JACK BURGER OF COLORADO COLLEGE, a senior from Steamboat Springs, Colo., has been selected the SCAC Character & Community Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Week for the week ending April 5th, 2015.
If video does not appear below, click here to view.
Jack Burgers loves challenges. He seeks them out. He cherishes conquering them.
Whether it is volunteering for New Student Orientation or a First-Year Experience mentor, representing his team on the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee or taking on the Manitou Incline, the Steamboat Springs, Colo., native has accepted several challenges in his time as a Tiger.
With all that, Burger has served as the team captain for two seasons and been a fixture in the top six in the men’s tennis lineup all four years at CC. He is 8-4 this year at the No. 2 singles position and posted an eight-match winning streak earlier this season. The highlight of his career was rallying from a set down to defeat Matt Pronesti of Division I Portland State, 1-6, 6-3, 1-0(10-7) earlier this spring. That was CC's first individual win against a Division I opponent since three Tigers won against the University of Rhode Island on March 20, 2007.
Burger has posted at least a .500 record in singles play each of his four years and has a career record of 40-26. He was 10-5 at the No. 3 spot as a junior before moving up one spot this season.
As much fun as he has on the court, it is off the court where Burger gets his fill of personal satisfaction. During New Student Orientation last fall, he led a group of eight first-year CC students on a five-day orientation service trip to La Junta, Colo., helping to paint a local Native American Museum.
“During those five days we got really close as a group and created friendships that have lasted the entire year,” he said. “I really loved this job as it finally enabled me to use my enthusiasm and appreciation for CC to help students during their transition to college.”
In his role as a FYE mentor, he offered guidance and advice to students during their first few months on campus.
“I helped students sign up for classes, communicate with their FYE professors and find extracurricular activities for them,” Burger said.
One of Burger’s favorite extracurricular activities is to climb the Manitou Incline, a popular hiking trail that gains over 2,000 feet of elevation in less than one mile. The Incline is a fitness challenge for locals in the Colorado Springs area that has a grade of 68% in some places.
“I did the incline for the first time my freshman year and have done it probably 15 times,” Burger said. “My fastest time is in the mid 24-minute range, but no matter how fast or slow I do it, it always hurts.”
Burger, who currently owns a 3.54 grade-point average while majoring in English with a minor in Spanish, was able to take full advantage of the school’s Block Plan when he traveled to Greece for a class summer called World of Odysseus taught by Barry Sarchett and Lisa B. Hughes.
“We sailed around the Greek islands while reading the Odyssey and learning about Greek history and myth,” Burger said. “Not surprisingly, that has been my favorite class at CC.”
Following his graduation in May, Burger has lined up a marketing internship with a travel and vacation company called Inspirato.
“It's only for a couple of months,” he said. “But I am glad I have something.”
No doubt he will conquer that challenge as well.
To read about past SCAC Character & Community winners from the 2014-15 academic year, click here