Kesley Sampson rises high for a return
Student Athlete Advisory Committee Profile- Kelsey Sampson
LA GRANDE, Ore. - The Cascade Collegiate Conference sponsors a Student Athlete Advisory Committee
(SAAC) made up of representatives from each member institution. The function of the committee is to; discuss and provide feedback on conference issues affecting student-athlete welfare, assist in educating student athletes about CCC/NAIA issues on their home campus, increase and improve student-athletes’ understanding of the CCC and NAIA Legislative process, promote student-athlete participation in department wide Champions of Character programs and provide a forum for addressing student-athlete concerns.
The CCC office caught up with Kesley Sampson who is one of the committee representatives from Oregon Techand participates in volleyball.
Kelsey Sampson, Oregon Tech
Volleyball
Major/Minor- Renewable Energy Engineering / Applied Mathematics
Senior
GPA- 4.0
Hometown- Folsom, California
High School Attended- Vista del Lago
Parent’s Names- Dana and Jeanne Sampson
Cascade Conference (CC)-How did you choose OIT to continue your athletic and academic career?
Kelsey Sampson (KS) - I originally found out about Oregon Tech through a family friend after I heard they had a good volleyball program and specialized in engineering. I contacted the coach, and luckily, he was interested in me. A short while later, the stars aligned when I was offered a spot on the volleyball team and discovered Oregon Tech had a Renewable Energy Engineering program. The REE program was the perfect fit for me, and having the opportunity to continue the sport I loved while working towards that degree was why I chose Oregon Tech to continue my athletic and academic career.
CC- What are some of the demands of being a student athlete?
KS- As a student athlete, you are responsible for a number of things. You have to make sure you attend all the practices, workouts, games, and events that your team is a part of. You also need to make sure you are eating healthy, sleeping enough, and making the right decisions or sacrifices to maximize your performance. On top of all of that, you must remain eligible, which means studying on the road during travel weekends, turning in assignments early and on time, having a good relationship with your professors, and just working hard in the classroom.
CC- What are some of your best experiences so far, both academically and athletically at college?
KS- Some of the best experiences being on the volleyball team came when we traveled. We have made so many memories spending so much time on the road together, and each year has brought its own special moments. It was also so fun beating some of the top teams in the conference when we weren’t expected to, and making playoffs, even if it happened by winning the last possible game of season. Academically, some of the best experiences have come outside the classroom when my classmates and I were standing around before or after class complaining or laughing about the classes we all had together.
CC- Who are some influential people in your life at OIT?
KS- The most influential people in my life here at Oregon Tech are my teammates, my coaches, my professors, and my classmates. Being a part of a collegiate level team gives you so many important life lessons, and a lot of the lessons I learned were from my coaches and my teammates. Every one of them has a unique perspective on life, and getting to know all of them has been an amazing experience. My professors and classmates help push me in my studies. My professors all have high expectations for their students and know so much that will help us later on when we begin our careers, and my classmates have always been willing to give a helping hand or support when I have needed it.
CC- When not competing or studying what do you do for fun?
KS- This question makes me laugh because there are few times during fall and spring seasons when I am not competing, working out, or studying. But, on the rare occasions that I do have the time, I love hanging out with my friends, going out to the woods for bonfires, attending campus events (like basketball games), and just kicking back watching movies.
CC- What do you hope to accomplish as a member of the CCC-SAAC?
KS- As a member of the CCC-SAAC, I hope to give student athletes a voice and be able have a say in important decisions that pertain to athletes. It takes a real student athlete to truly understand the demands or problems of their college, their team, or the conference in general, and the ability to represent these students well is very important.
CC- What do you see yourself doing after graduation?
KS- Although I am not exactly sure where I will end up after graduation, I plan on working for a renewable energy company (hopefully something in the solar power field), whether it is research based or hands on, located somewhere in the Pacific Northwest or California.