Intramurals set records in student participation

Alexis Dewey Staff Writer

More students than ever have been participating in Southern Adventist University’s intramural program over the past few years, according to Troy Walker, associate professor in the School of Health and Kinesiology and director of intramurals.

“[The program has] been steadily increasing over the last few years, including [during] COVID,” Walker said in an interview with the Accent.

At Southern, students can participate in intramurals throughout both semesters to play a variety of sports, including softball, volleyball, basketball, pickleball and more. Walker said he found it strange that even during COVID19, when participants had to play basketball with masks on, the students set a record in participation that year as well.

“They came out in droves to play basketball in masks with weird rules,” Walker said. “But it was so important to have that social atmosphere in that dire time of need; this was the perfect outlet.”

Another thing that surprised Walker and his team is the number of participants in each class division. Typically, according to Walker’s sta- tistics, the sophomore and junior classes have the most participants in intramurals. However, in the fall and winter semesters of this school year, the freshman class has supplied the most players, according to Walker. He said this is new and a bit unusual, as he doesn’t recall ever seeing the freshman class with the most participation.

The most popular sport this year, in regard to the number of students participating, was volleyball. This year, there were 96 volleyball teams and 701 participants total. Students could play on two teams (both their gender’s team and a co-ed team), but 701 signifies each player participating with no repeats for those on multiple teams. The second highest year was 2020 with 518 participants, according to Walker.

“Female participants in sports has always been lower, and it’s been a struggle,” he said.

However, within the last year or two the number of female participants has also increased, Walter explained, “so, that’s just a good thing to see.”

Walker and his team are aware that intramurals keep expanding every year. When asked if he thinks there will ever be a point when they have to limit the number of participants in intramurals, Walker said the school doesn’t ever plan on capping the number of students playing.

“The whole point is to participate,” Walker said.

He added that he cannot take credit for the growth in participation.

“It has nothing to do with me. It has a lot to do with my workers,” said Walker. “Any good intramurals program is a student-reffed program.”

KARI SHULTZ continued from page 1 applications for the job and was chosen as the first director of student life and activities.

“Twenty-four years ago, I started out with a mission,” Shultz said. “I wanted to make this job a fun one. I wanted to interact with students, and I wanted to hopefully help administration see that this is not a one-person job.

“My favorite part of the job is just talking to students,” she added. “And if they come in not feeling so good, sending them out with a smile on their faces, it just warms my heart.”

Shultz tearfully explained that the hardest part of retiring will be leaving the students and faculty at Southern. But she looks forward to traveling after her retirement, she said, and visiting her sisters, as well as volunteering and subbing at the university.

“So, not gone; you’ll see me,” she said.

Shultz has been the driving force behind numerous campus activities and heavily involved in many aspects of student life. She said she is the “mother” of Student Association (SA) and has loved getting to know SA officers over her 24 years in the position. She works closely with SA social vice presidents and continues to be friends with many of them to this day.

Erla Trevedan, SA’s current social vice president, wrote in an email to the Accent that she has worked with Shultz for two years and is grateful for her leadership and kindness.

“I am so thankful for her. She is truly one of the kindest people!” Trevedan wrote.

“I do not think I could have completed the social vice president role without her. She is aware of everything that is going on, who to contact for everything and any details I might have missed.

“I feel comfortable talking to her about anything big or small, SA-related and not,” Trevedan added, “I am sad next year's SA will not have her as a sponsor, but I am so happy for her! She works so hard, having big events about every single weekend; so I am happy she will be able to take a break and rest from her busy work schedule.”

Shultz said she has loved collaborating with different departments and clubs on campus and finding ways to make ideas turn into reality. For example, Shultz helped the SA president’s dream of 423 Night come to fruition and has been pleased to see it grow. She also mentioned the Band-Aid Fund, which was created by one of the classes in the School of Business. The fund is used to help students in unique situations of need overcome one-time financial obstacles.

Of all of Shultz’s achieve - ments on campus, her favorite is having students come back to her and realizing that she made a difference in their lives, she said.

“Some [instances] I know because I [worked with the students] very closely, but for students whom I didn't interact with on a regular basis— for them to come back and say, ‘We enjoy The Week -

“ ender.' Or, 'We enjoyed activities that you provided.’ It's just like, ‘Wow, I guess I did make a difference,’ and didn't always realize that I was.”

Dennis Negrón, vice president for Student Development, works closely with Shultz. He wrote in an email to the Accent that while he knew her retirement was coming up, it caught him a little by surprise.

“It’s been a joy to work with Kari. She makes my job so much easier,” Negrón wrote.

… Kari has reached Lebron James’ level of fame because, like Lebron, everyone who mentions her name in conversation knows that everyone else recognizes who you’re talking about. That sort of impact will be hard to replace.”

Shultz said she has appreciated the opportunity to work with phenomenal students and facilitate collaborations on campus. Building relationships throughout the years means she can call on others when necessary, she added, knowing they will almost always come through.

“It's been a long ride; it's been a good one, and I’m gonna miss people,” Shultz said. “It's hard to put down a job that you've done for this long and loved.”