While many Case Western Reserve University students snuggle up in their rooms doing homework or watching movies as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, fourth-year veteran runner Danielle Kulpins defies the trend. Instead, she thrives in a world of distance running.

Kulpins’ successful cross country career at CWRU recently came to an end at the Great Lakes Regional Championship on Nov. 11. During her third and fourth years she crossed the finish line first for CWRU in 12 out of her 13 races. In addition, she has claimed All-Region honors and University Athletic Association All-Academic honors both years. Her excellent times, experience and determination have made Kulpins an integral part of the women’s cross country team during her time at CWRU.

All students miss parts of their college experience after graduation. Kulpins, for her part, will miss competing for CWRU. She loves the family aspect of the team because they push her to be her best. With that said, Kulpins will still be able to be around her cross country family because she plans on going to medical school at CWRU this spring.

Outside of cross country, Kulpins volunteers her time to many health-related organizations such as Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and Metrohealth. At Rainbow Babies, she works in the children’s activity room where she plays, makes crafts and talks with the kids. At Metrohealth, she also brings children joy through exercise and teaching them about nutrition.

Kulpins’ life is highlighted by her great service efforts. She lives her life by the Mother Teresa quote, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.”

Kulpins also invests her time in Slow Food CWRU, where she has been the president of the club since her third year. Slow Food aims to bring good, clean and fair food to everybody, so as a club, they cook fresh, local meals to promote that style of eating. As a nutritional biochemistry and metabolism major, Kulpins is able to apply what she learns to the real world through cooking nutritious meals.

Being a pre-medical student, Kulpins explained that she found nutritional biochemistry as the major most applicable to her interests. She gets the opportunity to learn all about food, which excites her as an athlete.

“I see that learning about food and applying that knowledge to my athletics, and helping other people with their athletics and diet is the best way that I can study and prepare to be a doctor one day,” Kulpins said.

Looking beyond medical school, Kulpins wants to apply her extensive health knowledge to get involved in preventative medicine so that she can continue to work in nutrition and exercise. It’s her goal to help prevent deadly conditions such as diabetes.

Nutrition is at the core of many parts of Kulpins’ life. It guides her everyday lifestyle but also what she studies and will continue to grow upon.

Of course, not everything is about nutrition.

“[I] definitely still do value dessert. That is definitely my weakness,” she said with a laugh.

Name: Danielle Kulpins
Year: Fourth
Hometown: Brookfield, Wisconsin
Major: Nutritional biochemistry and metabolism
Personal best (six kilometers): 22:09.1
Great Lakes All-Region 2016, 2017
School record (11:10.89) in 3,000 meter steeplechase