Indiana University Athletics
Student-Athlete Spotlight: Amanda Behnke
9/18/2016 10:23:00 PM | General, Student-Athlete Services, Cross Country
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Amanda Behnke goes the distance.
It's not just the type of distance that earns her All-Region honors, a Second Team All-Big Ten recognition, top 25 finishes at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships and earning the silver medal in the 10,000m run at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in track. It is also how far she is willing to go outside of the sport to help her teammates and other student-athletes.
Through the IU Athletics Excellence Academy, student-athletes get the chance to further their development outside of athletics while earning a degree and competing.
"We (at Indiana) have a different kind of programming to reach our athletes and support them in anyway possible." Behnke said.
Among the many things the Excellence Academy offers, it aims to get the student-athletes prepared for their career beyond sports and gives them opportunities to help in the community.
One program sponsored by the Excellence Academy is SHIELD. This is a program that Behnke plays a big role in as it raises awareness about mental health and improving a student-athlete's mental health. SHIELD is a support group that meets regularly to cover topics such as student-athlete identity and time management among other things.
"I want everyone to have the best experience they can as an athlete. I've always been someone who cares a lot about the people around me," Behnke said. "Physical health as an athlete is important and mental health is just as important."
In her fifth year at Indiana, Behnke has seen it all. She knows what it takes to be a student-athlete, she knows the triumphs and tribulations and she knows that she can teach others. In her time here and through SHIELD, she's learned that is important to take of herself, but it is also important to build strong relationships for support around her.
"Having really strong supportive relationships around you can really help you. When things are going well they can rejoice with you and when things are going bad they can support you and comfort you," Behnke said.
Indiana offers some of the best amenities and programs in all of college athletics to its student-athletes and Behke hopes with her involvement in SHIELD and other programs that her student-athletes take advantage of the opportunities that are given at IU.
"I think that people take for granted what they are given as student-athletes. We are provided with so many resources that we sometimes treat them like we always will have them and don't take advantage of the resources we have (while we are here)," Behnke said.
She hopes to change that thinking. Behnke's road at IU is nearly over as she graduated this summer and is currently in the School of Public Health's graduate program where she focuses on community health. She will leave Indiana with USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors and a couple of Academic All-Big Ten Honors.
But until her time at IU is complete, she will help as many as she can to instill in others what she has learned in her time here.
It's not just the type of distance that earns her All-Region honors, a Second Team All-Big Ten recognition, top 25 finishes at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships and earning the silver medal in the 10,000m run at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in track. It is also how far she is willing to go outside of the sport to help her teammates and other student-athletes.
Through the IU Athletics Excellence Academy, student-athletes get the chance to further their development outside of athletics while earning a degree and competing.
"We (at Indiana) have a different kind of programming to reach our athletes and support them in anyway possible." Behnke said.
Among the many things the Excellence Academy offers, it aims to get the student-athletes prepared for their career beyond sports and gives them opportunities to help in the community.
One program sponsored by the Excellence Academy is SHIELD. This is a program that Behnke plays a big role in as it raises awareness about mental health and improving a student-athlete's mental health. SHIELD is a support group that meets regularly to cover topics such as student-athlete identity and time management among other things.
"I want everyone to have the best experience they can as an athlete. I've always been someone who cares a lot about the people around me," Behnke said. "Physical health as an athlete is important and mental health is just as important."
In her fifth year at Indiana, Behnke has seen it all. She knows what it takes to be a student-athlete, she knows the triumphs and tribulations and she knows that she can teach others. In her time here and through SHIELD, she's learned that is important to take of herself, but it is also important to build strong relationships for support around her.
"Having really strong supportive relationships around you can really help you. When things are going well they can rejoice with you and when things are going bad they can support you and comfort you," Behnke said.
Indiana offers some of the best amenities and programs in all of college athletics to its student-athletes and Behke hopes with her involvement in SHIELD and other programs that her student-athletes take advantage of the opportunities that are given at IU.
"I think that people take for granted what they are given as student-athletes. We are provided with so many resources that we sometimes treat them like we always will have them and don't take advantage of the resources we have (while we are here)," Behnke said.
She hopes to change that thinking. Behnke's road at IU is nearly over as she graduated this summer and is currently in the School of Public Health's graduate program where she focuses on community health. She will leave Indiana with USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors and a couple of Academic All-Big Ten Honors.
But until her time at IU is complete, she will help as many as she can to instill in others what she has learned in her time here.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
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