By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Being present, volunteering where there are needs, and going above and beyond the regular call of duty are just a few factors of being a true leader.
Those are just a few qualities that have made junior track & field student-athlete Kendall Medders an incredible leader, not just for the Golden Eagle track & field teams, but also for the Tech Athletics department as a whole.
An annual participant in the Cookeville Christmas Parade, Tennessee Tech Athletics was unable to fill its portion of the tradition as well as past years with the event falling after the conclusion of the Fall semester. Without requirement, Medders was sure to make time to represent the purple and gold by walking in the parade and participating with a small group of Tech Athletics representatives.
Also in December, following the fall semester, the Knoxville native volunteered her time to help assist Tech Athletics put on its annual Education Day women's basketball game, filling in with the marketing staff for one of the more intensive athletic events each year. The contest featured the second-largest home attendance in Tech women's basketball history, welcoming in a whopping 5,887 students and fans.
"Kendall has really embraced her leadership role as a student-athlete at Tennessee Tech," Assistant Athletic Director for Academics and Student-Athlete Welfare Dr. Leveda Birdwell expressed. "Not only is she a leader on her team, but she serves on the Student-Athlete Advising Committee, volunteers her time with the Athletic Marketing department, and is always willing to go above and beyond. I couldn't be more proud of Kendall and the way she represents herself and the athletic program here at Tennessee Tech."
On the field, Medders has led her Golden Eagle teammates by example, performing at a high level in her event while showing dedication to training and helping her teammates. Last spring, she became just the third member in program history to claim the gold medal in the high jump at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships, establishing a new personal record of 1.66 meters (5'5.25").
It is for these qualities and dedication that Medders is the recipient of the 2023 December Unsung Leader Award.
The Unsung Leader Award is selected from student-athletes, who have been nominated by their coaching staff or members of the TTU Athletics Department, for exemplifying outstanding leadership qualities during a given month. The leadership can be shown on the field, in the weight room, at practice, in the classroom, in study hall, on campus, in the community, or for a student club or organization.
The award honors a varsity student-athlete who has made a positive impact on their team and the Tennessee Tech community as a whole, through his or her dedication to demonstrating leadership traits, such as:
- Keep learning, growing, and improving
- Follow through with excellence
- Accomplish more than expected
- Inspire and motivate others
Photo by Michael Wade
