Eagle Extra: Shalen Perehinec, Women's Track and Field

By: Rose Lucidi  
Sports Information Intern
lucidrx10@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – One of the many perks of being a NCAA Division III student-athlete is that you are able to do more then just go to class and practice. Sophomore Shalen Perehinec (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona) is not only a force within the track and field team, but she has earned Dean's list honors for three consecutive semesters, while being an active member within eight different extracurricular activities on campus.

She splits her time being a resident assistant, sophomore class student government secretary, writer for Herr Campus, College Writing Seminar (CWS) lab leader, advanced biology tutor, a member of Caring for Kids with Cancer, and as part of the National society of Leadership and Success. She has also recently started a club, Amigos de Guanin.

She started the club after visiting the Dominican Republic during the cultural learning tour this winter. The cultural learning tour is an annual trip that allows students to engage in community service activities while being in a new culture. During her adventure in the Dominican, Perehinec was based mainly in el Centro Guanin, a foundation started to provide an after-school program for children. She cemented floors, painted, built a swing-set and played with children at the center. As a result of the amazing experience, she formed an emotional connection with the people of the Dominican, which resulted in the birth of a new club.

"I hope that I can get more people interested in helping this community so that we can hold fundraising events and ask for donations that would benefit the health and welfare of the people living in La Piedra," stated Perehinec.

Along with starting her own club, Alex's Lemonade Stand was one of the biggest events Perehinec took on this year. Alex's lemonade stand was an event run through the sophomore class student government. The organization was started in the front yard of childhood cancer patient, Alex Scott. Alex held her first lemonade fundraiser in 2000 at the age of four to help raise money to find a cure for childhood cancer. Since then the foundation that is named after her has begun a national fundraising movement to keep Alex's idea alive. Juniata helped with this cause by holding an inaugural concert in Baker Refectory.  Students performed acts from lyrical dances to sign-language interpretation of songs to instrumental compositions.

"This was a great event," said Perehinec. "We ended up raising a total of 850 dollars, and it was just really cool to see Juniata come together for such a good cause."

Being involved with so many different activities on campus has resulted in little free time for Perehinec. But she does find the time to hang out watching Revenge and painting nails with her roommate. She also, when she finds the time, likes to go home and visit with her family and friends.

"Family is really important to me," said Perehinec. "Living in Altoona, which is only 45 minutes from here, it allows me to go home when I get the chance," said Perehinec.

With the influence of her father, who used to run track, and her consistent ability to run since the seventh grade, Perehinec's hard work has paid off. She scored a combined 18 points for the team during both indoor and outdoor Landmark Conference Championship meets during the 2012-13 seasons.  She currently participates on the track and field team as a sprinter/jumper. Her events include the 60 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter run.  

Perehinec has developed excellent time management skills within her first year at Juniata. She plans to graduate with a degree in health communication psychology with a secondary emphasis in Spanish. She has hopes of working within rehab centers or hospital administration.

"I am not really sure what I want to do yet," said Perehinec. "But I am only a sophomore so I have time to figure it out."

To help combat the struggles of being a student- athlete, she has learned to use track to relieve the stress from that day or week. Knowing that after all the meetings, classes, and homework, that the track is waiting for her is one of the many reason that she loves being a Division III student-athlete.

Rapid Fire:

Favorite band/artist?
Country Music

Favorite shoes?
Brooks

Favorite item in your dorm room?
The pictures I have on my walls, from all my family vacations.

One thing you couldn't go a day without?
Phone

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?
The Grandfather I never got to meet.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Back to the Dominican Republic.

If you could be any animal (car, vegetable, etc.), what would you be and why?
Cats, because I love them.

If you could be an Olympic athlete (in anything other than your sport) what would it be?
Volleyball.

Favorite class at JC?
Professional News and Feature Writing

Favorite place in Huntingdon?
Standing Stone

Favorite Juniata Tradition?
Mountain day

Favorite athletic experience at JC?
Being able to watch my previous teammate Angie Shaffer run. She was such an amazing athlete.

If you could trade places with one JC athlete, who would it be and why
Katrina Woods. She is just awesome.


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