Student athletes sometimes get the reputation of being “big dumb jocks.” But at N.C. State, many of the athletes are top performers in the classroom as well as on the field. Out of the 560 student athletes, about 300 students will be honored next week at the scholar athlete banquet. In order to be invited to the banquet, athletes must have earned above a 3.0 GPA in both the spring and fall semesters, according to Carrie Leger, director of the academic support program for student athletes.
“There are a lot of student athletes who do really great things,” Leger said. “Sometimes I think people forget about the ones who do well in school.”
In order to excel not only in their prospective sport, but in the classroom as well, time management in key. Junior gymnast Brittney Hardiman said it’s something that she has been working on her whole life.
“My parents have always pushed me to do well in school, so it’s really just time management. It takes a lot of practice,” Hardiman said. “It’s difficult during the season when you’re traveling a lot, but you learn how to handle it.”
Athletes’ requirements for study hours and GPA minimums vary depending on the team. Freshman athletes must maintain at least a 1.8 GPA and have anywhere between six to 15 hours a week of study hall. Sophomores need at least a 1.9 GPA, and juniors and seniors must maintain a 2.0. For Hardiman and the rest of the gymnastics team, coach Mark Stevenson’s GPA minimums are a lot higher.
“Our coach is very strict about grades and says that school is very important,” Hardiman said. “It’s quite a task sometimes but I enjoy it. I like to stay busy.”
According to Leger, the gymnastics team has consistently maintained one of the highest total GPAs on campus. Stevenson credits his athletes’ determination, not his guidelines on grades, for their exceptional academic performance.
“They are hardworking, great students,” Stevenson said. “I only have to tell them once to go to class. They have very set goals they are working towards.”
Hardiman is double majoring in sports management and business administration and hopes to work in the field of business operations with a baseball team in the future. She also was named an all-EAGL first-team selection on vault and the all-around in 2009 and earned a spot on the ACC honor roll three years in a row.
According to Leger, athletes like Hardiman excel because they understand the importance of time management.
“They have two primary responsibilities: to be a great student and to be a great athlete, and they understand time management,” Leger said. “They also really learn how to take advantage of the resources at the university.”
The academic support program offers student athletes with an entire support staff, housed in the Case Academic Center. Within the center there are study rooms, computer labs and tutors available. According to Danielle Zielonka, one of the athletic support program for student athletes’ tutor, athletes’ have a lot to juggle, especially when they are required to have lots of study hours.
“Contrary to popular belief, many athletes don’t have it easy,” Zeionka, junior majoring in French and Spanish, said “They have tutoring sessions everyday, some as much as eight to 10 hours a week. My job is to help them understand assignments better and those who have difficulty with time management, we work through a schedule.”
Will Mackvick, a sophomore goalkeeper for the men’s soccer team, said he uses his study hours to learn the material. His tutors don’t give him the answers.
“A lot of people hear rumors about athletes who have study guides to all the tests, but I haven’t taken those classes yet. I guess I’m missing out,” Mackvick said. “For the most part teachers are pretty understanding, especially in the upper level classes. They expect you to turn in stuff on time and get all your work done and hold you to the same standards as everyone else.”
Mackvick is also one of the athletes attending the scholar banquet as well as being on the ACC honor roll.
“Doing well in class is a must for me. My long-term goal is to go to law school,” Mackvick said. “It’s how you manage your time. There’s a lot more pressure to do well but make sure you’re on top of your stuff. If you’re skipping class, your coaches will find out pretty quick, so you can’t slack off.”
