As a student-athlete, academics come first. The skills gained from playing sports at a collegiate level help foster academic strengths that enhance student performance in the classroom.
While being an athlete adds early and late practices, team lifts, games and travel to an already busy schedule of exams, homework and presentations, our Drew Rangers illustrate the ability to balance the two with ease.
It is for that reason that the recognition our Rangers receive should not just be limited to their performance in their respective sports.
Countless Rangers have earned spots on the Dean’s List, Landmark All-Academic recognition, honors society inductions and more, and they leave Drew with the skills generated from both sides of their life to be successful alumni and leave lasting legacies extending far beyond the field of play.
This edition focuses on the achievements of graduate student David Hoyt (C’24, G’25), who is in his fifth year on the men’s soccer team and a recent graduate from Drew’s undergraduate program completing his degree in biochemistry and molecular biology with minors in anthropology and public health.
In addition to being a goalkeeper for the Rangers currently posting a 0.806 save percentage, Hoyt has participated in Drew’s Summer Science Institute for three summers, is a Baldwin Honors student currently completing his thesis, served as an Action Scholar and was inducted as a member of Tri Beta and Gamma Sigma Epsilon. He participated in a shortTREC to South Africa and interned with Research Engineering Experience for Undergraduates within the Cellular Bioengineering department at Rutgers as a curriculum creator for the nonprofit fair for emerging researchers.
When asked what his favorite memory as a Ranger has been, he cites “celebrating the Landmark Semi-Final overtime win my sophomore year and celebrating the goal with the entire team and alumni in the corner.” Moments like this make the duality of being a student-athlete so fulfilling.
Academically, he said his favorite class was a tie between “Molecular Biology of Cancer and Emerging Infectious Disease, because they both explored direct applications of the science I had learned in other classes to events and challenges that real people face. They opened my eyes to how I can use what I have learned to help make a difference.”
From Hoyt’s perspective, being an athlete “is not solely about what you do on the field. It’s about holding yourself to a high standard, whether that is down on the turf, in the gym, or in the classroom. Soccer has always challenged me to be at my best, and I have learned that striving to perform in my classes requires a similar commitment and mentality. Along with my mindset, time management skills and a community of athletes have aided in managing my academics and athletics.”
Hoyt’s mindset has allowed him to succeed both on the field and in the classroom, getting the most out of his Drew experience.
If you would like to nominate another student-athlete to be featured in our next issue, please send their name to theacorn+sports@drew.edu.
Gillian Sampson is a graduate student pursuing a master’s in education.
