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Mike Miazga |
Jackie Stanley is strong.
Yes, she's strong in the game of volleyball.
But she's even stronger in the game called life.
Over the course of the last year, Stanley, who completed her senior season
at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla. in 2004, has
persevered through great personal tragedy. Her mother, Joan, passed away last
summer after a long battle with cancer.
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Jackie Stanley |
"My mom was always enthusiastic about coming to my games," said Stanley.
"She was the first person I would call after matches. Traveling on trips this
year was very tough."
But through it all, Stanley pushed forward. In the midst of her mom's
illness, Stanley, who along with her sister were her mother's main caregivers,
graduated last May with a degree in business management and is working towards
her MBA with a concentration in international business. She has won numerous
academic awards, including being named an NCCAA Academic All-American.
"The hardest part was going through everything with my mom," said Stanley.
"But it made me stronger in the sense that I learned how to manage things. I
feel like I can go through anything. I'm taking four classes right now and it
feels like a piece of cake. I'm seeing things in a whole different light. I
don't take things for granted anymore. My faith is the only thing that got me
through this. I don't know how I did it, because I didn't do it on my
own."
Stanley, a 5'9" outside hitter, was also a shining star on the court during
her career at PBA, a Christian college with an enrollment of approximately
3,000 students.
Stanley helped the Sailfish win the 2004 NCCAA Division I national title
and was named the tournament MVP.
After seeing limited action as a freshman, Stanley rose to All-American
honorable mention status as a sophomore and then was named to the NAIA
All-American first team in both her junior and senior seasons. During her
tenure, the team qualified for the national tournament all four years.
"I don't believe it, but I love it," laughed Stanley, when asked about all
of the volleyball success she has enjoyed. "I was very fortunate to have it
happen to me."
Surprisingly, Stanley wasn't thrilled about the sport when she first came
to the school.
"I wasn't really recruited for volleyball," said Stanley, who played
basketball and volleyball at Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach, Fla. "I
wasn't too enthused about playing. But when coach (Bob) White came here
sophomore year, I fell in love with the game again and have been passionate
about it ever since."
Stanley will marry PBA soccer player Josh Neff in June and has started a
job in the school athletic office. She will help out White with the 2005 team
in the fall. She eventually wants to get into work with organizations that
help third world countries.
White, also the school's athletic director, summed it up best.
"She is an amazing student-athlete."
Mike Miazga
Editor in Chief
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