Athlete Spotlight

Kat Jenkins is one Pacific Lutheran's top female rowers. A fixture on the women's Varsity 8 and Varsity 4, she is also one of three PLU women to be selected to attend a highly selective U.S. national team rowing camp this summer in Austin, Tex.

Describe your family. How have they helped you in your athletic career?
My mom, dad, and older brother have always been there to encourage me in athletics. In high school, my parents would get up early to drive me to 5:15 a.m. crew practices (they were glad when I got my driver’s license!). While they don’t have to drive me to practice anymore, my parents still call me after every race day to see how things went. They also try come out to watch me race a couple times a year. My dad is a big inspiration for me because he began swimming in high school, swam through college, and still swims today. I hope that I continue my athletic career with rowing long past college.

What factors led to your decision to attend PLU?
I knew that I wanted to go to school in a different place than the Midwest where I grew up, and my family had come out to Washington on vacation several times, so I knew I liked the area. I wanted a smaller school that emphasized a liberal arts education and encouraged its students to be well rounded. I also wanted to be able to continue to row in college, so that narrowed the field a bit, too.

Have you studied abroad? If so, describe your experiences?
For J-Term 2007 I traveled to Australia with a communications class. We were studying Australian media - newspapers, TV, movies, news, etc. It was fascinating to see how another country approaches the structure of media and also how they educate their children about the media. After the trip I understand more about U.S. media as well as Australian media.

What has been your favorite class at PLU?
It would be hard for me to pick just one. I’ve really enjoyed 20th Century American Fiction and Drama, Ceramics, and Mathematical Physics I and II.

Have you had any trouble balancing athletics with academics?
I think I’ve found a good balance between athletics and academics. I know I would not be as disciplined a person without crew in my life. When your alarm is set for 4:15 every morning you have to plan ahead to get everything done. I definitely know the value of a good night of sleep when it comes to performing on the water at practice and then later in the classroom.

What are your plans after college?
I plan on continuing my education, attending graduate school to continue to study physics.

When your athletic career is all said and done, what is it that you would want people to say about you?
I want people to say that I was a leader by example. I’ve always tried to give my best, push myself harder than I thought I could, and be a good teammate.

Describe your hometown and what you miss about it the most.
Rochester, Minnesota, is an interesting place; home to the Mayo Clinic as well as a branch of IBM. There are a lot of successful people around. But at heart it is a Midwestern city with four distinct seasons and wonderful people. I miss our house, which my family moved into a week before I was born, my neighborhood, and the familiarity that comes from living somewhere for 18 years. I also miss Super Target and Perkins Restaurant, two things they don’t have this side of the Cascades.

What's your favorite spot on campus?
My favorite spot would be either Rieke or the library. Rieke because I spend so much time there doing homework and in my physics and science classes. The library because I go there to study, but often end up sitting in the rows of books reading something completely different I’ve never learned before or wanted to learn more about.

What is your favorite restaurant in Tacoma?
I really like Two Koi, which is downtown.

What music is playing in your ipod right now?
Right now, Mason Jennings, a Minnesota singer. But you can find everything from folk and bluegrass to hip-hop and rap.

Read more about Justin Hull