2008 Woodie Awards
Harris focuses on discipline, determination to succeed
David Cordill
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Senior Communication Studies major and UMKC soccer team starting midfielder, Richard "Richie" Harris, decided against a career in broadcasting after a 2 1/2-year stint at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.
Subsequent to his soccer coach's resignation at Marquette in 2005, a disenchanted Harris returned to the Kansas City area and transferred to UMKC, where he presently focuses on the field of interpersonal communications. A 2003 Shawnee Mission East High School graduate, Harris is glad to be back on familiar turf.
"I'm from here and things weren't going too well [at Marquette]," Harris said. "I really didn't like where broadcasting was taking me ... I became disinterested in it, so I thought it was a good time for me to move back home. I knew UMKC had a good team and I knew a couple of kids on the team."
His switch to an interpersonal communications concentration was based on several appealing factors.
"I think that it's important for every business to have a good communications department to help it function," Harris said. "It's something that came natural to me and it's something I'm interested in."
Planning to land an internship in the spring after he decides on a post-graduate field, the 22-year-old student athlete aspires to emulate his brother Welsh, who owns a software company.
"He's successful ... I see him working day and night so he motivates me to work harder," said Harris, who also lives with his older sibling.
His accomplishments in his studies, Harris said, are rooted in the rigors of his sports-related training and the commitment it requires.
"You have to be disciplined athletically," Harris said, "and that translates to the classroom as far as going to every class, being early and doing things on time - it helps."
Over the past year, Harris has noticed a positive change in the perception of the student athlete at UMKC and thinks this new attitude stems from the efforts of Director of Athletics Tim Hall.
"I feel like there's more exposure now for soccer," Harris said. "I feel like before the new A.D. came here, people I had class with didn't really know what was going on too much with sports. Now, even with the short amount of time that he's been here, people ask me when our next game is, so he must be doing something right."
But even with this increased exposure, Harris notes his on-campus role involves some difficulty as well.
"Just being a student athlete is challenging. Just juggling it all and trying to get to class on time - I go straight from practice to class," he said.
So, after his days at UMKC are over, and he moves on to seek his fortune, where does Harris see himself?
"I would like to live in Colorado," Harris said. "I love it there. My parents have a house there. And I'd love to have a job that lets me spend some time outside."
dcordill@unews.com
Subsequent to his soccer coach's resignation at Marquette in 2005, a disenchanted Harris returned to the Kansas City area and transferred to UMKC, where he presently focuses on the field of interpersonal communications. A 2003 Shawnee Mission East High School graduate, Harris is glad to be back on familiar turf.
"I'm from here and things weren't going too well [at Marquette]," Harris said. "I really didn't like where broadcasting was taking me ... I became disinterested in it, so I thought it was a good time for me to move back home. I knew UMKC had a good team and I knew a couple of kids on the team."
His switch to an interpersonal communications concentration was based on several appealing factors.
"I think that it's important for every business to have a good communications department to help it function," Harris said. "It's something that came natural to me and it's something I'm interested in."
Planning to land an internship in the spring after he decides on a post-graduate field, the 22-year-old student athlete aspires to emulate his brother Welsh, who owns a software company.
"He's successful ... I see him working day and night so he motivates me to work harder," said Harris, who also lives with his older sibling.
His accomplishments in his studies, Harris said, are rooted in the rigors of his sports-related training and the commitment it requires.
"You have to be disciplined athletically," Harris said, "and that translates to the classroom as far as going to every class, being early and doing things on time - it helps."
Over the past year, Harris has noticed a positive change in the perception of the student athlete at UMKC and thinks this new attitude stems from the efforts of Director of Athletics Tim Hall.
"I feel like there's more exposure now for soccer," Harris said. "I feel like before the new A.D. came here, people I had class with didn't really know what was going on too much with sports. Now, even with the short amount of time that he's been here, people ask me when our next game is, so he must be doing something right."
But even with this increased exposure, Harris notes his on-campus role involves some difficulty as well.
"Just being a student athlete is challenging. Just juggling it all and trying to get to class on time - I go straight from practice to class," he said.
So, after his days at UMKC are over, and he moves on to seek his fortune, where does Harris see himself?
"I would like to live in Colorado," Harris said. "I love it there. My parents have a house there. And I'd love to have a job that lets me spend some time outside."
dcordill@unews.com
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