Key Takeaways
- Kamryn Inman, BS community health student clinical science student, successfully balances her demanding academics with her commitments as a center fielder for the George Mason softball team.
- Inman was awarded the Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar-Athlete Award, which recognizes student athletes who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance with a grade point average of 3.75.
- Inman encourages fellow student athletes that they are capable of being successful in both the classroom and in their sport.
Kamryn Inman, BS community health student, balances academic and athletic excellence, as evident by being named a Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar-Athlete. She shares how she succeeds in both without sacrificing the other.
Kamryn Inman is a life-long student athlete. Since beginning her softball career in early childhood, she has learned to balance academics and athletics. A BS community health clinical science concentration student and center fielder on George Mason’s softball team, Inman recently earned the Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar-Athlete Award. This award recognizes student athletes who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance through a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or above.
Inman speaks about her experience as a student athlete and shares with fellow student athletes how she manages responsibilities even when life throws curveballs.
Why did you choose George Mason University and the College of Public Health?
When choosing George Mason, I did not only consider athletics, I also considered its health program. I have always wanted to study science and gain an education in a program that would lead me to a career in which I would be making a difference for people. I wanted to learn how our world is being impacted and what I can do to make public health better. George Mason’s community health program allowed me to work with classmates and communicate closely with my professors to get first-hand experience in researching and understanding data on public health issues occurring across the globe.
How have George Mason Athletics and the College of Public Health supported you as a student athlete?
I knew going into the community health clinical science concentration program would be filled with science and health classes, some of which required demanding three-hour-long labs. The College of Public Health, as well as the Athletics Department, was involved in making sure I could gain a quality education and play softball. My professors were very understanding if I needed more time to finish an assignment because I was traveling for games. I was able to have practice accommodations so I could always make my labs on time, and get the full experience out of those classes.
How do you balance your academic and athletic responsibilities?
I have been playing softball since I was four years old, so I have gone through every academic year while playing sports. They are two aspects of my life that I care about, so learning to manage them together was important for me. I knew I was going to college to gain an education and play softball, so I learned when to prioritize each one to be successful in both areas. When I was not practicing, I would have study sessions and would focus on getting my work done ahead of time.
What advice would you give to current or future student athletes pursuing academically rigorous health-related degrees?
The advice I would give student athletes is to know that you are capable of being successful in both the student and the athlete parts of your college experience. The academic and athletic departments at George Mason work closely together to ensure that students are getting the most out of their education. Athletics does not bring down your ability to gain a quality education. I am thankful to have a built-in system in place for me with study halls and professors available during office hours.