December 2005 Student-Athletes of the Month

*The Student-Athletes of the Month are selected on the basis of the all-around student-athlete...effort and excellence in academics, leadership, integrity, dedication to team, campus involvement, community service, and the ability to serve as a role model for current and future VU students and student-athletes.

December 2005

Kim Perkins - Women's Soccer

Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?
I chose to attend Vanderbilt because of its academic reputation. Vanderbilt is nationally known for academics so I thought it would be a great opportunity to attend one of the top schools in the nation. Also, I loved the coaches and players. They had great attitudes and personalities and I could really see myself fit here.

What are your career goals?
I really want to become a coach somewhere down the line. I love to work with kids and I want soccer to be a part of my life after I am done playing here at Vanderbilt.

What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
In order to be successful here at Vanderbilt, you have to have great time management skills and a hard work ethic. If you have both of these qualities, there's no chance that you won't succeed academically.

How do you manage your demanding schedule?
I manage my schedule by making a schedule of the things that I have to do for the week before the week starts. When I do this, I know exactly what I need to accomplish that week in order to not get behind in school. Also, I have great time management skills to help me not be overwhelmed with the demanding academic schedule.

What is your ritual before taking a test?
I do not really have a ritual before I take a test. I study for it and tell myself to relax and that I will do just fine. I don't really worry about it because you do the best that you can do and that's all you can ask yourself for.

Why Kim is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
Kim Perkins is one of the hardest working student-athletes associated with the Vanderbilt Women's Soccer program. Not only has she achieved team goals by helping her team earn a spot in both the SEC and NCAA tournaments, she has personally excelled on the field this term by being named First Team All-SEC as a defender and was selected to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week twice this season. Off the field Kim has worked just as hard, improving her academics every term and becoming one of the strongest student-athletes in the program. Without a doubt, Kim personifies what it means to be a student-athlete through her work ethic and always being there for her teammates as well as her peers. --Wes Maas

Otis Washington - Football

I chose to attend Vanderbilt because there is something very special about building a football team from the bottom up. It’s the hardest place to play in the whole country, and I love that. It feels like home and I love the people here.

My career goals can be summed up by saying that I wish to put my heart and soul into everything that I do until I find out what God’s destiny is for my life. I’m sure I will find my career path in the process.

I manage my schedule by making sure I take time out to relax and enjoy myself. But to really relax and have a good time, I found out I needed to hammer out the work I have to do first.

“A true Godly life is not sustained by inspiration, but by the amount of conviction you are willing to let the Holy Spirit spawn in it.” Pastor Jim Johnson

Why Otis is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
I nominated Otis for Student-Athlete of the Month because of the inspiration he has provided his teammates, classmates, and our staff over his four years here. He has suffered a number of hardships in his young life, and has overcome them admirably. He is a man of deep faith, stoicism, and wisdom. He has reached out to others, offering guidance particularly to his younger teammates. He has also become a very good student at Vanderbilt, and will graduate this month. I wish Otis the very best in all his future endeavors. --Elizabeth Wright

Past Recipients...

January 2005

Academic Support for Student-Athletes | Vanderbilt University
Department of Student Athletics | 2601 Jess Neely Drive | Nashville, TN 37212
Phone (615) 343-0444