Reardon Aspires to Make Meaningful Impact in Exercise Science
July 8, 2024
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
MOUNT OLIVE – University of Mount Olive senior Olivia Reardon is driven by inspiration from family, an inner longing to succeed, and a strong desire to help others. An exercise and sport science major from Bayboro, NC, Reardon enrolled at UMO in August 2021. She is on track to complete her degree in August 2024, graduating summa cum laude with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
During her time at UMO, Reardon has made significant academic and athletic contributions. She co-founded the UMO Exercise Science Club and currently serves as its secretary. A standout shortstop for the Trojans softball team, Reardon came to UMO on a softball scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship. Despite facing injuries that ended her athletic career early, she demonstrated resilience and dedication, a hallmark of her academic journey.
Reardon’s academic excellence has been recognized through multiple awards, including the Most Promising Recreation and Leisure Studies Underclassman award in 2023 and the Outstanding Exercise and Sport Science Major award in 2024. She has been on the President’s List for three years at UMO.
Born into a close-knit family, Reardon is the youngest of four siblings. Her upbringing, inspired by her parents, Tony and Dawn Reardon, instilled a strong work ethic and a commitment to education. “This expectation shaped my academic and personal endeavors and pushed me to work hard and strive for excellence,” Reardon reflects.
Reardon’s journey in sports began early, playing travel basketball and softball, and excelling in both at South Carroll High School. Her prowess on the softball field earned her several accolades, including being named the Carroll County Softball Player of the Year in her senior year of high school.
Reardon’s passion for exercise science ignited in high school when she joined the Physical Rehabilitation program through the Academy of Health Professions. This early exposure led to her earning a personal training certification from the National Strength Professionals Association in 2021.
At UMO, Reardon immersed herself in rigorous coursework, gaining extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in exercise science. “Throughout my UMO undergraduate coursework, my passion for learning and helping improve the health and well-being of others intensified,” she said.
Reardon is interning with CarolinaEast this summer, gaining invaluable clinical experience in a busy rehabilitation setting. “My summer internship has been an amazing experience, allowing me to apply my classroom knowledge in a real-world environment,” she remarked.
Looking ahead, Reardon will pursue a master’s in Health and Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Physiology at Wake Forest University. She will also be a teaching assistant and work at the university’s clinical research center. Her ultimate goal is to become a clinical exercise physiologist, helping others improve their health and well-being through exercise.
Reardon attributes her success to the support of her family, mentors, and friends. She expresses deep gratitude for Professor Jaime Higginbotham’s guidance, which has been instrumental in her academic and personal growth.
“UMO has transformed my life, giving me the skills and confidence to know that I can accomplish anything I want to, provided I put in the necessary planning, thought, and effort,” Reardon said. “I am excited to continue my journey at Wake Forest and to make a meaningful impact in the field of exercise science.”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
