STUDENT-ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT: Lauren Agostino, gymnastics

For UAA gymnast Lauren Agostino, coming to mountainous Alaska from the sandy beaches of her hometown of Virginia Beach was a bit of a shock. But she's found her stride and is succeeding not only as a gymnast, but also a dedicated student.

Out of high school, Lauren was offered a full-ride athletic scholarship to compete in gymnastics at UAA. "I decided to take a chance by coming to Alaska - it was something very different for me," she said. When she came to visit the school for the first time, she clicked with the coaches and other gymnasts and knew this was the school for her. "It was a good match."

"I considered going to Ohio State, but it was too big," said Lauren. She likes UAA's campus and the fact that she's been able to develop close friendships with many other students in her major. She's working toward a B.S. in physical education.

A lifelong gymnast, Lauren doesn't plan to stop practicing her sport anytime soon. She is a young woman with a plan. Her ultimate goal is to become a college gymnastics coach, but before that she plans to travel through Europe and become a part of the Cirque du Soleil troupe. Next on her agenda will be returning to college for a master's degree in sports psychology, where she'd like to work as a graduate assistant to a gymnastics coach.

Maintaining the balance of being a successful student and athlete simultaneously can be daunting for many, but it's not an issue for Lauren. "It's not difficult for me because I've done this my whole life," she said. "I've always gone to school and been an athlete. You get into a routine."

The UAA gymnastics team claimed its first-ever Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) championship in Colorado Springs, Colorado in March 2009. "We came together as a team; we worked hard and it paid off," said Lauren. The Seawolves posted a team score of 192.825, the third-highest mark in program history. Lauren earned honors on each of her events - vault, floor and beam - and set the school record for season individual vault at 9.780.

She also earned spots on the MPSF All-Academic Team in 2007 with a GPA of 3.27 and in 2009 with a GPA of 3.37, the Seawolves' second-highest overall GPA.

Lauren enjoys her health courses and thinks it's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. "Every class that I'm taking relates to my goal of becoming a gymnastics coach," she said. She's also involved in the PE Majors Club, which gathers on occasion to try new outdoor activities or sports. When she's not twirling or balancing on beams, she likes spending time with her friends.