Brandon Klas is a 2019 Council scholarship recipient. The incoming freshman at UW-Whitewater sat down with the Council’s writer, Katherine Corbett, to chat about his interest in business, the importance of adaptive technology and his hobbies.
Katherine Corbett: Tell me about the first time you knew you wanted to study business.
Brandon Klas: In ninth grade, I started taking business classes. Those classes peaked my interest and I knew I wanted to learn more. Since I am just starting college this fall, I am still deciding what area to specialize in.
Katherine: Adaptive technology and its impact on your life seemed to be a theme in your application. Could you talk a little more about that?
Brandon: For the last several years in school, I have done all my work using a computer. Due to my eye condition, I cannot read writing on paper. I believe that I would not have been able to keep up with my classes as well if the computer did not exist. This especially helped teachers read my writing, since my handwriting is not very good. On my iPhone, the app Scanner Pro gives me the ability to scan documents, convert them into PDF, and store them right on my phone. I can carry them anywhere I go.
Katherine: What kinds of activities do you like to do in your spare time?
Brandon: I like a lot of outdoor activities, such as biking, hiking and boating. I also enjoy working on cars. This summer, I work as a bagger at a grocery store.
Katherine: How have you adapted your hobbies to accommodate your visual impairment?
Brandon: When hiking and mountain biking, I try not to ride trails that are too technical or complicated. If I do, I have other people with me who can point out rocks and other things that are hard for me to see. As far as working on cars, I generally work on older vehicles so most of the problem diagnosis can be done by listening to the sounds of the car.
Katherine: What are three words friends or family members would use to describe you?
Brandon: They would say I am resourceful, helpful and hard-working.
