Monday, August 10, 2015

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.

Catherine Miles
Western Washington University
Women’s Soccer
Senior
Anacortes, Wash.

College major:
Chemistry

Extracurricular activities:
Running, hiking, biking.

Why did you choose to attend WWU?
It was a good fit for me athletically and WWU has one of the top undergraduate chemistry programs in Washington.

What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why?
Honors 206: an introduction to the Dominican Republic on a religious, cultural, historical and economical perspective. It is a country I had never studied before and my professor made sure it was an interactive class where everyone came out of it learning a great deal more than they did when we first walked in.

Who is your favorite professor you've had in college and what did you enjoy about learning from him or her?
Dr. Kim Ragsdale, calculus I and II. She was very animated with her teaching and did everything in her power to make you understand calculus. She put in extra time for you to meet with her in office hours and she always knit during our exams. Overall she was an absolutely phenomenal professor.

Years involved in SAAC:
Three

The reason I chose to get involved in SAAC:
I wanted to help unite WWU athletics with the rest of our school and our community.

Most memorable SAAC activity:
Relay for Life, where all of our athletic teams come together and participate to create a 24 hour team.

If I could change one NCAA rule, it would be:
To be able to participate in fantasy football!

What is the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics?
To make every minute of every day count, whether it be on the field, in the classroom, or during dinner with the roommates. Never let a moment go wasted.

 What does it mean to be a Division II student-athlete?
To represent my school in both an academic and athletic manner and to be a role model for other students both at WWU and other Division II schools.

Current mentor(s):
Dr. Bussell, my chemistry research professor who is helping me plan my final year at WWU as well as help me with the necessary steps for graduate school.

Future goals after school:
To attend graduate school and then to go into research in either the medical or environmental branch of chemistry.

Biggest obstacle overcome during collegiate career:
Balancing my academics with my practice and game schedule.

Best advice I’d give to an incoming freshman:
Get involved in a club other than your sport to meet as many new friends as possible.

If I could spend the day with one person (past or present), who would it be (and why)?
Marie Curie. I would ask her how she came up with her ingenious observations and discoveries that have changed the world of science. I would also congratulate her for being the first woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

Favorite sports team:
The Seattle Seahawks.

Favorite athlete:
Manuel Neuer, the Germany national team keeper.

Most memorable sports-related moment:
Playing my freshman year in the round of 64 and 32 in the NCAA tournament where we were the underdogs yet miraculously beat two exceptional California teams in overtime to advance to the round of 16.

One thing that people don't know about me is:
I am a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S.