Student of the month applauds others at CSC

Lunkwitz attended Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, Nebraska, for one year before transferring to Chadron State. Her older brother lives in Texas. Her mother is a nurse and her father is a truck driver.

During her time as an RA in the residence halls, her naturally friendly nature was an asset to her.

“It’s important to be open to people, smile and say, ‘Hi.’ You never know what someone’s going through,” she said.

The year Lunkwitz was both a trainer and an RA was tough, she said.

Travel is a major part of her job as a student trainer with some of the bus rides lasting between 13 and 20 hours, she said.

“We eat at a lot of buffets. You get to know the coaches, staff and players. You can see different states if you’re awake. I call it ‘sleep’ in quotes because you really can’t get comfortable or relax and you don’t wake up refreshed,” she said. “I’ve seen the hours I will be working and what the work entails."

Don Watt, CSC’s certified athletic trainer, said Lunkwitz knows her job and approaches it with professionalism.

“She sees when something needs to be done and does it,” he said.

In addition to working with Watt, Lunkwitz said she has learned a lot from graduate student Theodore “T.L.” Espinoza, also a certified athletic trainer.

“He has taught us how to assess an injury and decide on treatment,” she said.

Espinoza said Lunkwitz is dedicated to her work and her work ethic.

“She is dependable and shows great initiative in her job. Amanda is always eager to learn and improve her skills as a student athletic trainer, making my job extremely easy. She has made this year in football a real pleasure as I know I can always depend on her,” Espinoza said.

In addition to being an RA and a trainer, Lunkwitz qualified as a lifeguard.

She hadn’t taken swimming classes before college but with encouragement, she met the requirements needed to become a lifeguard.

This skill, along with others she acquired during her internships, will serve her well as she pursues a career in athletic training following her December 2015 graduation from CSC. She also hopes to eventually pursue a master’s degree in athletic training.

“It’s been a good experience. A lot of friends have helped me get this far. I’m ready to walk across that stage,” she said.

Jen Schaer, Project Strive/TRiO director, said when Lunkwitz came to her concerned about swimming and lifeguarding, she knew could assist her based on 15 years teaching swimming lessons.

“Having had years of experience as a lifeguard, this was a great way for me to give back and share a passion in a different area. It was a great opportunity for me to help a student achieve success in another area of their life,” Schaer said. While Lunkwitz was enrolled in Donna Ritzen’s swimming class, she and Schaer spent hours together so Lunkwitz could perfect various swimming strokes.

“Everything she does, she takes seriously. She’s not afraid to work, which is a great quality,” Schaer said.

After completing the CSC swimming course in the spring of 2015, Lunkwitz opted to take an additional test to qualify as a lifeguard and worked at the Chadron State Park swimming pool during the summer.

With the demands of school and work, Lunkwitz is grateful for Project Strive TRiO.

“The Project Strive TRiO staff is great. They organize fun activities to take your mind off school. When you’ve had a rough day, they’re always there to listen, lend an ear and give you support. I’ve borrowed textbooks from them and I always enjoy going there,” she said.