University of Houston College of Technology students proved they could balance academics with their superior achievements on the volleyball court, running track, and golf course. Their victories brought genuine Cougar pride to UH this season.
Kadi Kullerkann, the UH Volleyball senior hitter, finished her collegiate athletic career with a bang after being named as the 2015 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the American Athletic Conference. During her volleyball career, she was able to maintain a 3.82 cumulative GPA and was named to the Dean’s list for six consecutive semesters. Kadi was also named First Team All-American Athletic Conference for her standout performance this season. "It is truly amazing to be recognized for the hard work I’ve put in both on and off the court," she said.
The 6-foot 4-inch volleyball phenom plans to graduate in May 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media and a minor in computer applications. She will receive a $4,000 scholarship from the American Athletic Conference, which she hopes to use for graduate school. "I am planning on getting a Master’s of Business Administration with a marketing concentration," she said. "I believe it will be a great addition to a digital media degree."
Kadi believes that the lessons she learned as an athlete will be valuable to her in graduate school and in her future career. "I believe that my athletic career has taught me to give my best in any situation," she said. "Athletics teaches discipline, time management, and communication skills, all of which I believe to be essential for professionals."
In addition to the valuable skills, she learned as a collegiate volleyball player, Kadi also credits the College of Technology for giving her a push in the right direction. "I had a general idea of what I wanted to study, but the professors in the Digital Media program have opened my eyes to things I didn’t even know I was really interested in," she said. "I couldn’t be more pleased with my decision to pursue a degree from the College of Technology."
In UH track and field, Isacc Williams, a junior hurdler majoring in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, became the first UH Cougar in school history to earn Second Team All-America Honors in the men's 60m hurdles. The New Jersey native qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships by clocking the third-best time in the NCAA this season at 7.72. He ran a 7.81 in the semifinals of the 60m hurdles, but failed to qualify for the finals after a 10th place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He entered the 60m hurdles in seven meets this season, winning five, including a win at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships in New York, N.Y.
Also in track and field, Drevan Anderson-Kaapa ended the season on a high by repeating his 2014 feats and becoming the 2015 American Athletic Conference Champion for 800m and winning the 2015 First Team All-American Athletic Conference for the 800m. Anderson-Kappa is a senior from Killeen, Texas, majoring in Supply Chain and Logistics Technology.
On the green, Roman Robledo, a Retailing and Consumer Science major drew attention as one of three Cougars to finish in the top three at the Border Olympics. The senior from Harlingen, Texas tied for second at 208 on the 7,375-yard, par-72 course. Robledo is a 5-time winner of the event and was a 2014 All-America Second-Team selection.