by Nicole Vazquez, SDA Communications Student Intern
What do a swimmer, basketball player, soccer player and baseball player have in common? They are the Sun Devil Student-Athletes of the Month For January. Read more about them below.
Kat Simonovic/Women's Swim and Dive
Kat Simonovic is a senior captain for the women's swimming team who has served as an ambassador for Sun Devil Athletics due to her performance in the pool and in the classroom. This past summer, she represented ASU and her home country, Serbia in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Her sophomore year she was a NCAA qualifier and currently holds the second best time in the 200 free, third best time in the 300 free and 10th best time in the 100 free in program history. She's a Barrett Honors College student and journalism major at the Walter Cronkite School where she works alongside professionals in her field.
What motivates you to have such an outstanding commitment to the Sun Devil Way?
The support that is constantly poured into ASU inspires me to be better every day. We have mountains of people wanting to see us succeed and it makes me realize I represent much more than myself through this journey. I am motivated through others to be the best version of a Sun Devil I can be."
What advice would you share with the Sun Devil Family to inspire others to commit to upholding Sun Devils graduate in their own lives?
I would advise that anyone in the Sun Devil Family should seek a place of discomfort in their roads to success. Everyone around you is working hard, I promise you that. It's whatever you can do to put yourself at the ultimate place of discomfort and grind through that, that will make you better than the rest.
Ramon Vila/Men's Basketball
As a international student athlete from Barcelona, Spain, Ramon Vila found success in the classroom in his first semester, earning a 3.29 GPA. Even though he entered an environment knowing little English he continues to embrace every opportunity presented to him on the court and in the classroom.
What motivates you to have such an outstanding commitment to the Sun Devil Way?
I came here because I could not study and play basketball at the same time in Spain. That was my objective back at home and not being able to do it was so stressful and irritating for me. ASU brought me the opportunity to do both things at the same time and I'm taking advantage of it. Additionally, having an American degree in Spain is so special and unique and it will help me to find a job easily if basketball doesn't go well.
What advice would you share with the Sun Devil Family to inspire others to commit to upholding Sun Devils graduate in their own lives?
ASU is a big and beautiful university, with a lot of people and activities to do. For sure people have to have fun and enjoy college, but the first priority has to be having good grades and finish their majors to be successful in life and have knowledge enough to be able to face the American society up and become a winner.
Aly Moon/Women's Soccer
Although Aly Moon was sidelined for the majority of the 2016 season due to a concussion, she cheered on her teammates while excelling in the classroom. Currently a junior majoring in Health Sciences, she's excited about life after sports and plans on pursuing nursing school after she graduates in May 2018.
What motivates you to have such an outstanding commitment to the Sun Devil Way?
What I have learned from the athletics program and the Sun Devil Way is that winning doesn't just mean on the field or your respective sport, but it also means in the classroom. Being the best means you are trying and working just as hard in the classroom as you would in your sport.
What advice would you share with the Sun Devil Family to inspire others to commit to upholding Sun Devils graduate in their own lives?
I would say to embrace everything. To take advantage of the school piece of the journey because at some point the sports piece of your lives will end and performing in the classroom will allow you to lead a successful life that you will be satisfied with when the time comes for you to move on from your sport and engage in life after sports.
Jeremy McCuin/Baseball
Sophomore infielder Jeremy McCuin overcame a broken wrist his junior year high school to making an impact on the diamond as a Sun Devil, breaking into the lineup when he was a true freshman. His father so far has had the biggest influence on his baseball career. McCuin currently strives to be named to the Pac-12 team and hopefully, get drafted and make it to the big leagues.
What motivates you to have such an outstanding commitment to the Sun Devil Way?
What motivates me to have such commitment to the Sun Devil Way is competing with compassion and character. My family is a big reason why I am here and I want to make them proud so I choose to work hard everyday on and off the field to strive to be the best I can be as a student athlete.
What advice would you share with the Sun Devil Family to inspire others to commit to upholding Sun Devils graduate in their own lives?
Some advice I would give to the Sun Devil Family is that it isn't easy being a student athlete but don't make it harder on yourself by not doing your work and by not going to class because it will only make you come back go hurt you in the future. So go out and be the best you can be everyday and it will come back to reward you in ways you can never imagine.
What do a swimmer, basketball player, soccer player and baseball player have in common? They are the Sun Devil Student-Athletes of the Month For January. Read more about them below.
Kat Simonovic/Women's Swim and Dive
Kat Simonovic is a senior captain for the women's swimming team who has served as an ambassador for Sun Devil Athletics due to her performance in the pool and in the classroom. This past summer, she represented ASU and her home country, Serbia in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Her sophomore year she was a NCAA qualifier and currently holds the second best time in the 200 free, third best time in the 300 free and 10th best time in the 100 free in program history. She's a Barrett Honors College student and journalism major at the Walter Cronkite School where she works alongside professionals in her field.
What motivates you to have such an outstanding commitment to the Sun Devil Way?
The support that is constantly poured into ASU inspires me to be better every day. We have mountains of people wanting to see us succeed and it makes me realize I represent much more than myself through this journey. I am motivated through others to be the best version of a Sun Devil I can be."
What advice would you share with the Sun Devil Family to inspire others to commit to upholding Sun Devils graduate in their own lives?
I would advise that anyone in the Sun Devil Family should seek a place of discomfort in their roads to success. Everyone around you is working hard, I promise you that. It's whatever you can do to put yourself at the ultimate place of discomfort and grind through that, that will make you better than the rest.
Congrats to @Kat_Simonovic, named a @TheSunDevils Student-Athlete of the Month with a 4.0 fall GPA as a senior @sundevilclub #BringtheHeat pic.twitter.com/lpUxMWn6BT
— ASU Swimming&Diving (@ASUSwimDive) February 21, 2017
Ramon Vila/Men's Basketball
As a international student athlete from Barcelona, Spain, Ramon Vila found success in the classroom in his first semester, earning a 3.29 GPA. Even though he entered an environment knowing little English he continues to embrace every opportunity presented to him on the court and in the classroom.
What motivates you to have such an outstanding commitment to the Sun Devil Way?
I came here because I could not study and play basketball at the same time in Spain. That was my objective back at home and not being able to do it was so stressful and irritating for me. ASU brought me the opportunity to do both things at the same time and I'm taking advantage of it. Additionally, having an American degree in Spain is so special and unique and it will help me to find a job easily if basketball doesn't go well.
Congrats to @ramonvilsoley who was named a @TheSunDevils Student-Athlete of the Month and got a 3.3 GPA in the fall @942Crew @sundevilclub pic.twitter.com/n5HzSdCO0i
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) February 21, 2017
What advice would you share with the Sun Devil Family to inspire others to commit to upholding Sun Devils graduate in their own lives?
ASU is a big and beautiful university, with a lot of people and activities to do. For sure people have to have fun and enjoy college, but the first priority has to be having good grades and finish their majors to be successful in life and have knowledge enough to be able to face the American society up and become a winner.
Aly Moon/Women's Soccer
Although Aly Moon was sidelined for the majority of the 2016 season due to a concussion, she cheered on her teammates while excelling in the classroom. Currently a junior majoring in Health Sciences, she's excited about life after sports and plans on pursuing nursing school after she graduates in May 2018.
What motivates you to have such an outstanding commitment to the Sun Devil Way?
What I have learned from the athletics program and the Sun Devil Way is that winning doesn't just mean on the field or your respective sport, but it also means in the classroom. Being the best means you are trying and working just as hard in the classroom as you would in your sport.
What advice would you share with the Sun Devil Family to inspire others to commit to upholding Sun Devils graduate in their own lives?
I would say to embrace everything. To take advantage of the school piece of the journey because at some point the sports piece of your lives will end and performing in the classroom will allow you to lead a successful life that you will be satisfied with when the time comes for you to move on from your sport and engage in life after sports.
Jeremy McCuin/Baseball
Sophomore infielder Jeremy McCuin overcame a broken wrist his junior year high school to making an impact on the diamond as a Sun Devil, breaking into the lineup when he was a true freshman. His father so far has had the biggest influence on his baseball career. McCuin currently strives to be named to the Pac-12 team and hopefully, get drafted and make it to the big leagues.
Hitting go-ahead RBI on the field AND getting it done in the classroom.
— Sun Devil Baseball (@ASU_Baseball) February 23, 2017
Congrats to @JeremyMcCuin for being a Student-Athlete of the Month! pic.twitter.com/G4hC3IWh3b
What motivates you to have such an outstanding commitment to the Sun Devil Way?
What motivates me to have such commitment to the Sun Devil Way is competing with compassion and character. My family is a big reason why I am here and I want to make them proud so I choose to work hard everyday on and off the field to strive to be the best I can be as a student athlete.
What advice would you share with the Sun Devil Family to inspire others to commit to upholding Sun Devils graduate in their own lives?
Some advice I would give to the Sun Devil Family is that it isn't easy being a student athlete but don't make it harder on yourself by not doing your work and by not going to class because it will only make you come back go hurt you in the future. So go out and be the best you can be everyday and it will come back to reward you in ways you can never imagine.