Like many Bethel student-athletes, junior Trokon Karngar has learned a thing or two about time management. He juggles his track schedule with school as well as his jobs with the admissions office, campus security, and Chick-Fil-A. Unlike most students, however, Karngar also serves active duty in the Army Reserve.

Of these students, Morris counts six who play a sport for Bethel. He is the Executive Director of Military and Veteran Services, where he works to help these students with balancing their athletics schedules with their military duties. He also helps students and coaches to work with each other to gain a mutual understanding of how serving affects the students and the students also appreciate how the coaches have helped and supported them.

 

Morris observes that the experiences that student-athletes have had with the military have provided them with a sense of maturity and leadership that they bring with them to their teams. 

"They get to enjoy the high-level competition, so that balances off the seriousness of their service. They get the best of both worlds; they get to serve their country and their state, and they get to be a Division III intercollegiate athlete and I think it's a wonderful combination," he said. "They're disciplined, and they have accepted extra challenges by being athlete scholars and soldiers or veterans." 

Freshman Anna Decker is another student who has taken on the challenge of competing with the cross country and track and field teams while also being a part of the Army ROTC. As a nursing student, she hopes to become an army nurse. In her time at Bethel and with the ROTC, she learns the basic skills she will need when she goes into the field.