Katie Filiatreau | Georgetown College | Women's Basketball
About the author >>
Position: Guard | Class: Senior | Major: Exercise Science | Hometown: Springfield, Ky.
A senior guard for the Georgetown Tigers basketball team, Filiatreau is in the trenches of senior year obligations and knee deep in graduate school applications. The Kentucky native hopes to attend the University of Kentucky for physical therapy school next fall. Awards and Accolades: 2006-07 Mid-South Academic All-Conference Selection...Georgetown Free Throw Award recipient...Member of the Alpha Lambda Delta honorary society...Dean's List selection...President of the Student Athlete Leadership Council...member of the 2008-2009 American Red Cross / NAIA Youth Leadership Program...
Learn More >> Georgetown College | American Red Cross / NAIA Youth Leadership Program
Just in time for Thanksgiving break | November 18, 2008
I am already exhausted and it’s only Tuesday! But that’s normal in the life of a college student, particularly for an NAIA student-athlete. As I approach Thanksgiving break I find myself with so many things still on my plate that have to be done before I can make that much needed trip home for a few days.
My first blood drive was a success! We brought in 95 productive units of blood, and I firmly believe that we can increase that number in the future. I was very pleased with our turnout, and we were able to bring in approximately 85 first-time donors (some just first-time to the Red Cross). The staff did a wonderful job, and I relied on numerous volunteers (many of them teammates) to help everything run smoothly throughout the day. We’ve already got people talking about the challenge that we’re having with Campbellsville University in February.
I am relieved that the first drive is behind me and I can take a break from my Red Cross responsibilities for a while. However, I’ll be ready for a new challenge in the coming months. I have continued to receive support from many people at Georgetown College, and I am very hopeful that we can make an even bigger impact in the future.
Red Cross responsibilities aside, I have been working hard on the hardwood as our team kicked off the 2008-09 season on Nov. 7th at a tournament in Huntington, Indiana. We left Indiana with a 1-1 record, but were able to take away some valuable lessons from the game. If I’ve learned anything from playing basketball it’s an understanding of just how long a season is, and I am excited about what our team can do over the next few months.
Our basketball team has played four games, we have four more games in the next week, I have research papers and projects due in my classes, and I just had my first blood drive on Monday, November 17th. Although I have a full plate now, when Thanksgiving break rolls around I’ll be exchanging blood drives, research papers, and basketball games for turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. After a much needed break I will return to Georgetown and be faced with other challenges. However, I can say that as each day passes I am content with the responsibilities I have because I consider all of them privileges that I have received by being a student-athlete.
By Katie Filiatreau | Posted by the NAIA | November 18, 2008
Get Ready, Get Set, Go | November 1, 2008
As I prepare myself for the next three weeks before Thanksgiving break, I’ve found myself constantly making to-do lists only to discover that I have a lot of responsibility! But I truly believe that it’s all part of being a student-athlete at the NAIA level. Academics are always demanding, and as basketball season gears up our team will be on the road a lot in the next few weeks. After having had the privilege of being part of the ARC/NAIA Youth Leadership Program, I only find myself faced with more tasks as I prepare for my first blood drive on campus.
This week marks the beginning of all the hard work that be put into making sure that my blood drive is a success. I am one of the few members of the program who has yet to have a blood drive, so I definitely have some expectations. My fellow student-athletes have set the bar high, and kudos to each of them for the successes they’ve achieved so far! My drive will be held on Monday, November 17th and I’ve really gotten a lot of support from others on campus. I hope to kick things in gear and make the most of the opportunity I’ve been given to help others.
Balancing academics, Red Cross responsibilities, and basketball isn’t always easy. My senior season kicks off at Morehead State on Monday, November 3rd and before I know it we’ll be on the road traveling. I have very high expectations for myself and my team as the season begins, and I believe that all our dedication and commitment will lead to success. I’m also very excited that a road trip will allow me to reunite with fellow ARC student-athletes and Brian Hamil (National Chair of Biomedical Services), in Huntington, Indiana.
Before I know it Thanksgiving break will have come and gone, and I’ll be preparing myself for finals and the beginning of Christmas season. Although it’s hard to believe, it really is right around the corner! Thus far in my senior year I’ve learned to take things one day at a time, to cherish the people that mean the most, and to make the most of every opportunity I’ve been given. I truly have been blessed by being part of the ARC/NAIA Youth Leadership Program. I have the ability to positively influence the lives of others, and most of all I’ve had the privilege of forming friendships (some of the best) with many wonderful people!
By Katie Filiatreau | Posted by the NAIA | November 3, 2008
Game Plan | October 16, 2008
It’s hard to believe that I’m already halfway through the fall semester of my senior year in college. The days seem to be getting longer, and my schedule busier as I prepare for the beginning of basketball season. In addition to basketball, my class assignments are starting to pile up and I am in the process of gearing up for my first blood drive! As the old saying goes “no rest for the weary”, but I have to say I prefer it that way.
Basketball is in full swing, and we are in our second full week of practice. We have our first opportunity to see how we measure up against the competition on Saturday, October 18th. Our first regular season game is less than a month away and November will be a great test for our team as we travel to Huntington, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois for tournaments. It’s hard for me to believe I’m about to embark on the last basketball season of my career. It’s going to be bittersweet throughout, but I hope to make the most of the time that I have left on the court.
Monday, November 17th is the date of my first (American Red Cross) blood drive, and it will be here before I know it. I am currently organizing a committee of people on campus that are willing to assist with the drive. Because of my training in Washington D.C. this summer, I learned that the donor recruitment process is never ending. There will always be a need to expand donor pools and I hope to do that on my campus. We will be targeting every student organization on campus, as well as faculty and staff members. I have been very lucky to have had such strong support from the people at Georgetown. It makes my job a lot easier when I can rely on others to help promote the Red Cross on campus and in our community.
Sometimes my crazy schedule and infinite commitments can be a little overwhelming and I’ve definitely found myself in the “freak out” mode that all student-athletes experience during our busiest times of the year. However, I always try to take a step back and think about the amazing opportunities I’ve been given as a student-athlete and as a youth ambassador for the Red Cross. Because I am able to do this, I experience a sense of gratification and accomplishment that replaces those feelings of anxiety and stress. I am beginning to understand just how quickly time passes. I am embracing every moment and every memory with the hope that I can leave my mark at Georgetown College and with the Red Cross.
By Katie Filiatreau | Posted by the NAIA | October 16, 2008
Juggling Act | September 25, 2008
As the end of the summer rolled around I was looking forward to getting back to school and my everyday routine as a student-athlete. However, after only three and a half weeks on campus I'm ready for a break! It seems that I have developed a need to live my life at breakneck speed all the time. However, I've come to realize that is the case for most college students, specifically my fellow student-athletes. On a daily basis my schedule is filled with commitments to work, basketball, and class. The idea that my senior year was going to be laid back and relaxing has long been tossed out the window. But don't get me wrong, I enjoy and appreciate all the opportunities that I have been given at Georgetown.
This past June I made a commitment to the NAIA and the American Red Cross when I participated in the ARC/NAIA Youth Leadership Training in Washington D.C. this summer. It is something that I am very proud to have been a part of and I believe I speak for us all when I say it was an experience that left a lasting impression. A big thanks to program sponsors, Red Cross and State Farm Insurance!
Although I have yet to actually run a blood drive on our campus, I have made significant strides in the past several months. While in D.C. I realized that I was going to be faced with some challenges when I got back to campus. However, with help from several members of the Georgetown College community I have been able to overcome those challenges and have made progress in my attempt to bring the American Red Cross to my campus!
Currently, I have on the schedule two blood drives for the 2008-2009 academic year, both of which will be sponsored by the Student Government Association. My first official blood drive will take place on Monday, November 17 and I will also hold a two-day drive in February. I am very excited about the possibilities and the opportunity that I have to make a significant difference on my campus and for the American Red Cross. I am surrounded by a network of individuals that are willing to help me be successful in all my endeavors as a Red Cross ambassador.
As I look back on the program several months later, I am only beginning to understand how it has helped me to grow as an individual. I have been given a wonderful opportunity to utilize the training I received this summer as a way to benefit those around me. Because of the NAIA, State Farm Insurance, the Red Cross, and Georgetown College I have the capacity to make the most of my experience. I will strive to make my college and my community more aware of their ability to give back to others through volunteering and blood donation!
to read my summer blogs...click here
By Katie Filiatreau | posted by the NAIA | September 25, 2008
