Drew’s student-athletes embody a dedicated commitment to both academic excellence and athletic prowess.
These students navigate the most demanding schedules to excel in the classroom while representing their school on the field, demonstrating discipline and time management in balancing athletic achievement and intellectual growth.
This week’s “Student-Athlete Spotlight” breaks tradition in a truly groundbreaking way: our featured “athlete” cannot run a mile, throws like a confused penguin and once got winded…timing a 40-yard dash.
Meet our Sports Editor, Gillian Sampson—a person whose love for sports is only rivaled by her complete and undeniable lack of athletic ability.
Now, before you question our editorial integrity, let’s review her credentials. While she may not dominate on the field, court or track, Sampson did spend 18 years as a competitive ballroom dancer—an accomplishment that, while impressive, has yet to translate into success in any sport involving a ball, a net or virtually any form of coordinated gameplay.
A member of Drew’s Class of 2024 and a current master’s student in the MEd program, she earned a bachelor of arts in history with a minor in English literature, graduating with a 3.774 GPA. She is a dean’s list honoree and a member of Phi Alpha Theta—proof that while athletic dominance may not be her strength, academic excellence certainly is.
Her relationship with sports is best described as deeply committed—just not in a traditional sense. When asked about what sport she plays, she did not hesitate.
“Emotionally? All of them. Physically? None with any measurable success,” said Sampson. Though often mistaken for a member of the fencing team, she is in fact not—just guilty by prolonged and suspicious proximity.
Rather than participating, she has built her athletic identity as a spectator. Her brief attempt at competition did not yield long term results. “It was a short-lived era. The ball and I had creative differences,” said Sampson.
While her own athletic resume may be limited, athleticism does run in her family—just not necessarily through her. With an uncle who is a Villanova Hall of Fame record holder, as well as a cousin who competed at the Division I level, Sampson instead contributes through enthusiastic support and sideline analysis.
Her connection to sports is perhaps more evident in her loyalty to the Philadelphia Eagles. As she described, being a fan means she “…experiences joy, stress, delusion and heartbreak all within a single quarter.”
While her on-field contributions remain nonexistent, she has found success in a different arena: fantasy football. On the virtual turf, Sampson embraces a managerial mindset, relying on strategy, institution and what she would likely describe as “vibes.”
“I can’t run a play, but I can absolutely manage one,” said Sampson. “GM energy only.”
From her perspective, Drew has played a pivotal role in shaping her place within athletics, even if that role looks a little different. Rather than competing, she has found her niche in covering the athletes who do.
“Drew has really allowed me to put the ‘student’ in student-athlete—and then just kind of leave the ‘athlete’ part up for interpretation,” said Sampson. “But honestly, Drew gave me a way to fully be part of athletics without anyone needing to witness me attempt one. I may not be contributing points on the scoreboard, but I am contributing 800-word articles to make sure people know about the athletes.”
Sampson’s contributions may not appear in box scores, but her impact is undeniable. Through her rich storytelling, coverage and unmatched confidence that cannot be found anywhere else, she has carved out a unique place within the athletics community.
Now, while she may never qualify for regionals, break a university record or complete a warmup without supervision, Sampson remains a standout figure in Drew Athletics. She proves that sometimes, the most important role in sports is not playing the game, but telling the story.
If you would like to nominate another “student-athlete” to be featured in future issues, please send their name to theacorn+sports@drew.edu.
