March 19, 2008
Patriot League Success Stories - Where Are They Now? will feature former Patriot League student-athletes, highlighting both their accomplishments while competing at the Division I collegiate level and their successes since graduation. The Patriot League embodies the scholar-athlete model in all its intercollegiate participants and is proud of the strides made both in the classroom and in competition. The League applauds the accomplishments of its former student-athletes and celebrates their life long achievements. The following features truly embrace the League's slogan - Today's Scholar-Athletes, Tomorrow's Leaders.
Many of the featured athletes were named either Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Player of the Year or Tournament Most Valuable Player in their respective sport. The accomplishments of the former student-athlete THEN and NOW will be highlighted.
Name: Autumn McKenzie
Institution: Colgate University
Sport: Volleyball
Position: Middle Hitter
Graduation Year: 1997
Undergraduate Major: Neuroscience
THEN:
- ACVA District 1 All-America Division I Team
- Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year (1996)
- Patriot League Rookie of the Year (1993)
- Three-time Colgate University Offensive Player of the Year
- Three-time First-Team All-Patriot League selection (1994, 95, 96)
- Colgate's all-time kills leader (1,461); ranks fifth in Patriot League history
- Ranks second at Colgate in all-time solo blocks (144)
- Ranks third in Patriot League history in total blocks (515)
- Colgate tri-captain (1996)
- Colgate Student-Athlete Honor Roll (1996)
NOW:
- Practicing medicine as a physician assistant
- Engaged to be married May 2008
- Obtained physician assistant certificate
- Received Master of Health Science (MHS) degree from Duke University (2003)
- Named to the Patriot League All-Decade Team (1990-2000)
- Inducted into the Colgate University Athletics Hall of Honor
Thoughts on how your competitive experience as a Patriot League student-athlete helped you achieve professional or personal goals:
I am a better person because of my teachers, coaches and teammates. They supported and challenged me on and off the court. I refined skills of time management, multi-tasking, organization, and team work. I highly value teamwork and currently practice medicine in a team approach as a physician assistant. I work in emergency medicine and effective time management, multi-tasking and organization skills are imperative.
