Getting to Know Tutor Hacker
By Mandy Musinski
This year, MLC welcomed Tutor Jason Hacker as one of the new additions to its faculty. You may know that he is one of
three tutors who have served at MLC who have been from Michigan. He claims Bay City, Michigan as his hometown. You may also
be aware that he currently teaches Bible History and Literature 1 and is assistant coach of the MLC golf team. If that’s all you know
about him, you’re not alone. So the Knight’s Page decided it was a great time to get to know Tutor Hacker a little better…
KP: Let’s start with the classic WELS question. What made you decide to enter the ministry?
TH: Well to me having a good Christian family that attended church regularly was very important. Also my pastor served as a good role model. I had always wanted to be a teacher until my brother went to Northwestern, which was when I was in 7th grade. From that point on, I always knew I wanted to be a pastor.
KP: How do you like being a tutor here at MLC?
TH: So far, so good! It’s awesome. It’s great being out of school finally and working. Being a tutor is great because I get to be a pastor and a teacher, which is something I’ve always wanted to do.
KP: Is it hard working with some of the professors that taught you while you were here?
TH: It’s not hard working with them, but it is hard calling them by their first name, as many of them insist that I do. It’s easier working with them because you have a good relationship with them and such a high respect for them. I’m adjusting fast, though the scariest thing is calling Professor Fredrich by his first name.
KP: How else have things changed since you attended school here?
TH: The student body is smaller. Also, the history of the amalgamation of the synodical schools is mostly forgotten, which was still around when I went to school here. I think because of that, the interaction between the tracks is a lot better. There are new faces, fewer faces, on the faculty. The hillside of the campus is better, and Concord doesn’t have carpet, which is good as well.
KP: And what’s it like for you to be back in the booming town known as New Ulm?
TH: It’s definitely better being a teacher here and not a student. I can remember back to the days where there wasn’t much to do. Now that I have a full time job, I can appreciate New Ulm as a pleasant place to live. Also now I have 4-wheel drive, which is something I didn’t have as a student, so I’m ready for winter.
KP: What are some of your hobbies?
TH: First of all, I like music and I enjoy playing the organ. I’m also assistant golf coach, so I enjoy golfing as well. Other than that, I like hunting and fishing. I’m looking forward to pheasant and deer hunting season here in Minnesota. I also like to cook whatever I get when hunting or fishing, if I get anything at all.
KP: OK, here’s the real test. So what is you favorite…
KP: Sports team?
TH: Detroit Red Wings, with the Lions as a close second.
KP: Past summer job:
TH: Well I only had two, but I would definitely have to say working at a golf course. What’s better than free golf?
KP: Hobby?
TH: I have to decide? I’ll say music, because playing the organ really helps to blow off stress.
KP: Place traveled to?
TH: Alaska, when we took a choir tour there.
KP: Place you’d like to travel to?
TH: Let’s see, I really don’t want to go overseas. I’d like to get out to the East Coast to visit Boston since I haven’t been there yet.
KP: Item that you own?
TH: Well, I don’t own my truck yet technically. I’m still making payments on it, but that has to be it.
KP: Food?
TH: Venison and deer meat. And I really like Ethiopian food, even though I’ve only had it once.
KP: Food in the cafeteria?
TH: I always eat salad for lunch, so I never get to try much. I stay away from all the good stuff because it’s bad for you, but I’d have to say my favorite would be the nachos.
KP: Subject?
TH: History, mainly U.S. history.
KP: Thing about New Ulm?
TH: I’d say the friendliness. Wherever you go, people are always willing to talk, even to people they don’t know.
KP: Pet?
TH: We always had dogs growing up. My favorite was Gus, who we had for 14 years.
KP: Role model?
TH: Pastor Zimmerman
KP: Music?
TH: Country.
KP: Movie?
TH: Plane, Trains, and Automobiles
KP: Super hero?
TH: Oh that’s an interesting one. I was always a Spiderman kind of guy.
KP: Thing about the dorms?
TH: Now or then? You get to build very close relationships with the people you’ll be serving in the ministry with for many years.
KP: Politician?
TH: I have to say my cousin Jim Barcia. I respect him highly because he’s a Democrat, yet he has very high morals. It’s hard to find people with high moral standards like my cousin has in the Democratic Party.
KP: Bible passage?
TH: John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
KP: Hymn?
TH: 434—Lord, You I Love with All My Heart.
KP: Quote?
TH: Wow, you’re making me think. Let’s go with Luther, “My conscience is bound by the Word of God.”
So there you have it. Now you know that there is more to Tutor Hacker than religion classes, dorm life, and golf. The Knight’s Page thanks Tutor Hacker for allowing everyone to get to know him a little better.