Katie Gardner | WKU
Hometown/Current City: Bowling Green, Ky
Undergraduate Major: Speech-Language Pathology
Current Job/Position: Speech-Language Pathologist for Warren County Public Schools & Sumner Regional Medical Center
What is/was your professional path after college?
After I finished my Master’s degree in August of 2024, I began my clinical fellowship in Speech-Language Pathology working for Warren County Public Schools in Bowling Green, Ky as well as working PRN for Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin, TN. I have recently finished my clinical fellowship where I can now apply for my Certificate of Clinical Competence award by the American Speech-Hearing Association.
What do you enjoy about your current position/profession?
In the school setting, I have enjoyed building relationships with all of my students. I love getting to see all of their progress made throughout the year and getting to speak with their families at their annual meeting about how much they have grown each year. The highlight of my days at school are getting hugs in the hallway when my students see me because I’m not someone they see the majority of the time. I feel it’s a compliment to my relationship with them because they feel comfortable enough to say “hello” or give me a hug after only being in my therapy room for 30 minutes once a week. At the hospital, I work in the acute care setting. Something I enjoy about this setting is that every day and every patient is different. They each come in with a different problem and my job is to assess their skills in either swallow/feeding or their cognition. Some patients are suffering from a stroke or dementia, others are aging and have difficulty with certain skills. I enjoy getting to talk with my patients and hopefully make them laugh or smile within the short amount of time I spend in their rooms because it’s not fun being in the hospital so providing a few minutes of distraction or laughter can brighten their day (especially when I bring them food).
What did your time as a student-athlete mean to you?
My 5 years of being a student-athlete is a time in my life that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It allowed me to make so many memories and friendships, not only my teammates but athletes from other sports through FCA. During these years, you learn so many different things about yourself and skills that will take you far in life such as your resilience, determination, and humility. Not only did it prepare me for my future, I was fortunate enough to make an impact on others- teammates, coaches, other teams, and most importantly younger athletes who look up to us.
What are you most proud of from your college experience?
I am most proud of my ability to stay organized and maximize my time between practice, games, workouts, and class/assignments. It was very difficult for me the last couple years in college because I was in my Master’s program where I was having to complete my internships and externships. However, with the support and flexibility of my coaches, I was able to do all the things for school and still put in the work at practice and excel in games. So, I’m most proud of my resilience and my ability to be great on the field and in school.
What is your most fond memory of college athletics?
My most fond memory during my time on the hill is attending FCA every Monday night. Seeing athletes from every sport come together to worship God is unlike anything you can experience. I also will cherish each of the 5 teams I was a part of at WKU from surviving the craziness of covid my freshman year to winning the CUSA tournament and going to regionals in 2021 to leaving everything on the field during the championship game in New Mexico in 2024.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy going to Barren River Lake with my family and friends, riding four wheelers, going to bonfires, hiking, fishing, reading, and watching tv shows/movies.
What piece of advice would you have for current student-athletes?
My biggest piece of advice for current student athletes is that your identity isn’t found in softball. It may be a big part of your life, but it isn’t everything. Mental health is a big issue nowadays and it deserves to be prioritized. However, you are playing this sport for a reason, find your why and let it drive you. Be confident in yourself and your abilities that the Lord has given you, play for your teammates and be their biggest cheerleader. Never let a moment get too big, be where your feet are, let loose, and have fun!