Center for Student-Athlete
Enhancement
FEB R U AR Y
Special Points of Interest:
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Starting the semester off right
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Upcoming Opportunities
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Student-Athletes
of the Month
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Where Are They Now? Sue Garnett ‘13,Women’s Basketball
Where Are They
Now?
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2 0 14
Study Hall/
Academic Reminders
Enhancement Center
Hours
Sunday: 4-9pm
Monday-Thursday:
8:30am-9pm
Friday:
8:30-5pm
Saturday: Closed
Hometown; Bronx, NY
Current City: Kansas City, MO
Occupation: Graduate Assistant at The University of Missouri-Kansas City
What are your currently doing at the moment? I am a Graduate Assistant at the University of
Missouri-Kansas City. Here I am a mentor and advise student-athletes in the student-athlete support
services office (SASSO).
How did you land your current position?
One day I was looking for graduate assistant positions in athletic departments because I wanted to work with studentathletes and get my masters degree at the same time. I came across a job posting for UMKC SASSO and I immediately
applied. I had a phone interview the very next morning and a couple hours later they offered me the position. It was a
tough decision that I had to make. I was not sure if I was ready to move away from my family and friends. I also was
not sure if I was ready to be on my own, but then again who is right after you graduate? I took the position and am now
a New York City kid living in the Mid-West!
Biggest struggle after graduating and how did you overcome it?
The biggest struggle after graduating had to be moving thousands of miles away from home to a place where I did not
know a single person. What was also hard was having to grow up so fast (not that it is a bad thing). I just did not expect it to come this soon. I now have “real” responsibilities, which include paying bills and looking after my studentathletes’ well being when it comes to school and things of that nature. I am not sure that I have fully overcome this
struggle because I am still homesick and I am still learning so much every single day at work. What has helped me are
the people in my support circle such as my mom, dad, sister and other family members, friends, former teammates, my
supervisors here at UMKC and advisors from Marist.
What do you enjoy the most about your current alumni status?
What I enjoy most about my current alumni status is that I am very proud of being a graduate from Marist College. I
have so much more pride in my school now than I ever did (and when I was there I sure did have a lot of pride).
Best memory at Marist?
Besides all the amazing people I met while at Marist, my favorite memory has to be when Coach Giorgis told me I
made the basketball team. It was something I was working on for a very long time and to see that come true was amazing. The best part of that was when I went to the cafeteria after coach told me the news. I walked in and my roommate
Nicole yells, “This is my roommate and she just made the women’s basketball team!” Literally every one got out of
their seats and began cheering and clapping. There were several congratulations and individuals coming up to me to
personally congratulating me on my accomplishment. It was amazing. I will never forget how crowded the café was
and how everyone was so happy for me. It was the perfect memory.
Tips for life after college?
I suggest that you make sure you prioritize everything that you are doing. I know playing a sport takes up a lot of time
but part of being an adult is figuring out how to balance things. The more you work at being organized and accountable, the easier life after college will be. I also advise you not to freak out once you hit the “real world”. It can be very
scary but you will be able to figure things out and be just fine. Just give yourself time and give yourself credit. Don’t be
too hard on yourself, that is the one mistake I did make. Give yourself a break, you are beginning a brand new journey
and will mess up a lot. Just keep on moving forward.
Any advice you would like to give to current student-athletes?
To current student-athletes, one thing I do suggest is to reach out and build relationships with anyone you possibly can!
You never know what you can get out of them and I’m not just saying what they can do for you. There are so many
great people that you can meet and build amazing friendships/partnerships with. Building relationships is key! Also,
break out of your circle of teammates and make friends with people outside of your athletic team. I know I did and met
people who I know I will be life-long friends with.
PAGE
Upcoming Opportunities
2
Heart Walk
This year’s American Heart Association,
Heart Walk is on Saturday March 15, 2013 at
Vassar College, Walker Field House at
10:00am.
If you would like to join the team, you can
call email Berndette.Cookinham@marist.edu
and she’ll send you a form.
If you’re unable to walk with us because of
another commitment you’ve already made,
please consider sponsoring one of the walkers.
Special Olympics Tournament
On Saturday, March 29th, we will be hosting
the Marist College Special Olympics Tournament. We will need as many volunteers as
possible that day to assist with the basketball , powerlifting and swimming events. Be
on the lookout for more information in the
next few weeks.
New year, New You!
Spring semester tips!
As you begin to embark on
your new semester at Marist, here a re a few survival
tips to better help you adjust to a new semester.
1. Show up to all of your
classes on time! Academic
success should be your
main priority at Marist.
4. Eat and sleep well. Having your strength is very
important as a student –
athlete and your body will
show its appreciation.
5. Schedule breaks. Take a
ten minute break after every hour of studying.
Spread out several short
study sessions during the
day.
6. Make use of study resources on campus. Marist
provides several academic
resources for their students. For more information, please visit our
site: http://
www.marist.edu/athletics/
studentathlete/
7. Stay positive. This semester will challenge you
in several ways but always
remember your goals as to
why you’re here.
On Friday, March 28, several women’s sports
along with L.E.A.P. will be hosting over 100 girl
scouts for a fun-filled Friday night sports sampler. Girl Scouts will be able to participate in six
sports and earn a badge. Look for more details
from your coaches and our office in the upcoming weeks! We will need everyone’s support.
Polar Plunge
If you or someone you know would like to volunteer at this year's Polar Plunge, please contact
Stephanie Espinosa at
Stephanie.espinosa@marist.edu. We welcome all
ages. Volunteers report to Sharpe Reservation at
8 a.m. Assignments will be distributed upon arrival. To form/support a team or to make a monetary donation, you can do so via this link:
http://2014fishkill.kintera.org/faf/home/
default.asp?ievent=1055940
February Student-Athletes of the Month
2. Have a daily routine to
study for your classes.
3. Establish a quiet and
distraction free place to
study.
Girl Scouts Sports Sampler
Brooke Zywick, Junior Women’s Volleyball, Garden City, M.I.
Brooke has demonstrated excellence both on the court and in the classroom. She is a dedicated volleyball player and
student. Carrying a 3.6 GPA, Brooke made the Dean’s List 4 times: Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, and Fall 2013.
She was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team in 2012 and 2013. She became the fourth player in Marist history
to achieve 1,000 digs in her career while leading her team to be the 2013 MAAC Co- Champions. Brooke was named
MAAC Libero of the Year, andAll-MAAC First Team,. Outside of academics and sports, Brooke has been able to
devote her time to community service and campus groups. She participated in several LEAP events, including the Girl
Scouts Sports Sampler, which she has been very involved in for the past two years. Brooke was also chosen to participate on the Student-Athlete Panel for the Freshman Seminar, where she shared advice on balancing academics and
athletics. She is a member of the Political Science Club and Marist College Psychology Club. Brooke is currently
studying abroad in London, England in the Hansard Scholars Programme at the London School of Economics. She is
also interning with the British Parliament and working with the Scottish National Party. Whether on the court, in the
classroom, or out in the community, it is safe to say that Brooke is well on her way to making a difference.
Gannon Osborn, Senior, Lacrosse, Canandaigua, NY
An Environmental Science and Policy major with a dual concentration in Science and Policy and minoring in
Biology and Writing, Gannon has clearly demonstrated the abilities of a successful student-athlete. He has posted a
near perfect GPA since his arrival as a freshman, appearing on the Dean’s list for 6 semesters and earning MAAC AllAcademic Team Honors in 2012 and 2013. Gannon has also been the recipient of the Marist College Presidential Acacademic Scholarship since Fall 2010. Known for his leadership, Gannon was selected as the captain of the lacrosse
team for the 2013-2014 season. In addition to his academic and athletic success, Gannon’s leadership extends to campus groups and the community. He has been a member of SAAC since 2010 and has served as the Co-Chair since Fall
2011. Gannon is also a member of Students Encouraging Environmental Dedication, and became a member of the
Campus Sustainability Advisory Committee this past year. He has participated in Hunger Walk events, Friends of
Jaclyn Angel Walk events and Adoption Ceremony, Campus Ministries holiday projects, and the Giving Tree. Gannon has been a big part of raising money for the ETC Foundation, created in honor of Edward Coombs, by participating in the ETC Lacrosse Tournament and EC34 Flag Football Tournament. He is a true student-athlete.
Study Hall /Academic Reminders
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Study Hall Hours: Study Hall officially begins Sunday, February 2nd from 12-4pm.
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Enhancement Center hours for the Spring semester are Monday thru Thursday, 8:30a-9pm, Friday: 8:305pm and Sunday 4-9pm
Study hall hours will be held every Sunday from 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and Monday through Thursday 9:00
a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Mandated study hall participants are required to complete 6 hours of study hall a week by
Thursday at 6:00 p.m., unless notified otherwise.
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