UMO Senior Kelsey Cirrito Looks Forward to Graduate School
UMO Senior Kelsey Cirrito Looks Forward to Graduate School
MOUNT OLIVE- University of Mount Olive (UMO) senior Kelsey Cirrito of Manassas Park, VA, has recently been accepted into the athletic training master’s degree program at UNC-Greensboro. Cirrito attributes her success to the experiences she had as a student-athlete and athletic training intern at UMO.
Cirrito’s journey with UMO began when she was playing high school soccer.
“My soccer coach at the time told me, moments before a game, that there was a college coach scouting me. After the game I was introduced to the head soccer coach from Mount Olive. He told me their team needed more goal keepers,” Cirrito recalled. “I decided to make a trip to Mount Olive to meet the team and tour the campus! I decided UMO was a perfect fit for me.”
Cirrito began her journey as a UMO student-athlete in the fall of 2012.
On the field, Cirrito fostered her love for soccer and experienced great success alongside her teammates. In 2013 she was awarded the most improved athlete for women’s soccer and Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference.
“Most of my favorite memories of UMO come from practices or away game trips with my team. Being together on long bus rides, telling stories, and playing soccer, all brought us together like a family!”
Academically, Cirrito was at first unsure of what program to pursue. Then she enrolled in an anatomy class with Instructor Sharon Jackson.
“Anatomy taught me how to enjoy class and learn all about the body,” noted Cirrito. “I really enjoyed the lab portion of the class and being able to physically touch bones and know the differences between them. That is when I established my exercise science major, and I have loved it ever since.”
During her senior year, Cirrito has interned with the UMO Athletic Training Department. “When I am in the athletic training room, I feel like I have found my niche,” smiled Cirrito.
All four of the UMO athletic trainers encouraged Cirrito to take that next step towards graduate school.
“Kristen Gibson gave me my first medical kit bag and told me it was strictly for graduate school. Ali Young helped me with my applications. Matt Parker helped me build my resume, and Aaron Karkow told me about the UNC Greensboro program, which made me realize it is the perfect program for me. I cannot thank them enough!” she shared.
Cirrito will begin her graduate education in May at UNCG shortly after receiving her undergraduate degree from UMO on May 7.
“UMO helped me find my passion, and I am so excited to put the knowledge and skills that I gained from my academic, my athletic, and my internship experiences to work at the graduate level!”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Research Triangle Park, Washington, Jacksonville, and in Smithfield at Johnston Community College. For more information, visit old.umo.edu.
Top Photo: Kelsey Cirrito standing works with men’s lacrosse athlete Nick Correra in the Athletic Training Room at UMO.
Kelsey Cirrito standing works with women’s lacrosse athlete Nicholle Galletti in the Athletic Training Room at UMO.
Kelsey Cirrito standing works with women’s track athlete Turnisia Prince in the Athletic Training Room at UMO.