Herdegen achieved a 4.0 GPA in the 2012-13 school year at EIU.
PALATINE, Ill. – Former Harper soccer player Amanda Herdegen may not have moved on to play soccer at a four-year university, but it hasn't stopped her from achieving excellence at Eastern Illinois University. The former standout student-athlete, who graduated from Harper in May of 2012, achieved a 4.0 GPA in the 2012-13 school year and exemplifies the positive impact the Harper College athletics program can have on those who play a sport for the Hawks.
A two-sport athlete at Fremd High School, Herdegen came to Harper and immediately enjoyed an atmosphere where she was able to play soccer, make friends, and learn from top-rate professors who had a vested interest in her. As a freshman in 2010, she was a team captain for a team that took ninth place at nationals. Individually, she made First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region as a defender.
Her success continued as a sophomore in the fall of 2011, as she was once again a team captain and was a First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region selection. Herdegen also received Team MVP honors, as voted upon by her teammates.
Academically, she was a N4C Academic All-Conference honoree and was an NJCAA Academic All-American for her 3.95 GPA. She also joined the Future Educators Association as she began to realize her passion for teaching.
"Coach Dwayne (Cruz) helped bring out the confidence in me that I didn't know I had," she said. "He taught us that we could achieve whatever we want if we keep working hard at it."
Herdegen felt Harper gave her the chance to learn how to balance school, friends and other activities. Coming to Harper gave her the chance to get a feel for college, get guidance and move on.
"The soccer coaching staff really meets the needs for the players. You can come and play right away and work on your skills and advance to the next level," she said.
Herdegen ultimately decided to end her soccer career and enroll at Eastern Illinois University because she felt her soccer career didn't need another chapter. At EIU, she immediately plugged into the community, playing intramural soccer and basketball, joining Habitat for Humanity and becoming a transfer student transition leader. Even with a full class load and the various activities, Herdegen achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA this past year and attributed her success to the preparation she received at Harper.
"The workload and difficulty are nearly equal," she said. "The education I received at Harper exceeded my expectations and the faculty was awesome."
Herdegen is majoring in Elementary Education and has one year of classes left before student teaching in the fall of 2014. This summer, she is taking two classes at Harper as well as an online class with EIU. She will also be spending time with many of her former teammates at Harper, many of whom became lifelong friends.
Looking back on her experience as a Harper Hawk, Herdegen encourages those who may not give Harper a chance to reconsider their stance.
"I would 100% recommend coming here and I think it's the best decision I've ever made in my life," she said.
A two-sport athlete at Fremd High School, Herdegen came to Harper and immediately enjoyed an atmosphere where she was able to play soccer, make friends, and learn from top-rate professors who had a vested interest in her. As a freshman in 2010, she was a team captain for a team that took ninth place at nationals. Individually, she made First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region as a defender.
Her success continued as a sophomore in the fall of 2011, as she was once again a team captain and was a First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region selection. Herdegen also received Team MVP honors, as voted upon by her teammates.
Academically, she was a N4C Academic All-Conference honoree and was an NJCAA Academic All-American for her 3.95 GPA. She also joined the Future Educators Association as she began to realize her passion for teaching.
"Coach Dwayne (Cruz) helped bring out the confidence in me that I didn't know I had," she said. "He taught us that we could achieve whatever we want if we keep working hard at it."
Herdegen felt Harper gave her the chance to learn how to balance school, friends and other activities. Coming to Harper gave her the chance to get a feel for college, get guidance and move on.
"The soccer coaching staff really meets the needs for the players. You can come and play right away and work on your skills and advance to the next level," she said.
Herdegen ultimately decided to end her soccer career and enroll at Eastern Illinois University because she felt her soccer career didn't need another chapter. At EIU, she immediately plugged into the community, playing intramural soccer and basketball, joining Habitat for Humanity and becoming a transfer student transition leader. Even with a full class load and the various activities, Herdegen achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA this past year and attributed her success to the preparation she received at Harper.
"The workload and difficulty are nearly equal," she said. "The education I received at Harper exceeded my expectations and the faculty was awesome."
Herdegen is majoring in Elementary Education and has one year of classes left before student teaching in the fall of 2014. This summer, she is taking two classes at Harper as well as an online class with EIU. She will also be spending time with many of her former teammates at Harper, many of whom became lifelong friends.
Looking back on her experience as a Harper Hawk, Herdegen encourages those who may not give Harper a chance to reconsider their stance.
"I would 100% recommend coming here and I think it's the best decision I've ever made in my life," she said.
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