impact from my time at IWU is walking away with a community of friends and mentors,” Jacob said.
Thanks to scholarships and the generosity of donors, Jacob's time at IWU prepared him to live out his calling and become a world changer after graduation.
