The "Macalester Scotlight" is a special feature series that runs throughout each sports season and highlights individuals within the Macalester College Athletics Department who have a unique story to share.

For Macalester College senior women's basketball player Holly Schiedermayer (Waupaca, Wis.), the 2011-12 season has been a breakout year. According to head coach Ellen Thompson, Schiedermayer has “worked hard to become one of the top posts in the league.” And this year, she definitely has put up the numbers to back up that statement.

Heading into Wednesday's contest versus Concordia, Schiedermayer is ninth in scoring in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play, averaging 12.5 points per game, and second in rebounding with 7.8 per game. On Monday, January 16, Schiedermayer also posted a career best 26 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Saint Benedict.

Not only has Schiedermayer been a leader during games, but she has developed during her four years at Macalester into an individual who inspires her teammates to improve both during practice and games.

“(Schiedermayer) has been a strong mentor for our younger players,” said Thompson. “I know that I can count on her to lead by example both on and off the court. She's always looking for ideas on how to motivate our team to be better. I've been extremely pleased with her leadership of our team this season.”

Schiedermayer's ability to lead her teammates both on and off the court is something she has recognized in herself and humbly takes pride in.

“I think that I am best at leading by example,” Schiedermayer said. “I always give as much as I can at practice. I am also there to help people in an encouraging manner. I think I'm good at helping my teammates off the court as well with school advice. I think everyone knows that I'm here for them.”

Schiedermayer's confidence and ability to lead is something that wasn't necessarily as prominent when she arrived at Macalester as a freshman. She said as a student-athlete she has learned to master time management skills, developed a strong work ethic and learned to communicate better and work well in groups.

“It's been a growing process for me and it's only this year that I am really figuring it all out,” Schiedermayer said.

Anyone who looks at Schiedermayer's accomplishments off the court can see that she has more than figured out how to be a successful and inspirational Division III student-athlete. In addition to her contributions on the women's basketball team, Schiedermayer also earned MIAC All-Conference honors in the high jump last spring as a member of the women's track and field team.

Outside of the realm of athletics Schiedermayer has been more than impressive. She has managed to find ways to integrate her studies as a Biology major and Spanish minor into her experiences away from the classroom. Schiedermayer has spent a significant number of hours volunteering at local children's hospitals and a Spanish Immersion elementary school.

“I love working with children and being able to inspire them at a young age and help improve their lives,” Schiedermayer said. “At the Spanish Immersion school, I love being able to help the students improve their speaking, reading and writing skills, which I know will help them in their futures.

“At the children's hospital, I would comfort the kids and it was great to see them smile, even when they are in the dire situation of being in a hospital as child.”

Schiedermayer believes there is more to being a student-athlete than just excelling in a sport and has taken it upon herself to break out of the mold of the stereotypical athlete. 

“It is important to be a well-rounded individual and to work toward improving the local community,” Schiedermayer said. “With being a student-athlete, people tend to just stick in that bubble where they just study hard and play a sport without reaching out to other people to make their presence known in other aspects of the community."

As the perfect example of a well-balanced Division III student-athlete, Schiedermayer has taken advantage of every opportunity available to her while at Macalester. Like many Macalester student-athletes, one of those opportunities has been studying abroad.

This past summer Schiedermayer combined her passion for the medical field and the Spanish language by spending seven weeks in Santiago, Chile, as part of a health and medical internship. While in Chile, she took classes in Spanish and spent a majority of her time observing in different clinics and hospitals in both urban and rural settings, including a hospital for children with AIDS.

“The experience was enlightening for me because the Chilean healthcare system is very different from the American system,” Schiedermayer said. “The Chilean system is divided into public and private sectors with varying levels of care. People who can't afford to pay for healthcare are able to get subsidized or free healthcare.

“I don't know what the ideal healthcare system would be, but I think it's awesome that everyone there gets healthcare. However, there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor and the type of care they receive.”

According to Schiedermayer, in Chile, those who have more money are able to afford private healthcare which often has more advanced technology and facilities than what is available in the public healthcare sector.

For Schiedermayer, the most rewarding part of her study abroad experience was being able to interact with patients and doctors as a part of her program and being able to build lasting relationships with people, despite a language barrier.

“I thought it was interesting to learn that people are the same no matter where you are,” Schiedermayer said. “Even though I couldn't completely understand what people were saying, I could still get the message. Basic human emotions and communication are the same everywhere.

“I was able to foster relationships that I will maintain forever with friends and my host family, as well as people here who were also in my program.”

Upon her return from her trip, Schiedermayer realized the value of networking and making connections with individuals all over the world to help her on her path to a career in the medical field. Following her anticipated graduation this May, Schiedermayer plans to take a year gaining experience in the medical world and studying for the MCAT exam before applying to medical school.

This year, Schiedermayer is also a member of the newly-formed Macalester student group for individuals entering the health profession. Schiedermayer provides mentor underclassmen who want to pursue a medical career help with class selection and advice for gaining experience for medical school.

While at Macalester, Schiedermayer has mastered the skills necessary to be successful in life after graduation and continues to amaze those who know her best with her ability to reach every goal she sets for herself.

“I've always been impressed with her determination to reach her goals,” said Thompson. “In the past four years, she has become more confident in her abilities both on and off the court. She's an awesome young lady and I know that she will reach her goals in life.”