Waugh busy with more than just soccer and school

Amanda Waugh sent the e-mail never even expecting to get a response. Even when the reply came, she could not have imagined the impact it would have on her life.

The Nelson High School graduate had been named captain of the Central Michigan University soccer team. A sophomore at the time, she would be providing guidance to players who had been at the school two years longer than herself. To help, her coach gave her The Team Captain’s Leadership Manual.

Waugh found the book so helpful in communicating with her teammates and motivating them, she sent an e-mail to the author, Jeff Janssen. He replied and the two kept in touch over the next two years. Earlier this year, Janssen mentioned his idea for getting student- athletes involved in charitable efforts to help improve the lives of others and asked if she would be interested in getting involved.

“It was her passion and leadership skills,” said Janssen in choosing Waugh to help get the project going. “She’s somebody that takes initiative and follows through.”

This summer, Waugh helped Janssen build a leadership team of athletes to form Student-Athletes Leading Social Change (SALSC).

The non-profit organization has teamed with Canadian-based Me to We to adopt a village in Kenya. SALSC plans to build schools in the village and provide health-care support to residents. Waugh and about a dozen other members of SALSC will go to Kenya in June or July to assist in the efforts. Waugh is already looking forward to the trip.

“I know from reading and research how big the need is,” she said. “But to see it and be impacted by it and to be able to have an impact on it, that will be extremely powerful.”

Waugh has done a remarkable job balancing school and soccer through her first three years.

She was named Mid-American Conference all-star after leading her team in scoring and finishing second in the conference with eight goals and six assists in 18 games. In class, the public relations major has a 3.63 grade-point average. SALSC has added a whole new element, though.

“It’s like having three full-time jobs,” Waugh said.

It has not been without its rewards. Earlier this month, Waugh won the Boyden Award, a CMU honour presented to a student who combines participation in intercollegiate sport with leadership ability in campus activities. She was also named as a candidate for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, presented to a Division I athlete in the U. S. excelling in four areas — classroom, character, community and competition.

Janssen believes it is important for college athletes to contribute on and off the field.

“When you look at NCAA student- athletes, 98 to 99 per cent are going to have professional lives that do not involve their sport,” he said. “It’s important for them to prepare to be not only the best athlete, but the best professional they can be.”

Waugh has struggled a little on the soccer pitch this year. She is scoreless but her 12 shots ranks third on the 5-3 Chippewas.

“I’ve been in a bit of slump but I just need that one good game to get me going again,” she said.

Off the field, she is still seemingly unstoppable. With another year of school left to complete an internship, Waugh is not ruling out anything after graduation, particularly after the changes the last year have delivered.

“The way things have gone, one door has just led to another and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.”

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