SUPER STEPH
Dana College senior Stephanie Collins is not one to
let the world pass her by. She is the first one out to greet it.
You can see her running up the Dana hill at dawn or
after dark, challenging herself and the elements. During the day,
she is tutoring in the Learning Center in the C.A. Dana-LIFE Library,
challenging a fellow student to succeed. In the evening, she is
at a Student Senate meeting challenging the status quo, working
to solve another student’s concern.
The three-time NAIA All-American for the Dana College
track team is more than an average college athlete. Her success
on the track is only the beginning of her success as a student at
Dana College.
The Shelby, Iowa, native was recruited at Dana by
cross country and track coach Jay Birmingham as a middle distance
runner. But even then, the chance to be a collegiate athlete was
only part of the draw. “I came to Dana because I was going
to be able to double major and still graduate in four years, and
I could pursue my running, which I love to do,” Stephanie
said.
Stephanie’s love of running began with her first
track meet in junior high. She won all of her races that day and
she was hooked. Her mom, Nancy, served as her coach all the way
through high school. “I definitely had the natural ability
and desire to run,” Stephanie said. “It was something
I wanted to follow through with.”
Even as a dedicated athlete, Stephanie had to take
it up a notch and overcome adversity to experience success at the
college level. “It’s a whole new mindset,” she
said. “You have to dedicate everything to it.”
The dedication includes running early in the morning
when many college students are still in bed as well as late at night.
“In order to be successful, it is necessary. I would definitely
do it all over again,” Stephanie said.
“I love competition. I thrive on it. I love
being expected to do more than everyone else does.”
Not everything has come so easily, however. Stephanie
acquired asthma her freshman year of college, an obvious obstacle
to a distance runner. She had knee surgery last summer, preventing
her from completing any off-season training for cross country. “I
had no expectations for the season,” she said. “I hadn’t
trained like everyone else had. I didn’t deserve to do well.”
But she did experience a great deal of success in
the fall, leading the Dana women in most races, including finishing
sixth at the Great Plains Athletic Conference meet. Stephanie was
in line to qualify for cross country Nationals when she collapsed
with an asthma attack only 600 meters from the finish line at the
Region IV meet.
“There were a lot of tears shed over that one,
but I picked up my head and started training and focusing on indoor
track. God has a purpose for everything and I am so grateful to
be able to run,” Stephanie said.
Stephanie has made the most of her four years at Dana
College. Student Senate treasurer, Learning Center tutor, Dana Diplomat,
president of the Morton Scholar Honors Program, four-time NAIA Academic
All-American, Winterfest Queen, Orientation Leader, Senior Class
Agent, 2001 Dana College Student Athlete of the Year… The
list of activities and successes goes on and on.
What Stephanie marks as one of her greatest achievements
at Dana was being named Student-Athlete of the year as a sophomore.
“All of my hard work didn’t go unnoticed on the track
and in the classroom,” she said. “It was a true motivator
for the following years.”
“The more you put into a college experience,
the more you get out of it,” Stephanie said. “Everyone
should just get involved. That’s how you get to know people.”
Stephanie’s love of learning and quest for a
challenge will not end with graduation this spring. Graduating with
degrees in both biology and physical education, Stephanie has been
accepted to the University of Nebraska Medical Center this fall,
where she will pursue a career in physical therapy.
Related Stories
Women at Dana
Women of Biology
Begin with Vision
White-Glove Lady
Dana Women's Timeline
|
