University of Tennessee Athletics
Katie Porter Shines Bright, Named A Torchbearer
April 17, 2018 | Rowing
UTSports.com
Only a small percentage of University of Tennessee students can say they were student-athletes, and fewer still earn the distinction of Torchbearer, but this year Katie Porter, a member of the rowing team set to complete her degree in just three years, became one of 27 UT students who can claim to be both.
Torchbearers are the embodiment of Volunteer spirit. They take the initiative in all phases of their lives to better both the University of Tennessee and their fellow students, and Porter has done just that.
"Katie has made the most of the incredible opportunities Tennessee offers," said Head Rowing Coach Lisa Glenn. "Through her willingness to live beyond her comfort zone as a student and an athlete, Katie has honed-in on her individual goals. Along the way she has become more aware of her teammates and the strides they are making in their own journeys."Â
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Many refer to being named a Torchbearer as the "Torchbearer Award," but Porter does not like to look at it that way. She finds placing oneself in the spotlight for an award to be inherently opposite of what a Torchbearer stands for, which is a reminder that those who bear the Torch of Enlightenment shadow themselves to give light to others.
She views the honor as being about her personal makeup.
"Being selected as the Torchbearer is a testament to how I was raised and how I have learned to be who I am," said Porter. "I just try to look out for people and do at least one thing every day to make someone else's day better."
The path to becoming a Torchbearer was not easy for Porter. Being a student-athlete while also being involved in many campus organizations and taking part in community service is a lot to juggle. Even Porter admitted that if it was not for professors being flexible with her hectic schedule and the support offered by staff at the Thornton Center, she would have been hard pressed not to crack under the pressure.
"Without Denise Jilka (academic advisor for rowing) I probably would not still be at this University because I would have had a mental breakdown by now," joked Porter.
Despite how busy she has been, Porter has made the most of every hour to be on course to graduate with a degree in microbiology in only three years. She views the key to all of this as her ability to manage her time.
"It's a time management thing. Say that you get to class in five minutes instead of 15, you can use those extra minutes to do a worksheet or send an email," explained Porter. "I have learned how to juggle that."
As part of her busy schedule, Porter has been very active on campus and in the community. She takes part in Clinic Vols, serves as philanthropy officer in Alpha Epsilon Delta, and was a member of the VOLeaders Academy. As a member of Clinic Vols, Porter volunteered in the health clinic at Dogwood Elementary School. Alpha Epsilon Delta is the pre-medical honors society at UT, so as the philanthropy officer she has helped put together and take part in many community service events.
Additionally, last summer she went to Vietnam as a member of the VOLeaders Academy and worked with orphans and third and fourth generation victims of Agent Orange, using sports as a means of empowerment.
Based on the community outreach she's chosen to be part of, it's probably not surprising that her ultimate career goal is to attend medical school en route to a career in pediatrics with the Navy. She finds that working with children is especially rewarding.
"There is something special about working with kids because there is nothing they have done to make themselves sick. If you can give them a little bit of hope and work with them to overcome their illness—it takes a special kind of person to do that. It's way more rewarding to me," she said.
Porter's lofty career goals seem only fitting to her teammates and coaches.
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"To facilitate the growth of others as you near the destination of your own path is the trademark of the Torchbearer," said Glenn. "In rowing, the crew nears its potential when members dedicate themselves to making it easier for boat mates to fill their roles. Katie has lived this process during her time at Tennessee, and I know she will continue it during medical school and into her role as a competent, caring doctor."
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Porter might still get starry-eyed when looking at the list of Torchbearers that came before her, but her light shines just as bright as any of the others.
"When you walk into the Thornton Center as a freshman, pretty much the first thing you see is a picture of the Torchbearer and the Torchbearer Creed above it. You look at the names of the people who've won it and you ask, 'How could I ever compare?' Â This year looking at all the other people who have been recognized and all the things they are doing around the community, I find myself saying that same thing," she said.
"It's honestly such an incredible honor not only to be recognized as a Torchbearer among these other amazing people, but also to be a part of a community that doesn't just recognize the things people are doing but truly values the reasons they are doing them."
Players Mentioned
