College students enjoying their lunchtime break received a special treat on Wednesday, and that’s not counting the free hotdogs and soda handed out near the softball field.

That afternoon, Southwestern Michigan College President David Mathews visited students, staff and members of the community gathered near the entrance of the college. He arrived not by foot, by car or by bike — but by parachute.

The educator jumped from a plane flying 4,000 feet overhead the college softball field at 12:30 p.m., unfurling his Chieftain’s colored parachute before safely landing in the outfield only a few feet away from second base. While the onlookers cheered his successful jump, he removed his parachute and walked into the waiting arms of his wife and son, asking the latter if he liked seeing daddy jump.

Mathews’ skydiving exhibition capped off the college’s celebration of its 50th birthday. Originally scheduled to take place Saturday, the president, alongside two other jumpers with Plymouth Sky Sports, made two jumps that afternoon.

The show was one of Mathew’s contributions to the celebration, hoping that the novelty of the attraction would draw alumni back to the college for the anniversary.

“In our community, people don’t get to see skydiving all that much,” Mathews said.

The college leader has been skydiving since 1980, back when he was a student at Michigan State University. He quickly developed a passion for the sport, even competing in a national collegiate

competition.

The skill later became an essential part of his career in the Army’s Green Berets. After becoming certified in their high altitude – low opening parachuting technique, Mathews commanded a squad who specialized in the transportation method.

After hanging up his parachute following the end of his military service, he picked up skydiving again at the behest of his 16-year-old son, Michael. The two traveled to Texas together, where the younger Mathews learned to skydive himself.

“He had his skydiving license before his driver’s license,” Mathews said.

While his son was unable to participate in Wednesday’s show, Mathews said he was excited about the opportunity to show his students and staff a side of him they had never seen before.

“There’s something innate within us, that dream of flying,” he said. “You get a sense of that while you’re in free fall. It’s just a lot of fun.”