The Observer, April 28, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 26
Graduating seniors look back, ahead in final days at Case
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Graduation is understandably an emotional time for seniors. Happiness soon sets in because homework, for those entering the workforce, will no longer be a worry. Sadness is also felt as the seniors will be leaving behind many friends and fond memories. Finally, a sense of uncertainty is expected regarding the years ahead.
In honor of their accomplishments, The Observer decided to profile a few graduating senior athletes, highlighting their accomplishments while also incorporating all of those mixed emotions that come with graduation.
Cory Darrow, men's tennis: Darrow has had a very impressive career at Case both on and off the tennis court. He will be graduating this May with a B.S. in Nutrition and is well on his way to achieving his ultimate career goal of becoming a successful, caring physician. Throughout his four years at Case, his involvement has included varsity sports, philanthropy, and Greek life. Cory considers joining the Greek community and Delta Tau Delta, where he served as president, as two of the best decisions of his life. Cory has a bright future ahead of him as he will be attending medical school in the fall, more than likely at the Ohio State University.
Carmen Rowan, women's basketball: Rowan's post-graduation plans include participating in Teach for America in Houston teaching secondary English. She will also be attending graduate school during her tenure with the program. Her ultimate career goal is to work in administration within a school district so that she can "provoke change in our schools at the highest levels." Most of her fondest Case memories come from basketball but also include playing midnight volleyball and taking Joseph Routman's COSI classes. She will be participating in tomorrow's Hudson Relays to try to help the Class of 2006 win for the fourth consecutive year.
"Seniors are about to make it four in a row. Start preppin' the steak and buyin the bubbly!" she exclaimed about the seniors' chances in the annual Case tradition.
Andrew Impastato, men's basketball: Impastato will be moving back to New Jersey and working on Wall Street. He plans to play golf on the weekends and basketball in the mornings. His fondest memory while at Case was seeing LeBron James driving on Euclid, yelling at him, and then having him wave back. Impastato will always be remembered for his Spartan pride and hearing his "C-A-S-E Case Case Case" chants at sporting events. Whatever the activity was, either schoolwork or playing basketball, Impastato did not hold anything back.
"I have learned while being at Case, you must take risks and extend yourself to make a name for yourself, and I live by the motto of 'high risk, high reward.'"
Funso Lafe, men's basketball and track: Lafe plans to work "in a corporate setting that utilizes his sales, marketing, and analytical skills." His fondest memories at Case are the times he spent laughing with his suitemates and teammates. He lists managing his own business last summer as one of his greatest accomplishments. He also offers some good advice for younger students looking to enjoy their time at Case.
"I think the thing about Case is that you have to make your own fun. It is obvious that it is not a party school, so it is important to find a group of people that you can confide in and have fun with at the same time."
Kristen Noon, track: Noon has been throwing for the track team since just about the day she arrived on campus. She has often contributed much-needed points to the team from the field events. Next year, she says she will either be working in a hospital or lab or be in medical school, though she does not know if that means she will be in Cleveland or not.
She has her life quite well planned, down to the decimals.
"I plan on attending medical school and studying to become either a psychiatrist or an OB/GYN," Noon said. "Besides this, I plan on getting married and having 2.3 children, 1.7 dogs, and a house in the suburbs."
She will miss track, though.
"My teammates [the most], hands down," Noon said. "Also, as my coach will tell you, I really like meal money."
Rachel Pope, track: Pope spent her last year on the track team at Case as a captain. With her work in the future, though, she will likely mean even more to the people she is working with.
"I am committed to working in the field of international women's health. I am a trained doula and I study the anthropology of childbirth, so I am very interested in continuing my work in this area," Pope said. "I hope to one day open a birth center that is less medicalized and allows for natural birth, but still has the emergency equipment on hand just in case."
Next year, she will be working to complete her capstone project for her Public Health Master's Degree. Case students will not be seeing her around though. She has an internship next year that will send her to Tanzania in East Africa.
Becky Davis, swimming: Davis dedicated four years to the Case swimming team. She logged countless yards in order to tackle long events, like the 1650-yard freestyle, which daunt even the most seasoned swimmers. Davis started swimming in the seventh grade as a way to meet more people after her family moved to a new city. After that first season as a club team swimmer, she never looked back. "Swimming and the pool has been a great home for the last 10 years," Davis said. "Many good times, fun people, early mornings, and great memories have come out of the seasons." Davis will be graduating from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. She has accepted a position in the oncology unit on Lerner Tower Six of University Hospitals as a registered nurse.
Hannah Webber, swimming: Senior Hannah Webber has been swimming since she was a young girl, influenced by her three older brothers, who were also swimmers. When asked why she continued with competitive swimming, Webber replied, "I think I made it this far because I have a genuine love for the sport and I've met so many great people along the way." Her favorite swimming memory is racing at NCAA National Championship for Case and watching a Case teammate win a national title.
She says she will remember her collegiate swimming career fondly.
"I think I was lucky to experience four years of wonderful teammates, whether they were pushing me to do better, celebrating victories with me, or comforting me in defeat," she said.
Webber will be graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering and hopes to move to a warmer climate and work for a civil engineering design firm. Webber would like to own a business one day.
Seniors Tim Haaf, Alison Putnam, and Joel Sanderson contributed to this story.
