(The Gulls Graduate feature series is intended to share stories about our 2019 Class that the casual fan may not be aware of. We hope you enjoy this feature series as we prepare for our student-athletes to leave The Nest, onto bigger and better life adventures and successes.)
BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott field hockey student-athlete Cami Molinare '19 (Simsbury, Conn.) has accomplished a lot over her four-year career at The Nest, but the most significant item on her collegiate resume will come on Saturday, May 25 when she addresses the Class of 2019 at Commencement. Here are Molinare's thoughts on the big day that lies ahead, her time at Endicott, and much more.
ECGULLS: What were your initial thoughts on being selected as a speaker for Commencement?
MOLINARE: To be completely honest, I was shocked, excited, and truly humbled by my fellow classmates' selection of me for student commencement speaker. This is an honor that I have always aspired to receive, but never fully thought I would be provided the opportunity. I do not even think it will fully hit me that I am the commencement speaker until I am up on stage on May 25. Granted the task of speaking in front of the entire Class of 2019 is slightly overwhelming as I attempt to sum up four amazing years into a quick three-minute speech, I am very much looking forward to celebrating all of the accomplishments of my fellow graduates and myself on Commencement Day.
ECGULLS: Reflect back on your four years at Endicott for us, please.
MOLINARE: From the very first moment I stepped foot onto Endicott's remarkable campus I knew I had found my new home for the next four years. Its community-feel, small class sizes, and private beaches drew me in, but what truly sold me on the college was its fantastic reputation with the field of education. I sought out a college that would provide me the necessary tools and hands-on experiences to be successful in my future profession. Additionally, Endicott provided me the opportunity of continuing to play the sport that I love, field hockey, at the NCAA Division III collegiate level. In fact, my absolute favorite memory of my college career was beating the University of New England (UNE) to win the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship this past fall. Receiving that trophy and celebrating with my teammates, coaches, friends, and family was the best feeling in the world.
Reflecting back on my four years here, I can confidently say that this school has impacted my life in ways I could never have possibly imagined. Not only have I grown into a strong leader both on and off the field, but I have also learned through my wide range of experiences that, surprisingly, my true passion is in athletics, not teaching. Therefore, I have decided to shift the trajectory of my education by pursuing a Master's Degree in Athletic Administration in the Van Loan School at Endicott. Yes, I can always go back to teaching, for I am a licensed Elementary Educator in the state of Massachusetts, but I now know that my ultimate dream is becoming an Athletic Director.
All in all, Endicott has been my home away from home for the past four years. I have absolutely adored this school and everything it has to offer. In fact, I love the school so much I had chosen to spend two summers here, become a tour guide my junior and senior year, and have recently decided to continue my schooling here at the Van Loan Graduate School. Not to mention, I will be working as a Graduate Assistant for Intramurals, Contest Management, and Marketing and Promotions up in the Post Center for the next two years – I am definitely not ready to leave The Nest.
ECGULLS: Can you give us a little preview of your speech?
MOLINARE: The theme of my speech is change. Every member of the Class of 2019 has endured change in some level over the past four years as we transitioned into college, experienced the closing and opening of buildings, and through the tragic losses of Dr. Wylie and Tim Glendinning. Everyone's story is different, but we have all been dealing with changes, both big and small, throughout our college career. Therefore, I have decided to make the theme of my speech all about change and how we can take what we learned through the changes here at Endicott with us to our post-graduate lives.
MORE ON CAMI MOLINARE
Molinare's career accomplishments are endless but here are a few that shine the brightest. Academically, Molinare will graduate with a 3.98 cumulative grade point average (GPA) as an Elementary Education major at Endicott. She also is a four-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholar of Distinction award winner, which recognizes student-athletes who maintain a 3.90 GPA or higher, a three-time CCC Academic All-Conference selection, and a multiple times Dean's List honoree.
Athletically, Molinare was a captain of the field hockey team, a 2018 All-CCC First Team selection and an NFHCA All-Region honoree. Meanwhile, in 2017, Molinare claimed a spot on the All-CCC Second Team.
Lastly, her campus involvement includes the following areas: Education Club, Gull Revolution, Student Government Association (SGA), School of Education Senator, Co-Chair of the Student-Life Committee, Parliamentarian, EC LEAD, Mortar Board, Kappa Delta Pi, Endicott Scholars Program, Admissions Tour Guide, and Post Center work-study employee.
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(Photo Credit - Corey Cinq)
