Senior Marissa Hollenbaugh, of Greenbrier, will graduate May 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences.
She currently directs a volleyball league and gives private volleyball lessons.
Hollenbaugh said her dad, Chad Hollenbaugh, formed and directed Greenbrier Volley, a Junior Olympic Club.
“He wanted us to be able to improve as much as possible at a competitive level, as well as give us an opportunity to fall in love with the game more and more,” Hollenbaugh said.
She said she continued to play for the team and eventually started coaching. And when Hollenbaugh was done with high school volleyball, rather than ending the program, her dad chose to keep it going.
“This program was doing so many great things for our community, and my dad wanted to ensure that these great things were carried out,” Hollenbaugh said.
When Hollenbaugh’s father unexpectedly died, she took over as director of Greenbrier Volley.
“We decided to change the name to HollenBall Juniors in honor of him,” Hollenbaugh said. “We hope to carry out the dreams of my dad and provide the best for every one of our players. This year we will be starting our seventh season, and we couldn’t do it without the love and support of the community.”
Hollenbaugh has big plans after graduation She recently got accepted into UCA’s Doctoral Occupational Therapy program, and will start in the fall.
“I have a huge heart for people, especially kids,” Hollenbaugh said. “I wanted to have a rewarding job where I was able to come home each day knowing I made a difference. I wanted to help people modify and do what they love again.”
She said she thinks that having an undergraduate degree in Family and Consumer Sciences will be beneficial when having to help adults with home skills such as cooking and sewing.
“I chose Family and Consumer Science as my undergraduate degree because I was actively involved in Family and Consumer Science and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America in junior high and high school,”
Hollenbaugh said. “I competed in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America star events and went to nationals several times as well as led as the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America president. Family and Consumer Science has had a huge impact on my life and I wanted to give back.”
Hollenbaugh said her favorite part about UCA has been the leadership opportunities the university provides and being able to get involved on campus. She is an active member of the President’s Leadership Fellows, Students of Pre-Occupational Therapy, Teachers of America, National Science Teachers Association, and she has worked in the UCA Provost’s Office for almost four years.
In addition to being active on campus, Hollenbaugh leads a busy life outside of school.
She said she is active in her church and loves to spend time with her friends and family. Her favorite activities include babysitting, shopping and directing HollenBall.
Hollenbaugh spoke fondly of her time as an undergraduate student at UCA and looks forward to furthering her education.
