Kaylee Rookey knew that she wanted to stay close to her hometown of Colorado Springs for college, but little did she know that a new home would be waiting for her in Fort Collins. Rookey flourished at Colorado State University, getting involved quickly and growing to be a big part of the Health and Exercise Science community. In her sophomore year, she joined the Dean’s Leadership Council for the College of Health and Human Sciences, which oversees the HES department and several others, and slowly worked her way up through the organization until she was voted the Vice President, and eventually President. Despite the impacts of COVID-19 and the changes to her ideal-college experience that it would bring, Rookey persevered, focusing on her studies, her work, and her friends. Her perseverance leant her a valuable skill – how to ask for help and rely on others when you need it.

The Department of Health and Exercise Science is happy to recognize Kaylee Rookey as one of our Outstanding Graduates for Spring 2023. We asked her about her journey towards graduation, and the challenges and triumphs she faced along the way.

Where are you from and what brought you to CSU?

I am from Colorado Springs, Colorado. When searching for a college, I knew I wanted to stay in state for school and go to a university that had a variety of health-related majors. The beautiful town and amazing food options were the deciding factor on going to CSU when I was able to visit the campus in-person.

What obstacles have you overcome to get to graduation? How have you persevered through unforeseen circumstances?

Obviously, the COVID-19 pandemic was an adjustment to say the least. There was a period of time where one of my coworkers phrased it well: “We have to grieve the college experience we thought we were going to have.” This articulated the feeling perfectly, but despite the hardship that change can bring, change also brought a lot of growth and challenged me as a student through the online courses, relying on the friends I could see, and developing the skill of how to ask for help. I also had to overcome the loss of my grandfather during one of the hardest semesters of my college career in 2022. Not only was the course work difficult, but I was also balancing working a part time job with the mix of confusing emotions grief can bring on. But again, this was a time that pressured me to grow and rely on those around me and I wouldn’t change any of it.

How have your academic experiences here and your professors, mentors, and advisers helped you overcome these obstacles and/or be successful in your major?

My advisor, Diana Kircher, has been a big influence on my time at CSU. She set me up with a plan for my four years, helped me decide on what classes would be best for me, and regularly checked in on me as a person outside of my identity as a student. Wendy DeYoung and Kimberly Burke were also both integral in providing the practical experience built into the health and exercise science major. They both supported me through these times and continue to want the best for me.

What activities have you been most involved in?

I have been most involved with the College of Health and Human Sciences Dean’s Leadership Council. I joined when I was a sophomore and have grown from a member to Vice President to President of the council for the last three semesters. I have participated in events like Choose CSU, Rams Against Hunger, prospective student visits, and Ram Welcome through this organization. This council has allowed me to practice skills in leadership, communication, and professionalism. Through being on the executive team through the transition back from COVID, I’ve learned the hard work it takes to coordinate an organization and keep it developing for the future.

What are some accomplishments that you are most proud of during your time at CSU?

I am most proud of winning the Outstanding Senior Award for HES and for CHHS. This was voted on by professors, faculty, and staff which made it that much more special for me. I have worked hard to earn my grades, build rapport with my professors, and get involved with the university so it meant a lot that those efforts were seen and recognized. I believe that so many other students were also deserving of this award, so it is that much more of an honor that I received it.

What will you miss most about CSU?

I will miss the atmosphere. I have always felt welcome, supported, and fought for at CSU. I have met so many incredible humans and made many strong connections on this campus that I will never forget. The beautiful trees, open spaces, and joyful people are something that attracted me to CSU in the first place, so I will definitely miss it. I unfortunately don’t have many photos that pertain to my time at CSU, that is one thing I wish I could go back and do is take more photos.

What are your plans after graduating?

I just completed an internship with UCHealth Cardiac Rehabilitation and will search for jobs as an exercise physiologist in the Northern Colorado area. My home base will be Fort Collins, but there are opportunities in Loveland and Longmont that I may pursue. In the meantime, I will continue working as a Shift Lead and Barista at Dutch Bros.

The Department of Health and Exercise Science is a part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.