Typical college student-athletes balance class and school work with long hours of training, practice, travel and competition. At Niagara College, they are also encouraged to find time to participate in school events and around the community.
Morgan Yeates, a first year student-athlete from Fredericton, New Brunswick, has taken his involvement to an entirely different level.
Yeates is currently part of the 2014-15 Niagara College Student Administrative Council (SAC) as the Director of Student and Community Relations. As Director, Yeates is the liaison with the Residence Life Coordinator, Athletic Department, International Department and the First Nations, Métis & Inuit Student Services, and holds monthly SAC awareness events at Welland Campus. He also competes on the Niagara College cross country team.
With aspirations of joining the Niagara Emergency Services, Yeates left New Brunswick and made the 1,500 kilometers journey west, to join the Niagara College Paramedics program.
"I did some research online and found Ontario schools offer a higher standard program when it comes to Paramedics," said Yeates. "I saw Niagara College offered an accredited program, which was important to me, and helped to make my decision a lot easier."
A graduate from Fredericton High School, Yeates ran cross country and track and field, while competing on the schools wrestling team. Balancing athletics, academics, and a social life left little time for him to experience the benefits of joining student council.
"Sports, school and my friends; that's all I really cared about," he continued. "It wasn't until I came to Niagara College and saw the actual difference that SAC makes around campus. That's when I knew I had to volunteer."
After a few months of volunteering, friends and fellow volunteers began to encourage Yeates to run for Director of Student and Community Relations.
"I was originally planning to just keep volunteering but a bunch of people kept pushing me and telling me to run for the position. I thought, 'sure, why not?' and it turned out very well for me."
Similarly to student council, Yeates happened to stumbled upon a brand new athletic program at Niagara College. Unfortunately, by the time he found out, the cross country program was on their last day of try-outs.
"Adam [Upshaw] was my gym teacher and I told him I would do whatever it takes to make the last try-out. He finally conceded and agreed to let me try-out, but I knew I'd have to go out and impress him."
With the same determination used to earn a seat with student council, Yeates earned a spot with the cross country program. With the inaugural season underway, the Knights finished top-ten in every race they ran, most notably with a seventh place finish at the Seneca Invitational. In a field of 19 competing schools, Niagara finished ninth at the OCAA Championships.
As a varsity athlete and member of student council, Yeates believes he can use his position to bring more exposure to the Niagara College varsity athletic programs.
"I really want to focus on finding exciting and inexpensive means of entertainment for the student population and I believe the Knights varsity programs are the solution," he said. "Sport can help unite the school and the community; and I really want to bring more awareness to when events are happening on campus."
The key to balancing ample responsibilities while maintaining good grades in a highly competitive program is time management, an attribute Morgan Yeates does not lack.