Meet members of Geneseo's Class of 2017, who exemplify the college’s commitment to community, innovation, creativity, sustainability, and excellence. In the coming weeks, student writers will highlight our newest alumni and the contributions they have made, the calling they have found and discoveries made along the way. Hear what her favorite memory is and what Geneseo means to her.
Kara Houppert '17 is a childhood with special education major with ambitions to inspire students the way Geneseo has inspired her.
After transferring to Geneseo for her sophomore year, Kara has made Geneseo her home. As a point guard for the women’s basketball team, her sports accolades are numerous, as she has received Geneseo Athlete of the Week twice and the D3hoops.com All-East Region Second Team honor this year. She was also named to the All-SUNYAC First Team.
Most important, she says, is what being part of a Geneseo team has given her.
“The best part about being on the women’s basketball team is that it has really instilled a lot of qualities in me that are going to carry me into my career as a teacher,” says Kara.
These skills? Leadership, confidence and teamwork. She wants to impart those qualities to her future students.
“As a teacher, I really want to just show my students that if you’re passionate about something and you care not just for yourself, but for everyone, you can do a lot more than you think you can,” she said. “The team has taught me what teamwork really i
s and how amazing and powerful it truly can be, and if you love someone you can do incredible things.”
In addition to being on the Dean’s List, Kara was awarded the Patricia Lyon Memorial Scholarship by the faculty of the Ella Cline Shear School of Education for her leadership and integrity. To finish her final semester at Geneseo, she is embracing culture in Barcelona for her humanities course.
This fall, she will be working directly with students on developing their reading competency through the Ella Cline Shear School of Education’s Reading and Literacy B-12 Program. Kara is also applying for teaching jobs in the Rochester area. One day, she says, she’d like to coach basketball, and discover America on a cross-country road trip.
“I’m truly blessed to have been able to be a part of the Geneseo women’s basketball team and just a part of the education program at Geneseo,” says Kara. “I’ve learned things that are going to carry on with me for the rest of my life, and I’m very grateful for that.”
— By Alex Ciarcia ’17