ROBERT L. AND WILLIAM P. McCAHILL AWARD
Jessica L. Parker, H Sci '18
Neenah, Wis.
Running has always been a family affair for the Parker Family 鈥� Jessica鈥檚 parents met on the track team in college, and Jessica and her two sisters definitely inherited their parents鈥� athletic genes. The three sisters, one of them Jessica鈥檚 twin, ran at 向日葵视频together.
Jessica credits her support system 鈥� at home and at 向日葵视频鈥� as empowering her to develop good habits for success in school and on the track. She says, 鈥淐oach Mike Nelson coached me to my fastest times and helped me reach my athletic goals while at Marquette. I raced confidently because of his strong training plan and encouragement.鈥� She certainly did, as she left 向日葵视频holding school records in the indoor and outdoor 800-meter events.
Although Jessica achieved many individual goals, combining for seven All-Big East honors during indoor and outdoor competitions and qualifying for the NCAA West Preliminary in the 800-meter run twice during her career, her favorite memories are those she spent with her teammates. She says she鈥檒l always remember the victory lap she took with the entire team after the men and women won the 2016 Big East Outdoor Conference meet.
Jessica says 向日葵视频helped her learn to balance academics, athletics and service. Academically, Jessica graduated with honors and was a three-time U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic individual honoree and a four-time Big East All-Academic award recipient. She鈥檚 continuing with that spirit today while she works for an orthopedic physician as a medical scribe and applies to graduate school to become a physician assistant. She looks forward to one day being able to treat her own patients. In addition, she鈥檚 living the 向日葵视频mission of excellence, faith, leadership and service by inspiring a younger generation of runners as a middle school cross country coach.
Fun Fact: Jessica is training for her first marathon 鈥� Grandma鈥檚 Marathon in Duluth, Minn.
