Student Spotlights

When Kaylee Connolly first arrived at Texas A&M University, the whiplash of Texan culture and newfound independence as a bright-eyed undergraduate was quite daunting. Though her studies in bioenvironmental science would pattern her academic career, Connolly found a new home at Texas A&M Gymnastics. What first started as a zealous curiosity became in a few years time a passion for recreation.

Though she had never competed in gymnastics before coming to Aggieland, Connolly adventured like any college freshman into the unknown in search of novelty and excitement.

“I emailed the president, who is now one of my greatest friends,” Connolly said, “and I was like, ‘do I need experience to join the team?’ and she said, ‘No, absolutely not.’ That’s what really drew me to gymnastics and what made me stick around for all those years, that we accept anyone of any skill level.”

Connolly quickly engrossed herself within the Gymnastics Club, learning new skills and techniques to nurture her newest hobby. Over time, she assumed leadership roles within the club to guide incoming freshmen into the organization and provide structure to the Gymnastics Club. Of her four years with Texas A&M Gymnastics, Connolly served as an officer for three years, including as club president for two.

But Connolly’s service did not stop at the club level. She served as one of five students on the Sport Clubs executive committee, the intermediary body between clubs and Rec Sports staff. Connolly served this committee for two years, acting as Committee President for one. In addition, Connolly applied for the Program Assistant role within the Texas A&M Sport Clubs Association, of which she also served for two years.

“[The program assistant is] responsible for processing all club travel and being point-of-contact for all Sport Club officers and basically processing and approving all of their paperwork,” Connolly said. “My senior year (2021-2022), at the same time, I was president of Gymnastics, president of the Sport Clubs executive committee, and then I also worked in the office as a program assistant, and then night and weekends, I worked as a supervisor.”

With such an impressive schedule, it’s easy to imagine Connolly’s passion for Rec Sports, gymnastics, and recreation in aggregate. Though her primary responsibility at Texas A&M was to pursue her education, her willingness to serve other Aggies within the Department of Recreational Sports is nothing short of admirable.

“Everyone is doing this because they love their sport, they’re not doing it because they have to, and that’s kind of what I love the most about Sport Clubs,” Connolly said, “I love sports as a whole, but recreational sports means a lot to me because you’re doing it because you love it.”

In reflection of her service at Rec Sports, Connolly recalled the motto of her gymnastics organization: for the love of the sport. To Connolly, the commitment of time to managerial or administrative work is hardly mundane; it’s a mode of fulfilling her passion. It’s the act of steering an organization for the betterment of others and the daily call to create quality experiences for any person interested in recreation.

“[Gymnastics was] such a big part of my college career that I’m always going to have a very special place in my heart for gymnastics,” Connolly said. “I’ll always promote the sport of gymnastics… and be involved with our club because we have such an extensive alumni organization and I’m already like, ‘put me in this’. I want to be there to support the club until I retire.”

Though she graduated this December with a Bachelor of Science in Bioenvironmental Science, Connolly intends to continue her career in campus recreation. She recently accepted a position as the Assistant Director of Sport Clubs at the University of Miami, and we at Texas A&M Rec Sports are proud to see one of our students stride confidently off the graduation stage and into the next phase of their career.

As a parting note to all Aggies current and future, Connolly said, “Trying something new is the most important thing you can do here… everyone thinks that Rec Sports is just for the sporty and the fitness when really it’s about well-being. It’s about wellness, it’s about doing something because you want to and, in addition to your college experience, creating a healthy environment for yourself.”