Kathleen Wilson will soon be earning a college degree at the University of Maryland, but unlike many college students she’s not going to have to pay for it.
That’s because Wilson, the daughter of Oakland County Commissioner and former Orion Township Trustee Eric Wilson and his wife Carol; has been awarded a full-ride scholarship to study and play volleyball for the school in College Park, Maryland.
‘I get free schooling, books, food and board,? said Wilson, 19.
Wilson recently graduated from Marian High School, a private girls catholic school in Bloomfield Hills, where she played volleyball all four years.
‘I started playing in seventh grade,? she said. ‘I was being recruited by Georgetown University, and that’s how the University of Maryland found out about me.?
Wilson is a middle blocker, and standing at 6?1,? said she is ‘one of the shortest? on her new college team.
‘Some of the other schools I looked at were Western Michigan, Michigan State, Dayton and the University of Mississippi,? she said. ‘But I liked Maryland the best. They have a good coaching staff.?
Besides volleyball, Wilson has also played on basketball and soccer teams. She said she plays tennis ‘just for fun.?
‘But volleyball was my best sport,? she said. ‘I played for a club team.?
Wilson had a brief break after team camp, but headed back to Maryland on Aug. 10 for the pre-season.
The Terrapins of the University of Maryland were back-to-back Atlantic Coast Conference champions in 2003 and 2004.
‘The other girls are really nice,? she said of the team.
She credits her high school coach, Irick Gardner with some of her success in the sport.
‘He took our team to the final four, we hadn’t done that in 10 years,? she said. ‘He really helped me improve.?
Wilson said her best skills are in blocking and hitting. Asked if there were any professional volleyball players that she looked up to, she said she doesn’t really follow the sport professionally.
‘I figure, I’m doing it every day, I don’t want to watch it,? she said. ‘I will probably just play through college.?
Wilson grew up in Lake Orion, and has three brothers; Shawn, 25; Patrick, 23; and Chris, 21; as well as one sister, Mary Kay, who is married and lives in Rochester.
‘I have a nephew, Tyler, that is Mary Kay’s son,? she said. ‘He’s eight months.?
Wilson said she has gotten some advice from Patrick, who played soccer at Western Michigan University.
‘He told me to take the full class schedule, so I can get done sooner,? she said.
Wilson said her parents were really excited when they found out she had received the volleyball scholarship.
‘They will come watch a lot of the games,’she said.
Wilson plans to study advertising, and said she would like to live in Michigan after she graduates.
‘I’d like to do something with the design side (of advertising),? she said.