Transferring Skills from Sports to the Crummer Classroom

Student athletes have an added layer of challenge to their day-to-day scholastic experience. They must balance their athletic commitments with the rigors of the classroom and stay on top of having a full schedule. This is especially true for Crummer student-athletes, who are managing the high expectations of graduate-level work. In this article, we’ll share insights from some of Crummer’s illustrious athletes – Elvar Kristjansson, Shahé Katchadurian, Angelina Khourisader, Katie Groves, and Collin Diviak – and what skills transfer from sports to the classroom.   

In the realm of sports, hard work stands as the cornerstone upon which success is built. It is the relentless pursuit of excellence, the unwavering commitment to improvement, and the resilience in the face of adversity that define the essence of hard work. Elvar Kristjansson is an international student from Norway who came to Rollins as a soccer player. “One skill that I have learned from soccer is that hard work always shows results. If you work hard, you will achieve what you want in life.” It instills discipline, cultivates perseverance, and fosters a mindset of continuous growth, enabling athletes to push beyond their limits and reach new heights of achievement on the field and in the classroom.  

Another skill that comes from sports is resilience. It is the invisible force that propels athletes forward through the toughest of challenges, transforming setbacks into opportunities and defeats into lessons learned. It fosters a mindset of grit and determination, instilling the belief that failure is not final but merely a temporary setback on the journey to greatness. Shahé Katchadurian knows a thing or two about this. He was awarded with the USILA Goalie of the Year in Division 2 for men’s lacrosse as well as being named a first team All American after the 2023 season. “The nature of my position as a goalie forces me to be resilient in times of failure. This skill has helped me overcome challenges and grow as a student.”  

As you can imagine, time management is critical for these students. Student athletes must learn to efficiently allocate their time, balancing the demands of coursework with the commitments of their sport. Angelina Khourisader (pictured), a member of the women’s sailing team, not only does this, but has figured out how to fit in even more. “My time management skills have allowed me to participate in all the activities that Crummer has to offer, such as our Student Leadership Advisory Board, our Global Consulting Trip, and my participation in the TRUIST Distinguished Leader of Merit Process.” By prioritizing tasks, setting realistic goals, and maintaining a structured schedule, student athletes can navigate the complexities of their dual roles with confidence and competence, ultimately paving the way for success both on and off the field, or in Angelina’s case, the water. She even landed a job well before her graduation with World Wide Technology as an analyst as part of WWT’s Management Consulting Team in Washington, DC. 

The biggest skill that transfers from the playing field to the classroom is that of teamwork. Student athletes learn invaluable lessons in communication, cooperation, and trust as they work together towards a common goal, gaining the ability to seamlessly integrate individual strengths into a cohesive unit. Katie Groves, a women’s tennis player who won the Arther Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for the South region in 2023, emphasized this as well as Collin Diviak, a men’s waterskier. Collin noted, “Although men and women ski compete in their respective divisions, all our scores contribute to the team’s success. We have skiers from all over the world including Mexico, Canada, Morocco, Austria, Peru, and more. This is similar to Crummer, where you must learn to be teammates with a diverse group of your peers, accomplishing projects that are traditionally performed individually in undergraduate studies.”   

In the dynamic world of student athletics at Crummer, these exceptional individuals exemplify the intersection of sportsmanship and scholarship. Through their remarkable journeys, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of hard work, resilience, time management, and teamwork on and off the field. As they navigate the demanding landscape of graduate-level studies while excelling in their respective sports, Elvar, Shahe, Angelina, Katie, and Collin showcase the invaluable skills and traits that transfer seamlessly from athletics to academics. Their stories inspire us to embrace challenges, cultivate resilience, and harness the power of teamwork as we strive for excellence in every endeavor. As we celebrate their achievements, we are reminded of the boundless potential that lies within each of us to overcome obstacles, seize opportunities, and make a lasting impact on the world around us. 

To get started on your Crummer MBA experience, make an appointment with an admissions specialist.