Deanna Thirkell, Colorado College, Women's Tennis

DEANNA THIRKELL OF COLORADO COLLEGE, who plays No. 1 singles and doubles on the Tigers' women's tennis team, has been selected the SCAC Character & Community Female Student-Athlete-of-the-Week for the week ending April 24, 2011.

Standing out at a highly selective liberal arts college is not an easy task, but Thirkell has distinguished herself on the court, in the classroom and in the Colorado Springs community in less than three full years at CC.

The junior from Monument, Colo., has compiled a 31-17 career singles record and a 30-19 mark in doubles. She earned honorable-mention all-SCAC recognition as a freshman in 2009 when she won 13 of 17 matches at No. 3 singles and was 11-5 at No. 2 doubles. Thirkell represents the women's tennis team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and participates in many of its activities such as Parents' Night Out, where members of CC's varsity athletics teams spend an evening with children ages 3-14 at the El Pomar Sports Center.

Working with kids comes naturally for Thirkell, who has served as an instructor and counselor at the Air Force Academy Tennis Camp, the NIKE Tennis Camp and STARS, a non-profit organization designed to give at-risk youth the opportunity to learn the game. STARS also teaches important life lessons such as confidence, teamwork and respect.

Thirkell also volunteers as a tutor at the Children’s Literacy Center Tutor and Palmer Lake Elementary School. She remains active in the local Catholic community, volunteering with the Little Sisters of the Poor and the Paul Sheffer Memorial Fund for World Youth Day trips to Spain, France and Portugal. In addition, Thirkell sponsors a child in India through Compassion International.

"These volunteer opportunities allowed me to observe the struggles of non-English speaking students from around the world," Thirkell said. "These students are expected to achieve academic success, while mastering the English language. A society genuinely thrives when all its members are allowed successful educational opportunities. Through research and practice, I hope to discover the optimum, effective methodology to assist English language learning students to become academically stimulated and successful."

Thirkell carries a 3.97 grade-point average in romance languages (French, Italian and Spanish) with a double minor in education and anthropology. During the summer of 2009, she studied Spanish literature and culture in Salamanca, Spain. Her goal is to become an elementary school teacher who works with English language learning students.

Thirkell, a recipient of CC's President’s and Robert C. Byrd Scholarships, as well as the school's Intercultural Award, currently is considering Colorado College's MAT program after graduating with honors in May of 2012.