“Student-Athlete:” a phrase used by schools everywhere to say that they put academics before athletics.

Recent news provides examples of some schools who take the term and the priorities seriously, while others avoid the combination altogether.

By definition, student-athlete is a term that describes the direct balance of a full-time student and a full-time athlete, meaning that an athlete must be a student first.

Saint Louis University junior Amelia Karges, a nutrition and dietetics major and a volleyball player from Joliet, Ill., fits the true definition perfectly.

During her sophomore year, Karges went on a mission trip to Punta Gorda, Belize. Her mission was to build a library at the school in San Marcos, a small village in Punta Gorda.
Now how does a full-time college student, a volleyball player with a 3.78 GPA, have time to do all of this?

First, it is a mentality.

“I wanted to do something to benefit others who are less fortunate,” Karges said. “It also allowed me to experience a new culture.”

Second, she had to find time. “It was over spring break, so luckily I did not have to miss any school,” Karges said.

“I had to miss one practice, but my coaches were totally supportive of my decision to go on the trip.”

Karges said that her family, her teachers, her teammates and her coaches have been supportive from the beginning.

“Going to Belize on this SLU mission trip was honestly one of the best decisions I have ever made,” Karges said.

“It was definitely life changing because I was able to gain a new perspective on my own life and appreciate things so much more.”