Published Monday, November 11th, 2024
Wayne State senior Austin Keiser served with the United States Marine Corps from 2014 to 2018. A special edition of the 2024-25 student spotlight.
In honor of Veteran’s Day, this special segment of the Student Spotlight Series salutes Austin Keiser of Pilger. The WSC senior, who is majoring in Construction Management and Safety Management, was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps from 2014 to 2018.
During this interview, it was easy to pick up on Keiser’s passion for the Marines and Wayne State.
“Semper Fi and Go Cats!” said Keiser, who serves as the safety coordinator for Nucor Cold Finish in Norfolk. “I’m extremely grateful that I was able to serve my country, and I’m grateful for the Marines I served beside. Serving with them further drove in my desire to protect this great nation and the people in it.”
While stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C., Keiser was deployed to Latvia in 2016 with the Combat Logistics Regiment 2 for Operation Saber Strike. As a heavy equipment operator, Keiser would utilize forklifts, bulldozers, and other heavy machinery to help build vehicle fighting holes. Keiser said he also worked with military personnel from other NATO countries such as Great Britain, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway.
Keiser said all the time management tactics and self-discipline instilled in him in the military was extremely valuable when he arrived at Wayne State. He added that one of the biggest reasons he chose Wayne State was David Hix, an instructor of technology education in Wayne State’s Department of Technology and Applied Science. Hix was Keiser’s teacher when Keiser attended Wayne High School while growing up near Winside.
“Mr. Hix was instrumental in helping guide me down my career path in the safety profession so I can help protect my fellow coworkers, my community, and the people around me,” said Keiser, who was a certified surgical technologist for two years at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.
Keiser is currently working to become an EMT (emergency medical technician) so he can continue to provide medical aid to those around him.
At Wayne State, Keiser is active in Epsilon Pi Tau (industrial technology honor society), Phi Kappa Phi (academic excellence honor society), and the National Honor Society.
Keiser will graduate in December with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology (Construction Management and Safety Management). He and his wife, Kylee, will welcome their first child in January 2025.