Name: Ethan Schmidt
Pronouns: He/him
Hometown: Vestavia Hills, Alabama, U.S.
Activities outside of Key Club: I am a huge language buff. I have been learning French and Korean since fifth grade, and I have tried to pick up a few other languages along the way, such as German, Chinese and Arabic (but do not hold me to that)!
Past Key Club International leadership experience
I first served as my club’s service projects coordinator before being elected lieutenant governor toward the end of my freshman year of high school. A year later, I ran for international trustee at the 2023 Key Club International convention, where I was lucky enough to be elected. I served as the Global Relations Committee and Communications Taskforce co-chair as well as the trustee for the districts of New England and Bermuda, New Jersey, and Jamaica. I ran for reelection at the 2024 Key Club International convention and now serve the districts of Capital, Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee, and New York. I’m also on the Executive Committee and am co-chair of the Programs and Partners Committee.
Why did you decide to run for the international board?
I ran to serve on the international board for the simple purpose of using my input to increase the value of Key Club’s output. With my valuable prior experiences as both lieutenant governor and international trustee, I felt that I was in a position to enrich this organization that I have already poured so much work (and love) into. 
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I am looking forward to working with our international board counselor Cathy Tutty this year.
What do you like most about Key Club International?
Key Club fosters family unlike any other organization I have seen.
What is your favorite Key Club memory and why?
My favorite memory would probably be the October board meeting I spent with my Alabama District Board. We worked so well as a team to navigate hard-hitting issues in our district before going to a haunted house. Lots of laughs and cries were shared that night.
Why did you join Key Club?
I joined Key Club with absolutely no expectations other than to have a fun time with my friends while receiving service hours. It was not until my club’s first officer interest meeting that I felt inspired to do more. I can vividly remember my advisor showing club members promotional content for the past year’s Key Club International convention, and I was immediately captivated. I spent the rest of my freshman year finding ways that Key Club could best aid in the means to my end before being elected lieutenant governor and taking on new responsibility in giving back to the organization.
What is your career ambition?
I do not have it all figured out yet, but I would love to work in some intersection of geopolitics and sustainable energy. Whether that be within the realm of international law or geopolitical advisory consulting, that is generally the direction I would like to float toward.
Somewhere you would like to visit in the future:
I would love to trek through central Asia and explore Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
What is the best advice ever given to you?
Others have faith in you when YOU have faith in you.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I used to aspire to become a professional soccer player turned meteorologist post-retirement. I do not know what I was thinking.
Do you collect anything?
I avidly collect records from my favorite music artists, though I also used to collect Harry Potter wands!
Favorite book: I am a big fan of all of Khaled Hosseini’s work, but his magnum opus, in my opinion, would be “A Thousand Splendid Suns.” I do not think I have ever cried the way I did while reading that book.
Favorite food or snack: I can always appreciate the beauty of a margherita pizza no matter where I order from.
Favorite animal: Because I had some meaningful interactions with them over the summer, I say alpacas. 