By Kelly Masterson
While many often find themselves stewing over current situations, Anthony Reddington takes action. Reddington, a junior history major, has recently been credited with founding the Japanese Club and the new Asian Studies minor at University of Louisville.
“There are over 1,000 foreign companies in Kentucky. Over 50 percent are owned by Japanese. So I just thought, ‘Why don’t we have an Asian minor?’ I only sent an e-mail. I think it was already talked about and I just talked to the right people,” said Reddington.
Originally from Hurricane, W.Va., where he attended Hurricane High School, Reddington participated in both band and the soccer team. During senior year he received honorable mention as a forward on the soccer team and upon graduation, Reddington was offered a soccer scholarship at Jacksonville University in Florida.
With intentions of accepting the soccer scholarship from Jacksonville, Reddington decided to attend an Air Force meeting with a friend. Although he had no prior interest, Reddington said he left the meeting eager to join.
“I was so impressed by what you do in the Air Force, from traveling to occupations,” he said.
Once joining the Air Force, Reddington was stationed in San Antonio, Texas where he worked as a Security Force Cop. Unfortunately due to a medical condition, he was discharged after six months.
After brief stints in Virginia and Florida, Reddington’s father informed him of a job opening at an environmental company in Louisville, where he applied and was hired as an environmental sales service representative. Though he tasted success in his sales position, Reddington said he was unhappy working 16 hour days, so he decided to take a less demanding position and enroll at U of L.
At U of L Reddington is a volunteer student manager at the IT Lab, and is working hard to get into the honor society, while hoping to become an Art & Science peer advisor for freshmen.
The Japanese Club meets every other Friday at 5 p.m. in the SAC room W312; the next meeting takes place Fri., Feb. 29. Reddington, the club president, said everyone is invited.
