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KRISTY PEEPLES
By Malynda Dorsey Fulton
For Kristy Peeples, one’s career choice should be guided by passion. This explains why the certified soccer referee, coach and player aspires to coach soccer at a collegiate level one day.
“You have to love something to do it all the time,” said Peeples, the 2011 Physical Education Major of the Year and the most recent recipient of the Phillips-Baber Scholarship. “This heavily influenced my decision to pursue a degree in Physical Education, even after I had already established a career in the medical field.”
Upon graduating from high school in 2003, Peeples attended Southwest Georgia Technical College, where she obtained an associate’s degree in surgical technology two years later. For the next four years Peeples worked as a surgical tech at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
“I enjoyed my job, but it took up most of my time,” she said. “It even began to interfere with my ability to coach soccer, which I have been doing since I was 16. That was when I realized that I did not want to do that for the rest of my life. So I decided to get into the field that I loved – physical education.”
For more than a year, Peeples worked all day as a surgical tech and attended night classes at Valdosta State University until she was accepted into the physical education program.
Since joining the program, Peeples has excelled in her courses while remaining quite active in various P.E. activities. She is a member of the Health and Physical Education Majors Club and has assisted with the annual Winnersville Triathlon, Turkey Trott 5k Run and Special Olympics. She also coaches junior varsity and varsity soccer at Valwood School and plays intramural soccer, all while working part-time as a surgical tech at Colquitt Medical Center in Moultrie.
Peeples received the Phillips-Baber Scholarship award during the Share the Wealth Conference in Jekyll Island in January. She will be recognized nationally as the Major of the Year at a luncheon during the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) Convention, which will be held March 29 to April 2 in San Diego.
"The scholarship money actually helped fund my trip to San Diego. I feel very honored to represent Valdosta State University at this convention. Not many people get an opportunity like this, especially as an undergraduate. I could actually meet my future employer at this event.”
A junior now, Peeples is two semesters from earning her Bachelor of Science in Education, Health and Physical Education.
“I plan to then pursue a master’s degree and eventually get my doctorate in physical education,” she said. “I’m very free-spirited, so I’m open to working anywhere as long as I’m doing what I love to do.”
Meet Kristy R. Peeples
Academic Year: Junior
Academic Standing/GPA: Dean’s List, 3.83
Expected Graduation: May 2012
Degree Objective: Bachelor of Science in Education, Health & Physical Education
Hometown: Boston, GA
High school: Thomas County Central High School, Thomasville, GA
Academic Achievements/Recognitions:
*Associates of Applied Science Degree in Surgical Technology
*United Daughters of Confederacy Scholarships Award
*Major of the Year-NASPE Major of the Year for Valdosta State University
*Phillips-Baber Scholarship Award
*Dean’s List since 2010
*Member of National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
*Member of Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAPHERD)
*Member of The National Society of Leadership and Success
*Presented “Camouflaging Fitness” at Share The Wealth Conference
*Valwood JV and V Girls Soccer Coach
My favorite things to do on campus are… climb at the wall, play intramural soccer & work out at the student recreation center.
When I have free time, I like… What free time? I love to stay busy so if I do ever have down time I hang out with my dog chilling in my swing.
The three words that best describe me are… free-spirited, loyal and energetic.
My favorite place to study is… definitely outside either in a swing or hammock.
My favorite professor is… all of them. Their support and knowledge have led me to achieve great things. They include Dr. Susan Hagood, Dr. R. Michael Cathey, Dr. Stan Andrews, Dr. Sonya Sanderson, Dr. George Langford and Dr. Mike Griffin.
My favorite class is… is the KSPE 2010 & 2020 Activity Course, where we learn all different sports by playing them and learning how to adapt the games for our students.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with… my dad, farming on our land.
The thing that I will miss the most about college is… the many interesting people I have met & befriended.
The one VSU experience I will always remember is… breaking my ankle during a bouldering contest at the recreation center, then having surgery to fix it…awesome times!!!!
After graduation, I plan to… get a job teaching Health & Physical Education anywhere in the U.S. and coach high school level soccer, while going to graduate school. After that I plan on finishing my doctorate in Physical Education and someday coaching collegiate soccer.
Some unique things about me are… I am very hard-working, organized, clumsy.
My favorite childhood memory is… water skiing since I was 5 years old with my family every summer.
My biggest supporters in life are… my family members! My parents have always supported my decisions. My big brother, who is also my best friend, does not let me settle for anything less than what I want, and my boyfriend constantly believes in me day after day.