RACHEL DEMERJIAN OF CENTENARY COLLEGE, a junior setter on the women's volleyball team from Glendora, Calif., has been selected the SCAC Character & Community Female Student-Athlete of the Week for the week beginning May 3.
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.
Rachel Demerjian finds time for everything. Whether it be making herself better or helping others do the same, she makes a point to do so on a daily basis.
Demerjian, a native of Glendora, Calif., is currently serving as co-vice-president of the 2020-21 Centenary Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, is active in the Shreveport-Bossier community, and is a stellar student in the classroom. She has twice been Named to the SCAC Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll in her career.
“Honestly, my favorite thing about community service is helping people and bringing a smile to someone’s face,” said Demerjian. The joy I get from making someone’s day a little brighter than it was is enough satisfaction for me to keep helping.
“Some of my favorite things that I have been involved in include being a peer mentor and helping these freshmen learn the ropes of college and how to balance school, studies, and a social life. I also love being in a sorority (ZTA) because we find ways to raise money for our philanthropy, which is breast cancer awareness and education, and that money is used to help those battling breast cancer.
“I also have loved just serving the Shreveport community, I have gone and done service at a nursing home, the children’s center, and a few elementary schools and just getting to meet new people and help them in any way I can has been amazing.”
Demerjian just happens to be one of the Ladies’ top players on the court as well. As a sophomore, she led the team with 1,087 assists which is the most in a single season in the division III era (2011-present) and set the school record for assists in a match in the division III era with 66 on Oct. 19, 2019 versus Schreiner, and she now holds the top four records in the assists category in the D3 era.
“Rachel is dedicated to becoming the best version of herself by giving her time and talented to others,” said Centenary head volleyball coach Ashley McDonough.
“Whether she is overseeing our freshmen study halls, getting extra reps with younger athletes, or raising money for a charitable organization with ZETA, Rachel is always finding ways to give back. She models the division III philosophy in everything she does.”
“To be chosen for the SCAC character and community award is such an honor because I do things to keep myself busy and help people but I never thought that just doing my everyday thing would be recognized, let alone feature me as an example of Centenary and our conference. I am so grateful for this opportunity to keep being a positive change in our communities.”
