It’s been great to catch up with former student Lucy Cunliffe who is continuing her studies at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, USA!
Lucy, who came to Carmel from Byrchall High School, received a Tennis Scholarship at the University earlier this year. She is now studying a four-year double major in Exercise Science and Mathematics. Lucy said: “I’m loving it here! It’s really good because it’s a liberal arts university which means we have to complete general education courses first. You get a broader knowledge of lots of different subjects. In my first semester I have taken English composition, Introduction to Psychology, Precalculus, Spanish and Nutrition.
“I’m part the women’s tennis team here. We train 3 times a week on court and do 6am conditioning in the gym 4 times a week, then compete on weekends. We only have 2 matches left of the fall season! So far we are doing well, having only lost one match as a team! I am also a member of the Kinesiology Club, and I am going on a trip to University of North Carolina to check out some of the kinesiology facilities that they have. I’m a math tutor on campus too, working in the academic support centre.
“I have made lots of new friends here; not just from the US, but from all over the world! The best friends I have made are from the tennis team. They are Madi (USA), Amelia (England), Antonella (Venezuela) and Constança (Portugal). We do everything together. It has been amazing to get to know about the culture here and share the experience with such fab team-mates and friends.
“Looking back at my time at Carmel, being part of the TASS Programme enabled me to have the confidence to take the opportunities in sport to achieve my dream of playing tennis in the US. I was able to progress my tennis and the TASS Programme allowed me flexibility with work and access to facilities so that I could achieve my full potential. I am very grateful for that chance, so if you are a student athlete, I recommend applying to the TASS Programme at Carmel!
It sounds like Lucy is doing amazingly well so far. We wish her the very best of luck for the future.
If you’d like more information about the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), visit our TASS PROGRAMME web page.
(Lucy is fourth from the left on the image)