Anna Gurolnick, Colorado College, Volleyball

ANNA GUROLNICK OF COLORADO COLLEGE, a senior defensive specialist on the volleyball team from Chicago, Ill., has been selected the SCAC Character & Community Female Student-Athlete of the Week for the week beginning December 2.

The SCAC Character & Community award honors the efforts of student-athletes who excel in the field of athletics, and also serve their campus and community.



Education always has been an essential part of Gurolnick’s persona, and her superior record of academic success opened doors to two of the most selective schools in the country.

Growing up on the north side of Chicago, Gurolnick attended Lane Technical College Preparatory High School where she was an AP Scholar, an AP Capstone participant and graduated summa cum laude.

Gurolnick’s superior academic performance at one of the most challenging public magnet schools in the Windy City caught the attention of the Colorado College admission office as a student who would thrive in the college’s rigorous block plan. At the same time, her skills on the court made her a candidate to contribute to CC’s nationally-ranked volleyball program.

Since she arrived in Colorado Springs in the fall of 2016, Gurolnick was an integral part of what was arguably the most successful class in the 41-season history of the Colorado College volleyball.

During Gurolnick’s four years as the team’s starting libero, the Tigers posted a combined 125-16 record, earned four consecutive NCAA tournament berths, and won two undisputed conference championships.

Gurolnick finished her career ranked third in program history with 1,885 digs. She also owns four of the program’s top 22 single-season totals, including 527 during her freshman season which ranks tenth on the list.

She was successful on 1,681 of 1,748 serve receives, good for a .962 percentage, and her pin-point passing helped the Tigers post a combined .249 hitting percentage during her career and rank among the Division III’s top seven during each of the last three seasons.

In addition to the expectations that are inherent with being a part of one of the most successful athletics programs in the nation, Gurolnick devoted a significant amount of time to community service and campus activities.

As a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Gurolnick began her service as a representative for the volleyball team as a sophomore, then joined the Campus Events Committee and became a two-term president during her junior year.

Working in conjunction with the athletics department leadership, Gurolnick helped direct and promote a number of SAAC’s signature events, the Ice Cream Social, the annual Show of Talents, Parents Night Out and the Quony Cup. 

She also works as a marketing assistant for the athletics department as well as a monitor at the Adam F. Press Fitness Center.

On campus, Gurolnick was selected to be a student representative on the Colorado College President’s Council, serving in an advisory role to the president as well as an ambassador for the college. In that position, she meets with the president and other college and community leaders at least once a month.

Gurolnick also is part of two organizations that provide extra help for students who need additional educational support.

She is the treasurer for the CC chapter of Best Buddies, which builds relationships with students who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and hosts events for the participants both on and off campus.

Gurolnick also volunteers with Colorado College’s Early Scholars Tutoring, reviewing homework, playing games and tutoring elementary school students in the morning before school.

All of those experiences could pay dividends in the future for Gurolnick, who plans to turn a degree in economics and a minor in education into a career in public education administration.

Gurolnick, who owns a 3.63 grade-point average, has made the most of her opportunities at CC, especially by the important skill of balancing her athletic and academic responsibilities with her commitment to community service.

Last spring, Gurolnick travelled abroad during Blocks 5 and 6 to study French at the Institut de Touraine in Tours.

After returning from France, she spent the summer serving as an advocacy fellow at the Colorado League of Charter Schools, where she worked on initiatives regarding the 2019 legislative session, researched and compiled information for new initiatives, and created reports and documents summarizing their findings.

That fellowship confirmed what Gurolnick already understood, that many students, especially those who attend public schools in large cities, have a difficult time gaining acceptance to prestigious liberal arts institutions such as Colorado College.

For her senior thesis, Gurolnick chose a topic that merges her interest in economics and education. She currently is analyzing how categorical expenditures over time effect student success in both high and low-income districts, including how funding affects graduation rates and standardized test scores.

Gurolnick is proud to have left an indelible mark on the culture of Colorado College volleyball and believes she can make the same kind of impact on public education policy in the United States.