LYNCHBURG, VA – Being a student-athlete at the collegiate level isn't the easiest of tasks. One needs to balance school work, practice and game schedules and the like. So usually, free time is used to relax and regenerate for the upcoming days ahead. Not if you're senior cross country and tennis standout Janie Campbell (Fredericksburg, VA/James Monroe). Free time and Campbell don't really mesh well, so she's used that time to become one of the most involved students on campus.
"Whenever people ask why I came to Randolph I say because of the size," said Campbell. "I wanted to be involved in a lot of different kinds of things. I don't believe in being a one-dimensional person, I liked to be involved. I'm a history major, I have two minors and I'm a singer in addition to running and playing tennis. I like to think I'm not just an athlete or a student, but I'm well rounded."
Campbell was not lying about being involved, and as a warning you may want to take a deep breath before reading all that Campbell does. Campbell is the co-president of Randolph's female-only acapella singing group Songshine, she is the president of the Macon Community Happy Hour, as well as Senior Dinner Dance Chair and captain of the cross country team. She is also an ETA, which is an even year spirit group tied to the school's tradition of evens and odds.
With all of those responsibilities, it would be easy for Campbell to get bogged down, but her coaches have seen that her time management skills are quite amazing. "It's all about being organized," said tennis head coach Jamie Megginson. "Her time management skills are unbelievable. The first-years on our team have definitely looked up to her, and have asked for her how she stays so organized. And she's on dean's list, it's pretty amazing."
Campbell isn't just on the cross country teams and tennis teams for the fun of it, but she is one of the better competitors on both squads. She was the cross country team's leading runner in all but one race as a junior, and has posted six wins this year on the tennis courts, which is third-best on the squad. Her hard working attitude is what stood out to head cross country coach Cat Phillips.
"She wasn't a natural cross country runner at first, but she always did everything 100 percent," said Phillips. "She worked hard through the spring and fall and by her first year with the team ended up being our main contributor. This year, she was huge as a captain, showing the younger runners how to work hard."
The balance between athletics, school work and extracurricular activities has become like second nature for Campbell, but Phillips and Megginson both were still amazed by how efficient she has become.
"She is completely committed to everything, and she somehow manages to balance everything," said Phillips. "She has even taken care of my kids and my animals, so she really goes above and beyond. The day that I met her I knew she was someone that was going to get things done and I trust her with everything that I love. We're lucky to have her at Randolph."
Megginson furthered, "She is in so many committees and it seems likes she always picking more things up, and doing it flawlessly. She comes to us and asks sometimes if she practice early in the morning just so she can get other things done. I haven't seen many people in my life with her drive and time management skills."
Campbell has one of those personalities that both Megginson and Phillips said "just inspires you." Every day, regardless of her mood and how many of the millions of things she has to do that day, she has a smile on her face that could light up even the darkest of rooms.
"Her personality is really what makes her so successful I think," said Phillips. "Like I said before, she just comes off as someone that you want to associate with. It seems like she's always in a good mood, focused and ready for the day. I guess with all that she has going on, that's a good thing."
Of late, Campbell has been focused on one of the most time honored of traditions at Randolph College in the Senior Dinner Dance weekend. She is chair of that committee, and with it set to start this Friday and Saturday, she has been really feeling the pressure.
"I've been killing myself to get everything together, but it's been a great task to take on," said Campbell. "But like everything else, it's been fun, and a blast and very rewarding. Another student-athlete that is on the Senior Dinner Dance team is senior men's basketball player Derrick Woods-Morrow (Greensboro, NC/NE Guilford).
Woods-Morrow is one of the most recognized faces on campus at Randolph, as he is an All-ODAC basketball player while balancing a laundry list of other things he does on campus. Woods-Morrow is on the Community Advisory Committee, is the senior class president this year after holding the same title as a sophomore. He has also been in theatre productions, as well as holding a 3.5 in the major of studio art.
"I wanted a College that would allow an opportunity to be as involved as I could be, and I think Randolph College has afforded me that opportunity." He has had success on the basketball court, but has noted that sometimes the responsibilities off the court as more stressful than in the gym.
"I was just talking with Coach Nunley, and was telling him that some of the things since the season has been over have been very stressful," said Woods-Morrow. "Helping plan the Dinner Dance, being class president, all of it can be stressful when you take it as seriously as I do. But in the end, it's a rewarding experience to be involved."
Both Woods-Morrow and Campbell have used the experiences they have had on the court and in their campus involvement to become great leaders and role models for the rest of the campus. "I hope that other students can see what I've done at the College and say to themselves that they can do that as well."
Woods-Morrow said, "I think we have a lot of student-athletes on this campus that are starting to really get more involved and that's great. More and more people are embracing the traditions, doing more on campus and that's helping to bring the community together."
The involvement and success that both have shown has also been a great example that student-athletes, especially at the Division III level, can be more than just athletes. "I embrace this institution's academic rigor, its traditions and I also embrace the athletics here at the College," said Campbell.
So if you're on campus at Randolph College anytime soon, it's a safe bet that if you'll see Campbell either on the tennis courts, or in the dell singing, in Smith Hall at a Community Happy Hour, in the library studying, or maybe even … well I think you get the point.
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Division III is the NCAA's largest division – approximately 42 percent of the NCAA membership. NCAA Division III week spans April 9-15 and celebrates the student-athletes' academic achievements, athletic accomplishments, and leadership/community service and campus involvement. Friday, we will focus on Janie Campbell as well as other campus involvement from our student-athletes as we continue Division III week at Randolph. For more information on NCAA Division III, click here.
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