Adam Dotts 

Hometown: Hummelstown, PA 

High School: Lower Dauphin 

Major: Communications 

Year: 4th (Senior) 

Sport(s): Swimming 

What made you want to attend Penn State Altoona? 

I wanted to come to Penn State Altoona because it felt like the right mix of opportunity and comfort. I loved the sense of community that comes with being part of Penn State, along with the benefits and connections of such a strong alumni network but also being on a campus where people actually know each other. Penn State Altoona also gave me the chance to continue swimming at the collegiate level, which was a big influence.  

How did you get your start in your sport? 

I think I started swimming when I was 5… maybe 6? Just kind of stuck with it from there through high school and now I am here.  

What are some of your favorite memories from your time as a Penn State Altoona student-athlete so far? 

Honestly, just being with the team and watching teammates grow and achieve their goals throughout the season. It is always super exciting to see how much the team grows from the time we start in August, to the end at conferences in February.  

Do you have any mentors or role models at Penn State Altoona? If so, how have they helped you improve as a person? 

A lot of members on the team in previous years. Our old head coach Brad Brooks has been a huge influence in and out of the pool. He is extremely supportive and brutally honest with everything from swimming advice to outside personal advice.  

Outside of sports, what do you hope to accomplish during your time at Penn State Altoona? 

I hope to grow a large network of connections. I am in the Sheetz Fellows program here, which has allowed me to grow a large network of valuable connections.  

What career role would you like to have in the future? How is Penn State Altoona helping you reach that goal? 

I spent the summer with Sheetz as a Loyalty Marketing Intern, where I gained hands-on experience with data platforms like Salesforce and Tableau. In turn, I used data analytics to generate insights that supported customer engagement and loyalty strategy. I loved doing the data-analytics of marketing and could definitely see myself in a similar position soon. 

What advice would you give to a freshman student-athlete? 

Be yourself. Stay true to who you are and don't try to change yourself just to impress others. The right people will appreciate you for exactly that.  

Rapid Fire 

-Who is your favorite professional and collegiate sports team? Pittsburgh Penguins / Penn State 

-Who is your favorite professional athlete? Carlos Sainz (Williams F1) 

-Do you have any pregame rituals? Sheetz Donut (Vanilla with rainbow sprinkles) 

-Altoona Pizza (Altoona Pizza is pizza with a thicker crust and is topped with tomato sauce, American cheese, green peppers, and salami): yay or nay? Yes. It is better than most people make it out to be. 

-What is your go-to order at Port Sky? Pasta with marinara and grilled chicken 

-Outside of playing sports, what are your hobbies? Photography, Buying and selling sports cards, Talking about online car auctions  

-What would your teammates say you are famous for doing? Being the oldest on the team (I'm not, but they joke about it all the time).