Mitchell Lulich, Centenary College, Men's Swimming & Diving - Character & Community
MITCHELL LULICH OF CENTENARY COLLEGE, a senior on the men's swimming and diving team from New Orleans, La., has been selected the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Character and Community Male Student Athlete of the Week for the week beginning December 13.
MITCHELL LULICH OF CENTENARY COLLEGE, a senior on the men's swimming and diving team from New Orleans, La., has been selected the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Character and Community Male Student Athlete of the Week for the week beginning December 13.
The SCAC Character & Community award honors the efforts of student-athletes who excel in the field of athletics, and also serve their campus and community.
Being a student-athlete is not easy. Mitchell Lulich, a senior on the Centenary men's swimming team, actually says it has made his college experience easier. You might ask how this could be possible knowing how busy any student-athlete at any collegiate level is and based on the rigorous academic demands at a prestigious institution like Centenary College. Lulich explains it well.
"I wouldn't say that I really need to balance being a student and an athlete," said Lulich. "I struggle more with time management when swim is not in season. Swimming keeps my schedule structured, because without swimming I tend to get really lazy with my days, so I would say that swimming is the reason that I manage balancing a very busy life on campus."
"I also rely on swim practice to allow me to not worry about anything outside the pool for two hours of the day, so I use it as a time to relax."
Lulich, a New Orleans native who prepped at Jesuit High School, has joined the men's golf team this season and has twice been named to the SCAC Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll as well as the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team. When he is not at the pool, on the golf course, or studying, he is giving his precious time in and around the Shreveport-Bossier community and his hometown New Orleans.
"I have been very involved in various volunteer activities during my time at Centenary," said Lulich. "I volunteered at a week-long overnight summer camp, Camp Starlight, for kids with muscular dystrophy for three years before COVID.
"I have participated in our MLK Service Day every year I have been at Centenary which is a big annual event, and have also volunteered at Common Ground for two months before COVID sent us home from school. I also volunteered at a farmers market in New Orleans during COVID quarantine."
Lulich says being an athlete has actually helped him become a better student, saying that swimming has forced him to be more efficient in his study habits.
"Due to the large time commitment swim requires I have learned the best ways that I learn and have found ways to get my work done in the most effective ways," said Lulich. I have learned though that I still need to take breaks and swim always provides me with a break from reality to just work out and have fun."
Lulich is five hours from home but he is comforted by the fact that his younger brother Matthew, a sophomore on the Centenary lacrosse team, is on campus with him every day. They make a point to try to see each other on a daily basis for meals in the cafeteria or just some time to hang out.
"Although receiving an award is never the goal of helping your community, it is always nice to see that what you are doing is making some sort of impact that people can see."
"On that note I am greatly honored that what I have done during my time at Centenary has served some purpose in helping this community."
