Xavier Impact Fund Business Partner Outreach

Please share about you, your family, your education and your connection(s) in the Xavier community.

I was raised in a small town in Eastern Iowa. It was a tight knit, farming community. My Dad quit his manufacturing job after twenty years and took a leap of faith and started working for the Knights of Columbus because he believed in the mission and value that it could bring to our family. I grew up watching my Dad get to overlap his faith with his career and at the age of 19, I joined him in the business. In 2016, I married my high school sweetheart, Jalynn. We welcomed our first child, Josephine, in July 2023. My career with the Knights of Columbus has allowed me to spend my days with like-minded families who believe that their faith can be a part of every aspect of your life - your family, your education and your finances. 

Why do you support Xavier through the Xavier Impact Fund Business Campaign? 

As in most parents, when we found out we were pregnant with our first child, we knew we’d do anything we could to help our child thrive in this world. By donating to the Xavier Impact Fund, it’s something that I can do to start ensuring that our child has the best educators in the area. 

Why would you recommend that other businesses support Xavier through the Xavier Impact Fund Business Campaign? 

My first thought goes to all the students that are and will be attending Xavier; In order to provide the best Catholic education and future for the students, we need to keep our teachers. By donating to the impact fund you are helping level the playing field on our educators salaries. These educators are shaping your children, grandchildren and the future leaders in our community. I want the best for our students and you should too.

Is there something that Catholic education offers to our students, families, community and the business community that sets itself apart and stands out as we celebrate 25 years of Xavier? 

I’m from a small town where we continuously had the notation of ‘help your neighbor’. If there was a need in the community, there was a line of people jumping to help. My wife and I were questioning if we would miss that small town pride when we moved to a bigger city but we have found that sense of community within Xavier schools in just the first few events we have attended. 

What is the best piece of advice you ever got about your business/career/vocation and who gave you that advice? 

In 2013, I became the youngest Million Dollar Round Table member in the United States. I was young and wasn’t married yet so I was putting the majority of my time into my career. After attending my first MDRT conference, I started adopting their vision of a ‘whole person concept’ that encourages the balance in family, health, education, career, service, financial and spiritual aspects of their lives and the development of full human potential. This concept helped me realize that spending the majority of my time diving into my career, other aspects of my life were taking a back seat. If I wanted to be a good partner to Jalynn, making it to the gym consistently, and continuing to  grow in my relationship with God, I needed to adopt this whole person concept to lay out all aspects of my life that were important to me and needed my time, effort and attention.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to our current students regarding business/career/vocation?

Try to find a career that will allow you to strengthen your values and not diminish them. With the wide variety of social media platforms and news outlets out there trying to persuade you in a different direction, always come back to the faith you were raised on and know that there are people and organizations out there that believe in the same thing you do.  

Connection to the Community... 
While finishing Dental School at the University of Iowa, I met my wife, Kelly.  After completing my residency in Orthodontics we were married and moved to Cedar Rapids in 2000.  We have three boys: Matthew (X21), Ryan (X23), and Jacob (X26).  Having a Catholic education for our children was very important to us so there was never a doubt that we wanted them to attend Xavier.  I have enjoyed time supporting Xavier by Co-chairing the Booster Club Golf Outing over the last five years and being a contestant in Season 4 of Dancing with the Saints.  Kelly spends many hour volunteers on XPX, Booster Club and Adoration.  We feel blessed to be a tiny part of what makes Xavier such a unique and special place.

Why do you support Xavier through the Xavier Impact Fund Business Campaign?  
The Xavier Impact Fund Business Campaign does a fantastic job in continuing to find ways to recognize those businesses that support Xavier.  This campaign offers a unique opportunity for the Xavier community to learn more about business in our area.  We have been very fortunate to have so many Xavier families support Parks, Schmit & Fuller Orthodontics over the years. It is very rewarding and with great gratitude that we give back and support Xavier through the Xavier Impact Fund Business Campaign.  I would encourage everyone to be involved.

Is there something that Catholic education offers to our students, families, community and the business community that sets itself apart and stands out as we celebrate 25 years of Xavier?
Xavier has helped build a successful foundation for our boys.  It provides great opportunities for all students to excel in academics, athletics and fine arts while instilling Catholic values. As parents we feel fortunate to have surrounded our children with so many wonderful families.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to our current students regarding business/career/vocation?
Success will be found by finding a career that you are passionate about, seeking out mentors, asking lots of questions and always giving your best effort.

~Jason Schmit, DDS, MS
Parks, Schmit & Fuller Orthodontics