Penn State's Wisniewski: A model student

Stefen Wisniewski doesn't like to waste time, not that he has any time to waste.

With all his success on the football field for Penn State, as well as in the classroom and participating in community service activities, Wisniewski has had to make sacrifices that contrast the normal student leisure-time routines of hanging out and playing video games.

But if there's one thing about the 6-foot-3, 306-pound senior guard, who will play his final game at Beaver Stadium when the Nittany Lions take on No. 11 Michigan State on Saturday, it's being focused on the task.

"It's about being disciplined enough and committed enough to do everything that you need to do," Wisniewski said Wednesday. "That might take all day and not leave any time for anything else. There's always enough time to get everything done as long as I'm willing to be committed to doing it.

"I've had to sacrifice spending time with friends. For my first couple of years here, I feel like I never had any time to just relax or hang out too much. But looking back, I'm not too sad I missed out on those things.

"I always had some time to see friends and hang out on the weekends. I had certain academic and athletic goals that I wanted to reach here, and I put those before things like having fun with friends."

Wisniewski, a four-year starter on the offensive line, has a chance to repeat on the all-Big Ten team and earn all-American honors. He holds a 3.91 grade-point average as a secondary education major and earned his third straight Academic all-American award. He will graduate next month after 31/2 years.

Away from the field and the classroom, the native of suburban Pittsburgh has worked with more community groups than one can name, highlighted by a pair of mission trips to the Dominican Republic.

Wisniewski's father, Leo, an offensive lineman for Joe Paterno at Penn State from 1979 to 1981 and later in the NFL, said his son always has been good at managing his time.

"He's always been disciplined in whatever he has done," said Wisniewski, now a minister. "He wants to do it to the best of his ability. He has a desire to excel. He takes a lot of personal pride in his achievements. We didn't have to push him. He's very much a self-starter."

Paterno said the younger Wisniewski's commitment to academics and off-field activities has never interfered with his football responsibilities.

"He's always on time," he said. "His leadership qualities [are good], although I think because he's so tied up into what he's doing academically, at times he's not been around the squad as much as he might like. But he's been a tremendous kid to have."

Leo Wisniewski and his brother, Steve, also a former Penn State and NFL offensive lineman, have taken Stefen as part of a group on two trips - the most recent being during 2010 spring break - to the Dominican Republic with the organization Meeting God in Missions, helping Haitian refugees and poor people who work in the sugar cane fields near the town of Hato Mayor.

Stefen Wisniewski called his travels "awesome."

"Some of my best memories from my whole college career are on those mission trips, even better than playing football," he said. "It kind of really changes your perspective on what matters in life when you see people who don't have much of anything material-wise but still have faith in Christ and a tremendous joy that just blew me away."

Wisniewski is a finalist for two awards - the Lowe's Senior Class Award and the Wuerffel Trophy - that honor community service as well as on-field and classroom achievements. He's already won an $18,000 scholarship for postgraduate studies from the National Football Foundation.

Wisniewski has been proud to be part of his family's legacy at Penn State. In addition to his father, his uncle played for the Lions between 1985 and 1988.

"It's been a real cool experience, the whole idea that people before you who you care about already have done great things at Penn State," he said. "I've been privileged to be a part of it and add to the legacy they started."

Leo Wisniewski, who was on the field when Paterno won his 400th game Nov. 6 against Northwestern, finds it interesting that he and his son played their entire college careers for the same coach.

"It's really amazing," he said. "I was amazed when Joe was recruiting him. I certainly didn't think when Joe was recruiting him that he'd still be there at the finish. It's been a blast."

After graduation, and a bowl game, Wisniewski will train to prepare for the NFL Combine and draft. Several mock drafts have him going in the second round.

Many seniors, on the eve of their final football games, like to say their four years went by in a flash. Wisniewski, maybe because of his time being occupied so much, says the opposite, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been fun for him.

"My freshman year seems like 10 years ago," he said. "But at the same time, I've loved it. I always tell people, 'I'm busy as heck, but I'm having a blast.' It's been a great career."