Throughout the spring semester, we are honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Olivia Nengel, a history major from Baltimore, Maryland. Nengel is a member of the field hockey team.
Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose to attend The College of Wooster because of the personalized education and the welcoming environment. I really wanted to have a specialized academic experience that was not one-size-fits-all. At Wooster, I can explore all of my academic interests and am encouraged and supported by professors and faculty to make the most of my education. As a transfer student, I also appreciated how welcoming everyone was from the staff in Admissions to the teammates I met with before preseason.
Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: Being a Fighting Scot student-athlete means competing with character, class, and sportsmanship, being active in classes, and participating in campus life. A Fighting Scot gives all they have on the field and encourages others to do the same while representing Wooster to a high level. Fighting Scots also are engaged and interested learners who emphasize the importance of their academics.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Some of my favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster are from bus rides, team trips, and being on campus. My favorite memories include hiking in Wisconsin on a team trip, bus karaoke, and team meals in Lowry. As a sophomore, the field hockey team travelled to Wisconsin and hiked down a really steep hill and felt the cold water in Lake Michigan. Another one of my favorite memories is the bus karaoke that the team would do on the way home from long trips. Everyone would pick a song and belt it out while the rest of the team sang along. The team meals in Lowry are my final favorite memory. The field hockey team always sits together at lunch. We are usually the loudest table in there because we are laughing and cracking jokes.
Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best part of being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster is having my team as my family and being able to have other groups of friends outside of the team. I live with my teammates and spend the majority of my day with them, but also have amazing friends outside of the team. The sport-academic-social life balance that is possible because of Div. III sports has allowed me to enjoy field hockey, explore my other passions, maintain rigorous class loads, and meet people in many different aspects of campus.
Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I was on the executive board of Wooster Volunteer Network, a teaching apprentice for a professor in the History Department, a research assistant, and a tour guide.
Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Dr. Hernán Medina Jiménez has made the greatest impact on me during my time at Wooster. I took one of his Spanish classes my first semester and he was so welcoming and facilitated an amazing class environment that allowed me to become friends with the other students in the class. I ended up taking another one of his classes where I really found a passion for speaking and learning Spanish. Dr. Medina was then gracious enough to serve as my advisor for my APEX Fellowship in which he guided me and encouraged me during my internship. Dr. Medina always makes sure to ask how I have been each time I see him on campus. I appreciate the passion Dr. Medina expressed during his classes which, in turn, made me more passionate about learning Spanish.
Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: Coach Jomara Coghlan has had a profound impact on my experience at Wooster and my development as a person. Coach Coghlan taught me and instilled in me so many values that I will carry on for the rest of my life. She demonstrated the importance of hard work, confidence, selflessness, and perseverance. All she asked for was that we worked hard and give everything we had in every game and practice. I was able to take this into my academics, internships, and friendships. She gave me confidence in my abilities as a leader, player, and teammate. She showed selflessness, and in return, pushed me to show selflessness in the face of adversity, trying times, and not-so-fun times. She also taught the importance of perseverance through life experience. I know that I will take these skills into my next chapter and will always be grateful for being able to play for Coach Coghlan.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: I am studying the social and economic impact of the Great Migration on Akron, Ohio. I came across this topic by chance. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to produce research that I am passionate about and proud of through my Senior Independent Study project.
Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: While at Wooster, I completed a micro-APEX Fellowship with Dr. Jeff Roche and Monday Night Mile. Monday Night Mile is Dr. Roche's foundation that benefits the Akron Children's Hospital by hosting a race night every October. I served as the social media coordinator and assistant race director. I posted on Instagram and Facebook and helped organize the annual fundraising night that takes place on the College's Carl Munson Track.
Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: I would say that the four years go by really quickly so do not sweat the small stuff.
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