Jennifer O'Brien '18 Recruiting Profile

I am searching for a college with strong academics, which will allow me to excel in both the classroom and on the field.

I have competed in four different sports at the Varsity level (field hockey, swim, track, lacrosse) for the Institute of Notre Dame (Baltimore, MD) during my first three years in high school.  During my sophomore year, I received awards for being the field hockey MVP and the track Coaches' Award for commitment and hard work.  In my junior year, I was co-captain of the field hockey team, awarded two Character Coins, and named to the All-Conference 1st team.  Character Coins are awards given to opponents to recognize sportsmanship.  It was an honor to be recognized by my coach, the league and my opponents this season.

As a year round player, I have the chance to develop my skills and receive exposure to very high level play with my club team, Freedom HKY, at the regional and national level.

I am a versatile player, mainly playing midfield and forward.  Playing multiple positions allows me to develop a greater understanding of the game and increase my field sense.  One advantage I have over my opponents is my height, which gives me a longer reach for defensive tackles, receiving on the move, and wider dodges.  Also, I have been told that I am very coachable and I do not give up after I make a mistake.

My involvement with Project Lead the Way Engineering has given me a head start in exploring the world of engineering, and allows my competitive attitude to grow beyond the field.  I have competed in engineering competitions at the local and national level as a freshman and sophomore, including receiving first place at the Bright Minds Reverse Engineering Competition and second place at the Johns Hopkins Robotics Challenge.  I also take numerous AP level classes and have a 4.0 GPA.

My combination of strong field hockey skills and excellent academics make me a good candidate for any program.