Division III Week Student Spotlight – Shannen O'Leary
This week is NCAA Division III Week and member institutions across the country are celebrating the fifth-year event.
Division III Week, which runs from Monday through Sunday, is intended to recognize the academic and athletic accomplishments as well as the campus leadership and community service efforts of Division III student-athletes.
As part of Huntingdon College's participation in Division III Week, six student-athletes will be featured this week. Huntingdon senior Shannen O'Leary is today's featured student-athlete.
By Chuck Tidmore
Sports Information Assistant
Name: Shannen O'Leary
Year: Senior
Hometown: Stratford, Conn.
Major: Political Science
Career Goals: Attend UCLA for Law School
Sport: Women's Lacrosse
Athletic Accomplishments: O'Leary has appeared in 57 games and has a program record 150 career points, 46 career assists and 204 draw controls. She holds the Huntingdon records for assists in a season and a game and goals in a game. She was the second Lady Hawk to score 100 goals and ranks second in program history with 104 goals, 123 ground balls and 55 caused turnovers.
Academic Achievements and Campus Activities: O'Leary has been very active during her time at Huntingdon. She has been the Vice President of her sorority, Phi Mu and was the speaker of the house for the Student Government Association. She has been named to the USA South Academic All-Conference Team and Dean's List. She has also has been a member of the Business Club, a Huntingdon Ambassador and a Huntingdon Host.
What made you feel like Huntingdon was the right place for you? "When I first started playing lacrosse, I was hoping to go to a Division I school. At first, Huntingdon was very low on my list but when I came here on a visit and saw how they incorporated athletics and academics, I knew it was the best fit for me."
What has made your Huntingdon experience unique? "Being a part of the first women's lacrosse team at Huntingdon attracted me and made me want to come here. I knew that my class would be part of history and our team has faced a lot of diversity with three coaches in four years. All the seniors have held their composure over the past four years, so that has made it unique."
How has Huntingdon challenged you academically and athletically? "Academically, Huntingdon does a really good job in how they treat their student-athletes. Playing a sport and going to school has been challenging, but what is great about Huntingdon is that they want the student-athletes to be part of more organizations on campus, and not just restricted to sports. Everyone encourages everyone to be a part of this club or that organization."
What has been your biggest highlight as a Huntingdon student-athlete? "My first highlight would be beating Meredith College my freshman year. They were ranked first in the conference and I had the goal to send the game into overtime. My second would have to be scoring my 100th career goal this season. Seeing the team come together this season under coach Julia Steier has been awesome. Off the field, making the Academic All-Conference team has been a blessing."
As a student-athlete, what is your impression of Division III now compared to your first season? "Being a Division III athlete, I think you get the best of both worlds. You are able to be on a sports team, receive great coaching and are able to travel, but you are also able to be in different clubs and organizations and still have time for academics. Your college experience is what you make of it and being in Division III has been special."
Name: Shannen O'Leary
Year: Senior
Hometown: Stratford, Conn.
Major: Political Science
Career Goals: Attend UCLA for Law School
Sport: Women's Lacrosse
Athletic Accomplishments: O'Leary has appeared in 57 games and has a program record 150 career points, 46 career assists and 204 draw controls. She holds the Huntingdon records for assists in a season and a game and goals in a game. She was the second Lady Hawk to score 100 goals and ranks second in program history with 104 goals, 123 ground balls and 55 caused turnovers.
Academic Achievements and Campus Activities: O'Leary has been very active during her time at Huntingdon. She has been the Vice President of her sorority, Phi Mu, was the speaker of the house for the Student Government Association. She has been named to the USA South Academic All-Conference Team and Dean's List. She has also has been a member of the Business Club, a Huntingdon Ambassador and a Huntingdon Host.
What made you feel like Huntingdon was the right place for you? "When I first started playing lacrosse, I was hoping to go to a Division I school. At first, Huntingdon was very low on my list but when I came here on a visit and saw how they incorporated athletics and academics, I knew it was the best fit for me."
What has made your Huntingdon experience unique? "Being a part of the first women's lacrosse team at Huntingdon attracted me and made me want to come here. I knew that my class would be part of history and our team has faced a lot of diversity with three coaches in four years. All the seniors have held their composure over the past four years, so that has made it unique."
How has Huntingdon challenged you academically and athletically? "Academically, Huntingdon does a really good job in how they treat their student-athletes. Playing a sport and going to school has been challenging, but what is great about Huntingdon is that they want the student-athletes to be part of more organizations on campus, and not just restricted to sports. Everyone encourages everyone to be a part of this club or that organization."
What has been your biggest highlight as a Huntingdon student-athlete? "My first highlight would be beating Meredith College my freshman year. They were ranked first in the conference and I had the goal to send the game into overtime. My second would have to be scoring my 100th career goal this season. Seeing the team come together this season under coach Steier has been awesome. Off the field, making the Academic All-Conference team has been a blessing."
As a student-athlete, what is your impression of Division III now compared to your first season? "At first, I was down on Division III as I think a lot of high-school athletes are. But being a Division III athlete, I think you get the best of both worlds. You are able to be on a sports team, receive great coaching and are able to travel, but you are also able to be in different clubs and organizations and still have time for academics. Your college experience is what you make of it and being in Division III has been special."