WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University athletics is proud to participate in the annual NCAA Division III Week (April 1-7) in an effort to celebrate the impact athletics and Bison student-athletes have on our campus and the surrounding community. GU is joining 434 Division III institutions and 42 voting conferences in this week's celebration.

To help focus on the many student-athletes that represent Gallaudet athletics we will spotlight several student-athletes each day this week. You will learn more about them as they express their feelings on what it is like to be a Division III student-athlete here at Gallaudet. Interviews were conducted by Gallaudet Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant Pia Garreffa and graphics by Athletic Communications Coordinator Bruce Saperstein and BoxOut Sports.

Junior Danielle Fisher (Pittsburgh, Pa.) is a third-year student-athlete on the women's soccer program. Fisher majors in Business Administration with a concentration in finance and economics and is expected to graduate in May 2025.

In My Own Words: Danielle Fisher

Q: What is it like to be a student-athlete in college?
DF: Being a student-athlete in college means more than solely fulfilling the responsibilities and commitments involved in playing sports with classes, organizations, and jobs. It is the other way around, mainly about learning valuable skills that will apply to life and being a part of the community while playing the game you are passionate about.

Q: What is it like to be a student-athlete at Gallaudet University?
DF: It is a place where I feel at home because it gives me a sense of balance in being both a student and an athlete, where I can enjoy what I am doing with sports, academic, and social life. 

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?
DF: In five years, I hope to utilize the necessary skills and experience in my future finance career, and I also see myself leading an athletic program at a Deaf institution someday. 

Q: What does soccer mean to you?
DF: Soccer means more than I could ever express, but it is a beautiful game that teaches me how resilience and passion will take you to many places. It is a place where I can express myself and enjoy the game with the community who share the same passion as well. 

Division III Week Student-Athlete Spotlight: In My Words
Monday: Samson Abraham (Men's Soccer) | Lacey Drolsbaugh (Softball) | Alecia Miller (Winter Cheerleading)
Tuesday: Joshua Dugan (Baseball) | Christian Martinez-White (Men's Track & Field) | Danielle Fisher (Women's Soccer)

About Division III Week
Division III Week is a positive opportunity for all individuals associated with Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. During the week, every Division III school and conference office is encouraged to conduct a type of outreach activity that falls into one of three categories: academic accomplishment; athletic experience; or leadership/community service/campus involvement. For more information log onto https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2013/11/15/division-iii-week.aspx.
 
About Gallaudet
Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares its graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world. For more information about Gallaudet University please log onto www.gallaudet.edu and visit the Bison athletics homepage at www.gallaudetbison.com.