Lehighsports.com

CA Logo

Kate is a senior Environmental Engineering major from Selden, New York and has been "on the move" since her arrival 4 years ago. Whether she is playing an Intramural or Club Basketball contest, working on a water distribution project abroad with Engineers without Borders, Kate has made quite an impact in our programs. We asked Kate to share her experiences with us.

You have been an active participant in our Intramural and Club Sport Programs throughout your undergraduate years at Lehigh.  Can you share what you have been involved in?

For the past four years I have played on the Women’s Club Basketball team. I have also played Intramural Sports with an independent women’s team, called the Rebels, for the past three years and we have done very well winning the IM Championships the past two years! In addition, I played Women’s Club Soccer my first two years at Lehigh.

What other Campus activities or organizations are you currently or have been involved with?

I have been heavily involved with Lehigh’s Chapter of Engineers without Borders, which has an international water distribution and purification project in Honduras, serving as Outreach Chair and President for a year each. Through EWB I have also been able to travel internationally three times to Honduras to work on our project there. I have also been a member of the Orientation staff for the past three years helping first year student’s transition into college life. And recently, I have become involved with a new club on campus called Tossing not Throwing (TNT) that is strictly devoted to tossing games—making me a fierce competitor in cornhole.

Do you find it difficult being so involved?

No, I actually think it’s the opposite. My involvement in organizations on campus forces me to be more aware of my time and so I’ve found that it helps me with planning when I need to study and do homework. 

Is it hard to keep up with your classes and grades, or do you feel that you balance them well?

Some weeks can be difficult if a lot of large assignments are due but during those weeks you just have to remember that school comes first. Besides that I feel that balancing school and my extra-curricular activities has made me a well-rounded person.

How has participating in our Campus Athletics programs helped to enrich your college experience?

I have made so many life-long friends from participating in Athletics here at Lehigh. Continuing to participate in sports, as it did in high school, has taught me abundant lessons about team work, commitment, and communication, which I will take with me out into the work-force.

How has our programs helped you to make connections and friendships with people that you otherwise probably would have never met?

Participating in Club Basketball has made an enormous impact on my life because it is how I met some of my best friends. I might have never met these people without campus athletics because they are outside of my major.

What inspired you to become so involved?

My high school experiences taught me that being involved with clubs and organizations was a great way to grow my interpersonal skills, gain leadership experience, and meet new people. Lehigh is amazing in terms of the variety experiences offered by campus activities and so I was able to find a handful of groups I was really passionate about being a part of.

           
Do you think you've grown as a leader? Do you feel more confident in general?

I definitely feel that I’ve grown as a leader from my involvement at Lehigh—I’ve learned how to facilitate meetings, deal with different personality types, foster a friendly atmosphere, and so much more! Having had the opportunity to exercise so many different forms and styles of leadership has made me a more confident individual. I’ve had plenty of "practice" so I feel ready for whatever the future will bring my way.

How do you think you will be able to apply these leadership skills in other areas such as the workplace and in everyday life?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about leadership at Lehigh is that it’s not about being the guy in the spotlight. Exhibiting leadership can occur in any position through small and large acts. For example, as I think about the workplace and leadership, I know I’ll be able to lend support to fellow co-workers by simply offering to listen.

What are your future plans?

I am currently looking for a job that would allow me to explore the areas of water resource management, environmental remediation, and sustainable design.