Friday, June 10, 2016
Part of a regular series.
Throughout the year, GNACsports.com uses this space to profile conference student-athletes who are members of their respective institutions' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In addition to providing feedback on the student-athlete experience, conference and institutional SAAC members also offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses. Click here for more information on the function of SAAC at the NCAA level.
Name: Darren Arndt
Sport: Track and Field
School: Central Washington
Year: Junior
Major: Law & Justice/Psychology
Hometown: Burlington, Wash.
Extracurricular activities: Guitar, singing and painting.
Why did you choose to attend Central Washington? Because the academic program for my major is excellent, but also so I could compete in track.
What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why? Prepping For a Law Enforcement Career because the course content consisted mostly of real-life skills that are needed beyond college when looking for a career. The skills learned in this class could be applied to any career.
Who is your favorite professor you've had in college and what did you enjoy about learning from him or her? Wes Clogston because of his experience in many fields in the law as well as experience in the hiring system for agencies. That gives his students an advantage when trying to figure out what agencies look for in potential employee candidates.
Years involved in SAAC: Two.
The reason I chose to get involved in SAAC: I am a great communicator amongst my team and I enjoy the unity among people/teams.
Most memorable SAAC activity: Trunk or Treat for kids for Halloween during the Central Washington volleyball game. Every kid's face was lit up with joy when they walked in the room.
What is the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics? If you fall behind in either, your season or academia could go downhill real quick. Time management is the most important skill to master as a student-athlete and will help us in our career beyond college.
Future goals after school: Explore the nation and the Earth, make a career, develop a stable life and create a family.
Biggest obstacle overcame during collegiate career: Transitioning from my high school studying tactics (minimal), to the very intensive type of studing that college requires.
Best advice I’d give to an incoming freshman: Never miss class. If you do for whatever reason, make sure you ask a classmate for notes on what you have missed because one day can change the outcome of your final grade.
If I could spend the day with one person (past or present), who would it be (and why)? Best friend and teammate Harish Prasad because before I met him, I was the hardest working person I knew. He has taught me the importance of pushing myself beyond my limits.
Favorite sports team: Minnesota Vikings.
Favorite athlete: Percy Harvin because, despite his size at 5-foot-8, he was one of the most exciting players to watch on the football field.
Most memorable sports-related moment: Beating a team in the 4x400-meter relay by one-thousandth of a second to compete at the Washington High School State Championships for my first and last time.
One thing that people don't know about me is: I was a few minutes from dying before I knew I had asthma. My attack was brought on by a mixture of allergic reactions developing during physical activity. This discouraged me from doing sports, but eventually overcame it and now I am a collegiate athlete.