Hancock Excelling In All Facets of Life
10/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
By: Lauren Cole, TCU Athletics Communications Intern
Hancock, , a major in biochemistry, also holds accolades as a TCU Clark Society Scholar, while also garnering the Victoria Giachino Scholarship.
After journeying from Anchorage, Alaska to Fort Worth, Hancock was awarded the Chancellor's Scholarship, which is the highest honor one can receive at TCU.
"I really just stumbled upon the Chancellor's Scholarship when applying to TCU. I knew that prestigious scholarships like that were available at most universities, but I didn't necessarily expect to receive an offer to attend the interview weekend," said Hancock said
The Chancellor's Scholarship is a full academic scholarship awarded to a select few individuals. 215 students currently hold this honor along with select opportunities to interact with the Chancellor including an annual lunch and retreat.
Being a part of the Chancellor's Scholarship program has provided both the Chancellor and Hancock an opportunity to get to know each other personally. Hancock was even able to take Dr. Boschini's class.
"Chancellor Boschini is a fantastic teacher and a phenomenal leader of this university. I have learned a great deal from him about what it really means to be educated and responsible in our society," said Hancock.
"Kari Hancock is simply put, amazing! She manages to excel both academically and athletically on every level. Pile on top of that the fact that she is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet and you have a true scholar-athlete."
Hancock is also a commendable student-athlete at TCU and discovered early on that her passion was in Equestrian at age 9.
"At the time, I had a friend who really loved reading about horses, which sparked my interest in riding. I took two lessons before coming home and telling my mom that I was done being a gymnast and wanted to step into the equestrian world," said Hancock.
In addition to her scholarships, Kari has won multiple accolades in her Equestrian career, including NCEA Academic All-American, Academic All-Big 12 and the Clark Society Leadership Scholarship. For good measure, Hancock was named a NCEA First-Team All-American in 2014-15. By being named a NCEA First-Team All-American, Hancock at that time became only the second Horned Frog in school history to claim first-team accolades on the Hunt Seat side.
TCU Hunt Seat head coach Logan Fiorentino, who was honored with the 2016 NCEA Distinguished Alumni Award, has been with Hancock since her freshman year and commends her dedication as a talented Hunt Seat rider.
"Kari has been an absolute essential member of this team and a true testament to the statement that hard work pays off. She is one of the most dedicated, focused and coachable athletes that I have ever worked with. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have worked with her," said Fiorentino.
Hancock competed in all of the 18 meets a year ago and made school history against South Dakota State by scoring a 98 in Equitation on the Flat on her favorite horse, Carmeline. The mark, which also set a Big 12 Conference record, is the highest score ever recorded during the regular-season in NCEA history.
The demands of being a student-athlete aren't the only thing Hancock faces everyday. She is also pursuing a major in biochemistry and works as an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Jean-Luc Montchamp's Phosphorus Research Group.
"I started working for him this past May and continue to work in the lab on an individual project for my senior honors thesis regarding molecularly imprinted polymers," Hancock said.
Between her work, athletics, and academics, Hancock works hard everyday and takes each opportunity as a learning experience.
"Being a student-athlete has impacted my life far more than I ever anticipated. I have learned so much about time management, work ethic, determination and mental toughness through my time on the Equestrian team these last three years," said Hancock.
Time management is no foreign concept to Hancock. She works each week on managing and planning her week.
"I have a set routine for each week that I follow religiously in order to stay on track and make sure everything is done. I keep three calendars running throughout the year," said Hancock.
Hancock believes in giving it her all everyday in order to balance and succeed at all of her successes.
"The mindset I try to keep throughout the year is to give 110 percent into everything I do as a way to repay the opportunities I have been granted in life. I am incredibly blessed to have supportive parents who believed in me even when I didn't - a school that believes in my potential enough to fund my education towards the future - and a team that believes in my abilities and pushes me to be the best I can be. I honestly can't express how honored I feel to represent TCU as a athlete and student."
Players Mentioned
