Huntingdon’s Vick feels prepared for challenges to come
This week is NCAA Division III Week and member institutions across the country are celebrating the inaugural event.
Division III Week, which began Monday and runs 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 are being featured this week. Huntingdon senior Christian Vick is today's featured student-athlete.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Huntingdon senior Christian Vick recently had to make a tough decision.
Having applied to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at several schools, Vick was accepted at four schools – UAB, Mercer University, the University of South Alabama and Alabama State University.
Vick chose UAB as the school where she will pursue her doctorate in physical therapy, specializing in acute care.
She knows UAB's reputation as a challenging school, but she believes Huntingdon College has helped prepare her for the challenges that lie ahead.
"Being a student at Huntingdon has prepared me extremely well," Vick said. "But I also think the lessons I've learned as an athlete at Huntingdon have helped prepare me. I've learned a lot through athletics that has helped me in academics and other areas.
"Athletics has taught me how to handle adversity and work through tough times. Life is full of adversity. It pops up on the tennis court, in the classroom and in life. The lessons I've learned on the court and from our coaches are lessons that also apply in the classroom and in life."
During her time at Huntingdon, Vick has worked to succeed in academics and athletics. She has been on the Dean's List of High Honors each of her seven semesters and has been a four-year player for the women's tennis team.
She has been part of three Great South Athletic Conference tournament runner-up teams and two GSAC regular-season championship teams. She was an All-Conference selection as a freshman and has been Academic All-Conference the past two seasons.
In addition to her academic and athletic accomplishments, Vick is also involved in several college service groups. She has been a member of SAAC all four years and served as the SAAC President for two years. She was a Huntingdon Host as a junior and is a Huntingdon Ambassador this year.
"It means a lot to me to be involved in these areas," Vick said. "I chose Huntingdon because it was a smaller school and it allowed students the opportunity to stand out and achieve their goals. I love Huntingdon and I appreciate what the school has taught me and given me. Having the opportunity to show what I've learned in service on campus and in the community is very important to me."
Name: Christian Vick
Year: Senior
Major: Cell Biology/Pre Med
Hometown: Sylacauga, Ala.
Sport: Women's tennis
Athletic accomplishments: Vick is a four-year player for Huntingdon and has been part of three Great South Athletic Conference tournament runner-up teams. As a freshman and sophomore, she was part of back-to-back regular-season GSAC championships. Vick earned All-Conference and All-Freshman team recognition in 2009 and was an Academic All-Conference selection the past two seasons.
Academic achievements: Vick has made the Dean's List of High Honors for each of the seven semesters she has attended Huntingdon. She was accepted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of South Alabama, Alabama State University, Mercer University and UAB. She will attend UAB to pursue her doctorate in physical therapy, specializing in acute care.
Campus Activities: Vick is a member of the Alpha Beta Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma and the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership society. She served as a Huntingdon Host in 2010-11 and is a Huntingdon Ambassador this year. She has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee since 2008 and has served as the SAAC President for two years and is a 2012 selection to Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.