University of Tennessee Athletics
Porter and Davis Reflect On How They Were Impacted By VOLeader Experience
July 21, 2017 | Rowing
By Tyler Hotz
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Two Tennessee rowers had high hopes for their first trip to Asia when departing Knoxville on this year's installment of the VOLeaders Academy trip abroad, and their experiences in Vietnam did not disappoint.
Junior Katie Porter and senior Jennifer Davis became the first two members of the rowing team to participate in the VOLeaders Academy, joining members from 14 other Tennessee teams that made up this year's class.
"It was kind of nerve-wracking [with this being] the first time," said Porter. "But it was nice to be accepted into a program with all athletes and get to know other athletes and branch out in the athletic department."
Piloted in 2015, the program stresses the impact student-athletes can have on their teams, campus and local and global communities. The program leads service projects in Knoxville and abroad, and this year, the 18 VOLeader students travelled to Vietnam at the beginning of July.
Beginning their 13-day journey in Ho Chi Minh City, the VOLeader students had busy schedules impacting the lives of children and athletes in various settings. Visiting children in orphanages, running different sports camps and meeting with athletes at Vietnam's National Training Facility for Olympic and Para-Olympic athletes were just some of the aspects of the trip.
The program also took Tennessee student-athletes to Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. Similar to what they did in Ho Chi Minh City, VOLeader students conducted sports camps but also took time to visit the Agent Orange Treatment Facility and Nike Headquarters in the city.
"The trip highlighted just some general truths about being a human being and being a good person," Porter said. "The first thing [I noticed] is that I only knew some of the people that we met for a day, but they treated me like I was their own and part of their family."
Both Porter and Davis are interested in pursuing careers in medicine, though they envision different paths following their time at UT.
Entering her senior year, Davis' focus remains in kinesiology. During her first-ever trip abroad, Davis got to meet with the board of directors at Vietnam's National Training Facility and discuss the importance of nutrition in athletics.
She plans to take a gap year after earning her degree next May and hopes to use her connections from the trip to start a nutrition program for athletes at Vietnam's National Training Facility.
"There is life outside and opportunities that you can be a part of as opposed to the status quo that we are used to," Davis said. "I'm going to take a gap year to see if there are any other opportunities to do research abroad. I thought that was really cool to see that there is a need and the chance to make a difference and make connections even when you're not at home."
Porter, who is looking toward a future in pediatrics, now wants to study medicine abroad, possibly even returning to Vietnam. Instead of taking the conventional medical school route after college, Porter wants to branch out and directly aid people in need across the globe.
Every VOLeader student on the trip came away with a new perspective and memories unique in their own ways. Knowing their reach goes much farther than what they accomplish in athletics, they see the importance of using their platform to improve the lives of others.
"Being a student-athlete is such a unique privilege that only a very small portion of the people in this community and in the country get to be a part of," Porter said. "When athletes are able to use their platform to create change, that's bringing something new to the table.
"It's important that we do that. If athletes here, especially in Big Orange Country, are doing the right thing, then other people will follow."
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Two Tennessee rowers had high hopes for their first trip to Asia when departing Knoxville on this year's installment of the VOLeaders Academy trip abroad, and their experiences in Vietnam did not disappoint.
Junior Katie Porter and senior Jennifer Davis became the first two members of the rowing team to participate in the VOLeaders Academy, joining members from 14 other Tennessee teams that made up this year's class.
"It was kind of nerve-wracking [with this being] the first time," said Porter. "But it was nice to be accepted into a program with all athletes and get to know other athletes and branch out in the athletic department."
Piloted in 2015, the program stresses the impact student-athletes can have on their teams, campus and local and global communities. The program leads service projects in Knoxville and abroad, and this year, the 18 VOLeader students travelled to Vietnam at the beginning of July.
Beginning their 13-day journey in Ho Chi Minh City, the VOLeader students had busy schedules impacting the lives of children and athletes in various settings. Visiting children in orphanages, running different sports camps and meeting with athletes at Vietnam's National Training Facility for Olympic and Para-Olympic athletes were just some of the aspects of the trip.
The program also took Tennessee student-athletes to Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. Similar to what they did in Ho Chi Minh City, VOLeader students conducted sports camps but also took time to visit the Agent Orange Treatment Facility and Nike Headquarters in the city.
"The trip highlighted just some general truths about being a human being and being a good person," Porter said. "The first thing [I noticed] is that I only knew some of the people that we met for a day, but they treated me like I was their own and part of their family."
Both Porter and Davis are interested in pursuing careers in medicine, though they envision different paths following their time at UT.
Entering her senior year, Davis' focus remains in kinesiology. During her first-ever trip abroad, Davis got to meet with the board of directors at Vietnam's National Training Facility and discuss the importance of nutrition in athletics.
She plans to take a gap year after earning her degree next May and hopes to use her connections from the trip to start a nutrition program for athletes at Vietnam's National Training Facility.
"There is life outside and opportunities that you can be a part of as opposed to the status quo that we are used to," Davis said. "I'm going to take a gap year to see if there are any other opportunities to do research abroad. I thought that was really cool to see that there is a need and the chance to make a difference and make connections even when you're not at home."
Porter, who is looking toward a future in pediatrics, now wants to study medicine abroad, possibly even returning to Vietnam. Instead of taking the conventional medical school route after college, Porter wants to branch out and directly aid people in need across the globe.
Every VOLeader student on the trip came away with a new perspective and memories unique in their own ways. Knowing their reach goes much farther than what they accomplish in athletics, they see the importance of using their platform to improve the lives of others.
"Being a student-athlete is such a unique privilege that only a very small portion of the people in this community and in the country get to be a part of," Porter said. "When athletes are able to use their platform to create change, that's bringing something new to the table.
"It's important that we do that. If athletes here, especially in Big Orange Country, are doing the right thing, then other people will follow."
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