Today’s Blue Devil Athletes, Tomorrow’s World Leaders

The term “student athlete” is commonly used in college athletics, but not many know what it takes to be a student athlete. Being a student athlete requires more than balancing academics and sports; it requires discipline, dedication, and lots of sacrifice. With early morning practices, afternoon classes, evening team workouts, and late-night study sessions, the daily life of a student athlete is challenging. For these Blue Devil athletes’ success extends beyond the field and classroom. They excel academically, participate in summer internships, engage in mission trips, conduct research abroad, and make extra efforts to ensure success after graduation.

Alejandro González Aguirre is a recent Lawrence Technological University graduate with a degree in Media Communications who played for the Blue Devils men’s basketball team from 2022 to 2024. Alejandro completed a summer internship in Madrid, Spain, where he worked as a writing and communication assistant for the local media outlet Goodnews TV. During this internship, he assisted with writing scripts for informative videos, video editing, preparing PR proposals, and integrating AI. Alejandro learned the importance of effective communication, time management, task prioritization, and teamwork.

Senior Maliea May of Lawrence Tech’s women’s soccer team participated in the International Conference on Spatial Cognition in Rome, Italy, as part of her psychology undergraduate research over the summer. This opportunity involved working on a research project that studied visual search gazes and patterns using the Trail Making Test (TMT) and a screen-based eye tracker to capture precise data on participants’ eye movements. Maliea plans to pursue a master’s degree in counseling psychology with aspirations of becoming a practicing psychologist one day. Through her studies this summer, Maliea learned the importance of time management and proper planning skills, the diligence required for accurate data analysis, and the overall benefits of taking risks in a professional environment.

Charley Klint, a junior and women’s volleyball player for the Blue Devils, took advantage of her summer break to participate in a mission trip where she spent six weeks in the Middle East. From attending local universities, forging relationships with students, sharing and learning about each other’s spiritual beliefs and journeys through faith, to helping others grow in their faith and coming together to worship, Charley learned many valuable lessons that will stay with her long after her days as a student-athlete are over. What started as an on-campus Bible study quickly blossomed into so much more for Charley. Not only did she have the opportunity to go to the Middle East over the summer, but she had also traveled to Colombia a few years back with the same mission in mind: to share and spread her faith beyond borders. A highlight of her time overseas was the opportunity to build relationships through faith with locals and share the important role faith plays in their everyday lives. The opportunity Charley had to participate in this mission trip will help her to not only deepen her faith but will continue to push her to step out of her comfort zone not only in her religious beliefs but in her professional life after graduation.

Junior Gracie Bobo from Lawrence Tech’s women’s basketball team interned as a Biomedical Engineering Technician at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, focusing on repairing and maintaining medical machinery. This hands-on experience not only enhanced her technical skills but also provided insight into various aspects of the medical field, preparing her for life after graduation. Gracie gained valuable lessons about future career opportunities in biomedical engineering, and her summer exposure will help shape her career long after her student-athlete days are over.

Lilliana Litner, a member of the Lawrence Tech women’s lacrosse team, interned at MAGNA International as an Innovation Intern in the Exteriors Department this summer. She gained valuable experience in 3D modeling, developing rapid prototypes, and attending team meetings to discuss project updates. Throughout her internship, she learned about the automotive industry’s depth and versatility, effective communication of data, and the importance of adaptability. Lilliana also competed in the Intern Innovation Challenge, presenting her idea of “vehicle inclusion” to design more accessible vehicles, which ultimately led her to win the competition and take home the award.

These student-athletes are just a sample of those at Lawrence Tech University who go beyond the classroom to further their education and ensure that the “student” is the primary focus in the everyday life of a student-athlete. Blue Devils student-athletes make LTU what it is, in the classroom and on the court or field; they continue to represent the LTU brand long after graduation.