Kimberly Burch and Madison Meduna are living life to the fullest as student athletes. Both are incredibly dedicated to both the academic and athletic opportunities that the University of Dallas provides.
Meduna is originally from Nebraska and is a biochemistry major with minors in Spanish and biopsychology. After graduating this spring, she plans to go to medical school. Burch is originally from California and is an economics and finance major with a minor in international studies. After graduation this spring, she plans to go to law school.
Burch and Meduna are longtime friends as they both have been on the golf team since freshman year. They also began their love for golf the same way: with family.
Meduna said, “My parents used to put our car seats in the golf cart while they would go play golf, and then just bring us around. So when we got a kiddie set of clubs, it got passed down from my brother to me.”
Both Burch and Meduna enjoy the camaraderie and community that the golf team has given them.
When asked about a particular favorite moment, Meduna said,“I will never forget our first golf tournament. We were with the guys team, and they were all dancing and singing to ‘Good For You’ by Olivia Rodrigo!”
Being on the golf team can present new challenges to student athletes. Burch said that for her, “It’s all about balance in life. Golf is pretty intense, and it wears you down mentally. You are on a team together, but on the course you’re not always surrounded by your teammates. You’re surrounded by people you’re playing against, and you’re playing against that course.”
Being part of the team has benefited both players, and now they are able to return the favor as the senior mentors to the new players.
Burch said that, when being a part of the team freshman year, “It’s great to know people coming in and to have that base of people who are older than you, who know what’s going on. You can ask them for class or professor recommendations. And now we get to be one of those people.”
These recommendations for professors are taken very seriously by the underclassmen. Meduna is the teaching assistant for forensic chemistry with Dr. Prajay Patel and there are six golfers in the class.
Meduna and Burch told their teammates, “We’re graduating, so if you want our help in your econ or chemistry classes, you have to take them now!”
Looking back on their time as underclassmen, Meduna said her favorite core class was Understanding the Bible. Burch said that her favorite was Lit Trad I.
Burch said, “Embracing the core is a really important part of being successful as a student athlete at UD.”
Both Burch and Meduna have received scholar-athlete character and community awards through the SAC. Additionally, both of them love exploring Dallas, playing Mario Kart, and watching TV shows with friends.