Sierra Kenkel, a senior from Kalispell, Mont., has been chosen for the focus of this installment of the “Endicott Student-Athlete Spotlight” for her works both on the field of competition, and even more important, off of it.  Sierra, who is a member of the women's rugby team that just clinched their first win in the new CCRC conference, is a Biology & Biotechnology major. We were able to catch up with the senior and ask her a few questions for our new segment.

Why did you choose to be a Division III student-athlete?
So I could pursue a vigorous academic path while staying competitive and part of a sport I love. Being on a team teaches many good qualities such as teamwork, how to overcome adversity, affective communication skills etc. 

What do you like most about being a student-athlete at Endicott?
What I like most about being a student-athlete is having the capability to dive into multiple passions at once. I love being on the pitch with the team but I also enjoy learning new material in the science department. 

What are some of the greatest lessons you have learned from being a student-athlete?
One important lesson I learned is to be especially organized during the season- block out time for studying, free time and practice. Another lesson is that communication is a big key to success- communicate with everyone involved. Meaning, catch up with your teammates regularly, talk with coaches and others that are involved with the program. The greatest lesson I have learned being a student-athlete is to remember that it is supposed to be fun! Enjoy every aspect of being on a team- on and off the pitch. If you are not having fun, things to be evaluated. 

Who have been the most influence people in your athletic career?
My father has been one of the most influential people in my athletic career. He is knowledgable and a high level athlete which helps fine tune my skills. Coach Ryman has instilled a great amount of confidence in me.

How would your teammates describe you?
I think my teammates would describe me as hardworking, caring, and competitive (when need be). In practice I try to give constructive criticism and praise as best I can. With so many new girls, we need to praise them for all they do right, not just all they do wrong. Come game time I get more intense and try to use as few words as possible to communicate both positive and negative feedback to the girls. 

Do you have any pre-game/pre-event rituals? If so, what are they?
Not that I'm aware of except a good pep talk from coaches and maybe Erica or I (captains). 

What is your greatest sports moment?
When we score "team" trys, meaning everyone puts in a valid effort towards the score. 

Which public figure (athlete, politician, entertainer, etc) would you most like to meet and what one question would you ask them?
George Church, what do you think is the most important feature of genetics currently being studied? Also, what is your take on epigenetics? 

What internships have you completed (or are a part of now)? What benefit have you gotten out of them?
I have interned as a vet tech twice and now I am currently interning at Veritas Genetics. Both are novel experiences! 

If you have been involved in community service projects, what project has been the most rewarding and why?
I judged a science fair last spring in elementary school. I found it very rewarding to see how many kids were so jacked about science! Some of the kids ideas were very in depth. 

Name three things on your "bucket list".
I plan on going to the rugby World Cup Fall 2015! I would also like to visit Australia and partake in many outdoor activities there as well as community service. Lastly, I would like to go heli-skiing. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years after graduation? What is your dream job?
I hope I will be working towards earning enough money to live on some type of ranch. My dream job will involve something with genetics. Farther down the road I hope to own a non-profit organization that helps kids with emotional or physical disabilities feel more confident in their own body. The majority of this will be done through horsemanship. My other thought is to have a non profit organization that helps kids get to college through athletics; I am currently on a board of one. 

What would you say to someone currently in high school who is considering attending Endicott? 
Endicott is a growing school. Each year they build new amenities to ensure growth within the students. It is a novel experience living so close to the ocean and downtown Boston. 

Is there something about you that we don't know? Tell is something special about yourself that we haven't asked!
I have a pot-bellied big named Lily that I absolutely adore.