Friday, April 2, 2021
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.
Name: Ivy Hommel
Sport: Softball
Institution: Northwest Nazarene University
Year: Senior
Major: Secondary Education, Athletic Training and Coaching
Hometown: Kuna, Idaho
Why Did You Choose To Attend Northwest Nazarene?: I chose to attend Northwest Nazarene because of its high academic reputation and the ability for me to play softball. I liked the student-professor ratio because I felt that it would allow me to excel in the classroom. The education department has a good reputation and I knew that was something I was interested in. My mom also worked at NNU at the time, and she always spoke highly of the campus and people. Attending this school had been one of my top options since I was a freshman in high school.
What Is Your Favorite Class You Have Taken And Why?: My favorite class has been Outdoor Water Sports. I took this class for the kinesiology portion of my degree. We went rafting, paddleboarding and kayaking and did so many other fun activities. I had a great time with my professor and built some awesome relationships with students outside of athletics. Our small class of six students felt like a family. It was so much fun to try new things with our diverse group.
Who Is Your Favorite Professor And What Did You Enjoy About Learning From Him Or Her?: My favorite professor is Dr. Holly Ripley. I only had one class with her but I learned a lot. Her personality is awesome. I felt a great connection with the content that she was teaching. She really cared about us and wanted us to succeed and go into student teaching as seamlessly as possible. She was very direct and encouraging, which is something that I appreciate in a professor.
Years Involved In SAAC: Three years.
The Reason You Chose To Get Involved In SAAC: One of my teammates talked me into joining SAAC because she thought it was something that I would enjoy. I like when people get involved and I love making an impact in athletics and on campus.
Most Memorable SAAC Activity To Date: My most memorable SAAC event was the Miracle Minute fundraiser at one of the basketball games. It was cool to see people donate a lot of money in that short amount of time.
How Do You Feel Participating In SAAC Will Help You In Life After You Graduate?: Participating in SAAC allows me to work with a group and make decisions on what we feel is best for the athletics community. We advocate for ourselves and give ourselves the best college experience possible. This applies to life after school because it teaches us how to make decisions and how to understand what the effects of those decisions are.
What Does It Mean To You To Be A Division II Student-Athlete?: Being a Division II student-athlete means that I am one of the few athletes across the world that was given the opportunity to play the sport I love for four additional years. It means that I have a learning opportunity that other people won’t get to experience. I will grow and learn from educated and experienced coaches, professors and teammates. It allows me to pursue my future profession and learn how to balance multiple aspects of life.
What Is The Most Important Thing You’ve Learned About Balancing Athletics And Academics?: Time management and communication are important. Being a student-athlete has taught me how to manage my time to make sure I am completing assignments on time while giving myself time to socialize. It has also taught me how to communicate with my professors and coaches. I have never had to communicate more in my life than I have while playing college softball.
Biggest Obstacle Overcome During Your Collegiate Career: I broke my arm during my sophomore year and have had to overcome a lot of issues with my range of motion. I have had mental barriers that have affected my athletic performance as a result of it.
Favorite Thing About Competing In The GNAC: The competitiveness of our conference allows us to compete at a high level.
If You Could Change One NCAA Rule, It Would Be: I think the registration process to become an NCAA student-athlete is very time-consuming and requires a lot of waiting.
Current Mentor(s): Hallie Swanson, Sean Rooney and Lauren Kamper.
Best Advice You’d Give To An Incoming Freshman: Thank your coaches, administrators, athletic trainers and professors. They care about you and want the best for you. They are your biggest fans and are there to make you a better person.
If You Could Spend The Day With One Person (Past Or Present), Who Would It Be (And Why)?: I would spend the day with Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I would like to learn how to have the mental strength and determination to overcome discrimination and help create a better world. I would also love to know the key to advocating for yourself and the people around you.
Extracurricular Activities: I am involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I am also an assistant coach for a travel softball team and love doing anything outdoors.
Future Goals After Graduation: I want to become a teacher and travel around the world during the summers.
Favorite Sports Team: Chicago Cubs.
Favorite Athletes: Javier Baez and Kris Bryant.
One Thing People Don’t Know About You Is: I love mountain biking and spending my free time enjoying our beautiful earth.