Former Tech student-athletes working as nurses across the country

By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

UNITED STATES – As many Americans brace for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic moving across the planet, there are a group of former Tennessee Tech student-athletes who are braving the front lines in their communities, preparing to help those in need.

After all, it was what they trained to do.

Former graduates of Tech's Whitson-Hester School of Nursing, as well as student-athletes who have entered the nursing field later in their academic careers, are all playing their part and doing what they can to try to stem the virus' spread. It's the selfless compassion for others that drives them in their task.

Jessica Asplund, a member of the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference-champion Golden Eagle volleyball team, is among those who are starting to see the early stages of the contagion's effects, but even before the virus hit America's shores, she wanted to find ways to assist.

"Nursing is all about helping," the 2009 graduate said. "I have considered, if things don't ramp up and get crazy here, taking a travel job in one of the harder-hit areas."

It's a stressful time as hospitals across the country scramble to find space and supplies, but the focus still remains on the task at hand.

"Honestly, I've tried not to pay much attention to what's being said in the media and stick more to the facts," Asplund said. "My coworkers and I have continued with what we normally do to stay upbeat and positive."

That said, it isn't easy to release the tension building.

"To me, this hasn't truly hit here yet," she said, "but so far my toughest challenge has been having my stress outlets taken away from me. Gyms, yoga studios, ski resorts – they're all closed here. It's only a matter of time until they put a 'shelter-in-place' order, which will take away hiking. I absolutely understand social distancing and understand it's for the greater good. It just makes it slightly more difficult to deal with things."

Her time at Tennessee Tech and with the Golden Eagle volleyball team, as well as in her own experience, has paid dividends in approaching the situation and working with her coworkers.

"Teamwork is something I've always valued," Asplund said. "The teamwork I experienced as a Golden Eagle continues to follow me everywhere I go in nursing. This situation just reinforces how important it is.

"Nursing, in general, is all about adapting to the situation and trying to improve the outcomes of the situation. This will be no different."

There are countless Tennessee Tech graduates out there in the medical field, trying to help bring COVID-19 under control. In this new contest, the stakes are higher, but the goal hasn't changed – win the day and keep fighting.

TTU Athletics encourages all of our student-athletes, staff, fans and supporters to follow the CDC's guidelines to slow the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. For more information, follow this link.

Below is a list of several former Golden Eagle student-athletes who worked or currently work in nursing, helping secure the health of people everywhere. It is not all-inclusive so there may be many more out there.