The following article will be published in the February edition of Saginaw Township Living magazine.
Student-Athletes Learn to Lead Through Service
By: Lance Karwat, Class of 2025
At Nouvel, students and staff share the mission, “We are called by Christ to learn, love, and lead… courageously.” That is not just something students say, but it’s something they live out every day. Whether it’s in their classes, at extracurricular clubs and activities, or during athletics, everyone is focused on being the best they can be and helping others along the way. At Nouvel, our Panthers don’t jus t come to school, they grow, achieve and strive to make a difference in all they do.
As student-athletes, Panthers get a lot of chances to show what it means to lead by example. Outside of our sports, they are out in the community, putting Nouvel’s values into action. Whether it’s cleaning up our local roads, helping out at Vacation Bible School, volunteering at the East Side Soup Kitchen or mentoring the next generation of student-athletes at local sports camps, they are always finding ways to give back to our community. Coaches inspire teammates to not just be great players but to also be great people. That’s a big part of what makes Nouvel sports different from other schools’ programs. It’s not just about winning games, it’s about becoming someone who makes a positive impact inside the game and out in the world. This year, Nouvel’s boys basketball team has a mantra, “We over Me.” It’s about putting the team first, but it also applies to everything in life. Helping others reminds everyone that life isn’t just about ourselves.
Senior multi-sport athlete, Camden Kaul shared, “When we are out volunteering, it feels good to be part of something bigger than just our team… It’s about making a difference.” Katie Kennedy, a senior tennis player and coach at the Nouvel tennis camp, said, “I like that through service, I can gain leadership skills by teaching others the foundations of tennis and have been able to apply certain skills like communication to my academics.” Both seniors have been a part of community service projects, school and parish service and give so generously their time. At Nouvel, being a student-athlete means more than just playing a sport. It means learning to lead through service and living out a faith-filled life. These experiences don’t just make students better athletes, they make them better people.
With 22 varsity sports options at Nouvel, Panthers have many opportunities to compete outside of the classroom. Panther student-athletes receive the benefit of smaller class sizes and individualized attention in the classroom, while having many incredible opportunities to shine on the court and as leaders in their community. For more information on Nouvel athletics, please visit www.NouvelCatholic.org/Explore.