Throughout the 2020-2021 year, the Aurora University athletic department will highlight the senior student-athletes. The seniors will provide some insight to their time at AU while getting to know them as individuals they have grown into in their time as a Spartan.
Senior Spotlight: Autumn Sullivan (Women's Golf)
Major:Â Elementary Education
What are your plans after graduation? After graduation I am hoping to get a teaching job close to home. After I have a year or two of teaching under my belt I plan to apply to a reading specialist master's program.
What is your most memorable/best academic experience at AU? My best academic experience at AU has been being able to work with and tutor elementary students in reading. Helping kids develop lifelong skills such as reading and writing is something I am very passionate about. Being able to have this in classroom experience with actual students validates that I am where I am supposed to be.
What is your most memorable athletic moment at AU? I transferred to AU as a two-sport athlete. Before I made the decision to hang up my cleats I played a couple games with the AU softball team. These games are my most memorable athletic moment for AU because the games played were against my old school Waubonsee Community College. It was so fun to play against my old coaches and teammates who are still like family to me. It also helped me to be at peace with deciding to stop playing the game that I love the most.
Other than the sport(s) you play, what other sports activity are you good at? IÂ played softball at Waubonsee Community College for two years prior to AU. On the softball field is where I succeed the most, however, when I transferred to AU I was still lost as to where I saw myself in the future. This resulted in me making the decision to hang up the cleats. I do love to play tennis and go snowboarding as well!
Outside of sports, what is your favorite hobby or activity? I love hanging out with my family and friends. If I'm not playing sports, riding my bike, or snowboarding, you can find me in the kitchen baking the best chocolate chip cookies you'll ever eat!
What is your favorite meal in the cafeteria? I've never eaten in the cafeteria! However, I did spend a good amount of money at the Spartan Spot grabbing my usual pick-me-up iced coffee!
What AU faculty or staff member had the greatest impact on you and why? CoachÂ
Justin Wyeth hands down has had the greatest impact on me at AU! He is always putting his players first and wanting to see us succeed in everything we do. He really is our biggest cheerleader. His positive energy is contagious on and off the golf course. It's tough coming to a four-year school from a community college, but with the opportunity Coach gave me I was able to make friends and feel a part of something.
What do you enjoy most and least about practice? I am a super competitive person. I am my biggest competitor. Because Coach Wyeth is both the women's and men's golf team we often practice together. My favorite part about practices is when we have competitions between squads, it adds pressure and makes it fun!
Do you have any pregame rituals? I do not have any pregame rituals. I just show up with a smile on my face and hope that I can share some good vibes with my team before everyone tees off!
What advice would you give to underclassmen at AU? Take advantage of every opportunity! Join that club, say hi to strangers, take advantage of professor office hours! Most importantly just slow down and soak it all in because once it's over, it's over! Make it your mission to make someone smile every day :)
If you had to listen to one song on repeat forever, what would it be and why? All I Want For Christmas Is You. Christmas is the best time of the year. It's a banger year round, causes automatic serotonin boost, you can't help but sing and dance when it comes on, if you say you don't know it... you're lying.
What is something that people may not know about you but should? I am a Marvel/DC nerd. It's a pretty big deal in my house.
If you could spend an hour each with three people (past or present), who would you choose and why? Can't choose.....
