Colorado State University Athletics
Barnes Shines on and off the Court
11/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 6, 2007
By Sarah Millett
University Public Relations
Making Mountain West Conference (MWC) history, volleyball star Mekana Barnes not only makes a name for herself on the court, but maintains outstanding academic involvement.
Barnes is modest despite winning the MWC Player of the Week three times and National Player of the Week - all within one month this year.
Currently in the MWC Top 10, Barnes is ranked in four statistical categories. She is first in blocking with an average of 1.87 per game, second in hitting percentage at .480, third in points at 191, and eighth in kills with an average of 3.82.
On the national level, Barnes is ranked second for blocks and 13th in hitting percentage.
Majoring in psychology, Barnes aims to achieve a career in cognitive psychology and brain sciences.
"I always thought I would like to do clinical or counseling psych," says Barnes, "but my interests have changed."
One of her favorite classes is her research-assistance class where she works with a graduate student in the cognitive psychology department. There she gets the opportunity to help run experiments and compile data.
Barnes is especially interested in furthering her degree and attending graduate school, potentially at CSU.
From superstar athlete to presidential intern
Barnes approaches her successes humbly, without the sense of boldness she shows on the court - even with top CSU educators like Joyce Berry, former dean of the Warner College of Natural Resources and current vice president for advancement and strategic initiatives, on her side.
Barnes once worked for Berry, who walks into her office everyday to a life-size cut-out of Barnes in her volleyball uniform looking nothing less than intimidating.
With the hectic daily schedule as a student-athlete, Barnes continues to lead with a positive, hard-working attitude.
"Working with Joyce was a lot of fun and I had the chance to meet with the people behind the scenes that help with the success of the university," says Barnes.
After meeting several influential people throughout the university, Barnes was offered the opportunity to become a presidential intern in the office of the president at CSU.
For her project, last spring she chose to work in the department of university relations and was named director of the Hometown Release Program. She was in charge of maintaining media relations on behalf of current CSU scholarship recipients, upcoming graduates and students on the Dean's list for hometown media outlets. Barnes worked for this program through the end of June 2007.
"Mekana is an exemplary student-athlete," says Berry. "She is both a leader and a team-player - whether on the court, in the classroom or working in an office."