Just one week ago, football guard Tony Opperman was selected to the Ohio Army National Guard Senior Bowl Roster. But that’s just the latest in a long list of honors the senior mechanical engineering major and football team captain has racked up, including spots on the All-American Honorable Mention and Academic All-Conference lists and in the OhioCollegeFootball.com Senior Bowl.
Off the field, Opperman has served as vice president of Phi Delta Theta, director of membership for the Student Turning Point Society and co-founder of the CWRU Consulting Group.
Oh, and in his spare time, he launched his own company at the age of 21.
Read more about the Pickerington native.
1. What superpower would you most like to have?
Easy: The ability to freeze everything around me—stop time, in other words—but still be able to move around and interact with things.
2. What’s your favorite place to dine in Cleveland?
Due to my weekly visits, I feel contractually obligated to mention Applebee’s, but I would have to go with Maggiano’s or Claddagh Irish Pub. Yes, I know we live right next to Little Italy, but I just like Maggiano’s better.
3. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An architect. I loved drawing up floor plans for huge buildings. I also ended up passing through biomedical engineering on my way to mechanical engineering, but I’m very happy with where I’ve landed.
4. What accomplishments are you most proud of—personally and professionally?
I am very proud to be a part of the success of the CWRU football team. Going 37-5 over the last four years has been so much fun.
Also, the Phi Delta Theta Variety Show 2011. Now, we didn’t place, but that was probably the most fun 24 hours of my life.
Finally, starting a company at age 21 [Allen Opperman Engineering, LLC, a startup launched to create a Live Action Training System]. We’ve had some setbacks, but I’m still glad we pursued it.
5. What’s your favorite thing about Case Western Reserve University?
The extracurricular activities and experiential learning opportunities have given me an extraordinary experience here at Case Western Reserve. There are always good people to connect with, whether you want to collaborate on schoolwork, work on a project, plan an event or have some fun.
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