A Remarkable Athlete, an Exceptional Student, an Irreplaceable Person
Rylee Cookerly ’21, ’24 DNP came to Valparaiso University to pursue two passions: nursing and volleyball. While the prospect of taking on a demanding major while competing in D1 athletics may seem daunting, Valpo’s dedication to its students, the support provided by its faculty, and Rylee’s own determination to succeed have turned those two lives, plus community service and personal growth, into an unforgettable college experience.
Rylee had committed to play volleyball for Valpo before she decided on her major, but after taking an interest in anatomy during high school and a positive experience visiting the campus, her path toward a bachelor of science in nursing was set.
“It’s a great nursing program,” Rylee says. “They have a high graduation and test passing rate. When I came on my visit the dean took the time to talk to me personally, which made me feel really special.”
The sense of care and support from her coaches and professors played a big part in helping Rylee stay on track and enthusiastic about what she was doing, even as schedules became hectic.
“The professors worked really well with my schedule,” Rylee says. “I’ve had to miss a lot of nursing things for volleyball, and a lot of volleyball for nursing things, and they’re always willing to work with me. There’s so many of my professors who come to my games. It makes it really easy to work hard for the people who support you.”
Rylee has conducted research with Christina Cavinder, DNP, RN, CPNP-PC, the assistant dean of graduate nursing and an associate professor of nursing, seeking to help lessen the negative impacts of prolonged medical treatment undergone by babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
“These babies go through a lot of pain, and the research shows it leads to long-term repercussions,” Rylee says. Their project, which is in its second phase, looks to use artificial calming lighting cycles designed to beneficially alter the circadian rhythms of the babies during their stay at the NICU. Professor Cavinder considers Rylee to be an indispensable part of those efforts.
“She has been instrumental in grant writing, nurse education, conference presentations, and data collection,” Professor Cavinder says. “She is an excellent student along with caring about the community around her. Her leadership skills are exemplary, and the research team members look to her for guidance. She is a valued asset to the whole research team.”
The intensity of Rylee’s academic performance has done nothing to dampen her performance on the court. The team has had 88 victories during her career, and in 2018 it became the first team at the University to earn postseason tournament victories.
Individually, Rylee has earned a multitude of awards for her athletic performance, including being named two-time Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Libero of the Year and a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Midwest Region team for the spring 2021 season. She also holds the Valpo record for single-match digs.
Her success as both an athlete and a student has made her a three-time Academic All-District honoree as well as being named a Second Team Academic All-American and the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for volleyball in the spring 2021 season. She is also a three-time Academic All-District honoree.
Rylee credits Coach Carin Avery as an immensely positive influence, not just in building her athletic skills but also in helping her develop as a well-rounded person on and off campus.
“My coach is awesome,” Rylee says. “Her number one thing is family first. It’s hard in the midst of classes and athletics to remember to keep building relationships with people. She’s helped me to realize that I’m not just here to become a good volleyball player, but a good person as well. The volleyball part of Valpo has helped me become a better leader. I’m not an extrovert, but I was given a lot of trust very early on. I gained confidence in myself.”
While academics and athletics pushed Rylee to be the best she could be in her education and volleyball career, the opportunities for international experience offered at Valparaiso University exposed her to culture and career experiences she would not have considered otherwise.
“I went to Ireland my junior year,” Rylee says. “It was an awesome experience. We went to a hospice center; it’s one of their specialties there. People may think of hospice with a negative connotation, but they have an amazing space for families and people. That’s a field people may not often think about, but it’s really important.”
Even with classes, volleyball, and travel, Rylee has found time to help her community. She is a volunteer at St. Teresa of Avila’s Café Manna, a community outreach program serving hot meals to the Valparaiso area, and at the Hilltop Neighborhood House, a local organization that provides childcare, education assistance, and food to local families. Rylee’s efforts have recently led her to become Valpo Athletics’ fall 2021 recipient of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Good Neighbor Award for her work in the classroom and in the community.
Academics, sports, community service may make for a packed schedule, but Rylee says that keeping busy and support from professors have been what made her the successful student-athlete she is.
“The professors are just awesome,” Rylee says. “They’re really personal with their students. The more I progressed in the program, the more I loved what I was doing. People will ask how I manage being a D1 athlete as well as academics, but honestly, it feels like it helps me stay on track. I feel like volleyball is an escape from school stress. I think everyone should have that one thing that’s an escape from the stress of college”
The support and hard work paid off as Rylee graduated with her bachelor’s degree in nursing with a 3.96 GPA in May 2021. A few months later, she smashed Valpo and MVC records by becoming the second volleyball player in NCAA history to break 3,000 career digs.
After receiving her bachelor’s, Rylee stayed on at Valparaiso University to obtain her doctor of nursing practice. She expects to complete the program in May 2024.
Everywhere I go people care about me. As an athlete I’m given so many resources to succeed,” Rylee says. “It’s a good community, family feeling.”