With the spring sports season canceled at its very beginning (or before it even started, for some Union teams) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UnionAthletics.com has spent the last few months spotlighting many of the Union seniors whose athletic careers came to a premature end. Previous senior profiles can be viewed by heading to http://www.unionathletics.com/seniorspotlights.
Megan Lepore was been a consistent member of the Union women's crew team since first stepping into a boat during her freshman year. In her first season, she earned Union's Freshman Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and helped the Novice 4 boat to its first-ever win at the Liberty League Championships. She moved up into the varsity 8 boat as a sophomore, and was playing a key role in both the varsity 4 and varsity 8 boats during the fall of her senior season.
The psychology major also was a three-time selection to the Liberty League All-Academic Team as well.
What has been your favorite moment as a student-athlete at Union?
I will never forget my first race at the Head of the Schuylkill. Having just walked onto the team as a freshman, this was easily the worst race of my college career. It felt like a marathon, but the thrill of passing even just one boat motivated me for the rest of my college career.
How has being a student-athlete at Union benefited you over the last four years?
Being a student-athlete reminded me to stay curious. Learning a new sport in college was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but I realized I can always learn and do more. In many ways it encouraged me to fully take advantage of my liberal arts education, like taking courses that challenged me outside of my discipline and joining new organizations to meet unique people.
What has been your most meaningful experience outside of athletics?
Co-founding the UMarketing Club because it has allowed me to connect with other students, alumni, and Union in a meaningful way. Being able to envision and execute events and campaigns has helped me to learn more about myself and what I hope to do after graduation.
Who was/is your favorite professor at Union and why?
Ken DeBono [Gilbert R. Livingston Professor of Behavioral Sciences] because he genuinely cares about his students. One of my favorite courses at Union was his Psychology of Religion seminar because he helps to facilitate respectful but controversial discussions. As my thesis advisor, he gave me the freedom and confidence to dive into research on an interest area of my own, even though it was outside of his research.
What advice (if any) would you give to younger athletes about their time at Union?
Reflect on your experiences as an athlete while you're still an athlete. To me, that means viewing everyday as a learning opportunity, making changes, and pushing yourself harder when you think you can't. It's nice to reflect back on your experiences after the fact, but being mindful of what you're doing can help you appreciate it more and not look back with "what-ifs."
