Huntingdon’s small-school feel appealed to Carter
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 Abby Carter is today's featured student-athlete.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Abby Carter began her college career at UNC-Wilmington.
But something just didn't feel right. When Carter enrolled at Huntingdon College, she knew she had found the right school. Now, as a senior approaching graduation, she is appreciative of the environment and opportunities that Huntingdon offers.
"The people are what make Huntingdon special," Carter said. "The campus is small enough that you can be involved in a lot of different areas and know a lot of people. You have the flexibility to be a student-athlete and be involved in Greek life. You can't do that at some colleges.
"Having been in a school where there are 100s of people in a class and no one holding you accountable, that didn't fit me. Here, your teachers know you and if you miss class, they'll ask you why you weren't there. It's nice to be able to get to know your classmates and help each other out."
Carter has made the most of her opportunities at Huntingdon, succeeding in the classroom and in athletics and taking an active role in campus life.
She has been on the Dean's List and the Dean's List of High Honors as she pursued a major in Psychology and a minor in Political Science. She is a Huntingdon Ambassador, a member of Psi Chi and President of Gamma Sigma Alpha. She is also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and the Order of Omega and in the past she has served as Phi Mu's delegate to the Panhellenic Council.
In athletics, Carter excelled for four years on the volleyball court and was a two-time Great South Athletic Conference All-Academic selection and a two-time All-Conference selection. As a junior, she helped the volleyball team win the GSAC regular season championship.
This spring she joined Huntingdon's first-year track and field program and has competed in the shot put and discus.
When Carter leaves Huntingdon after graduation, she hopes to find a career that will allow her to give back and help those in need. She plans to start by working with the Hinton Rural Life Center.
"It's an outreach center through the Methodist Church and is located on the Georgia-North Carolina border," Carter said. "They coordinate work teams to help people. For instance, if an electrician calls and says he will donate a certain amount of time, the center coordinates them with a needy family that needs work done.
"Missions are a big deal in my family and my mom takes a lot of missions trips. I just want to continue in that tradition. I'm happy when I'm helping people. You don't have to leave the country to be able to help people. There are a lot of things that can be done here in America to help people, so I'm giving a lot of thought to that career path."
Name: Abby Carter
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Waynesville, N.C.
Sport: Volleyball and women's track and field
Athletic accomplishments: Carter was a four-year player for the Huntingdon volleyball program, earning All-Conference twice and Academic All-Conference twice. During her junior season, the volleyball team was the Great South Athletic Conference regular season champion. As a senior, she became a part of Huntingdon's first women's track and field team, competing in the shot put and discus.
Academic achievements: Carter has been on the Dean's List and the Dean's List of High Honors. She is a member of Psi Chi and President of Gamma Sigma Alpha.
Campus Activities: Carter is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and the Order of Omega. She is a Huntingdon Ambassador and was a Panhellenic Council delegate for Phi Mu.