Lauren Eccles

Doubling Up on Success

Lauren Eccles will receive her Associate of Science degree two weeks before earning her high school diploma. She takes college courses full-time through a dual enrollment program in order to get a jump on a future career in chemical engineering research; a position she believes will enable her to achieve even loftier goals, such as helping to solve global problems like the palatable water shortage in South Africa.

Lauren not only challenges herself in the classroom; she puts that same drive into excelling as a soccer player, swimmer, and runner. In athletics, her goals are much bigger than herself, too. “I am not a born leader,” she says. But her participation in sports has made her a better one while giving her the skills and confidence she needs to make a difference both on the field and in her community. She serves her soccer team as captain. And she earned her youth volunteer and referee certification from the American Youth Soccer Organization so she can share the sport she loves with the children in her community. Lauren’s work with soccer and other youth sports organizations has helped more than 1,200 children get involved in community athletics.

A few years ago, life circumstances put Lauren’s intrinsic nature to always go above and beyond to the ultimate test. Lauren had just accepted the position of soccer team captain and added more difficult advanced placement courses to her schedule when her mother underwent sudden, unexpected open-heart surgery. Less than a month after her mother’s release from cardiac intensive care, Lauren’s older sister suffered an accident that required surgery followed by months of physical therapy. “To simply say that I had many added responsibilities during that year would be an understatement,” Lauren recalls. But the experience showed Lauren exactly what she’s made of—pure determination to achieve her goals, especially when they are not easy to reach. “I surprised myself with my resilience. I can do anything if I work hard!”