HADDONFIELD, N.J. - The Atlantic East Conference is pleased to continue the Alumni Spotlight Series, where it celebrates the remarkable achievements and inspiring journeys of former student-athletes who once proudly represented our member institutions. These individuals showcase exceptional dedication and bringing honor to both their alma maters and the conference.
Through hard work, resilience, and the values they cultivated during their time as student-athletes, our featured alumni continue to exemplify the core principles of the Atlantic East. Join us as we highlight their stories, share their accomplishments, and explore how their experiences as student-athletes helped shape their careers and communities.
Name: Kristin Varilla
Current Organization: Jefferson Einstein Montgomery
Current Role: Registered Nurse
Graduation Year: 2024
Sport: Women's Lacrosse
Describe your current job and how being in sports as helped you in this current field.
I am a registered nurse on a med surg/telemetry floor. Being a student athlete helped me learn how to manage my time effectively which I use everyday at work. I also have to use my voice and be a leader when taking care of patients. Being a student athlete helped me learn how to find my voice and lead effectively. Since I was a captain my junior and senior years I had to speak up and communicate with coaches, teammates and referees. I use communication skills I learned while playing at Gwynedd to lead my team into work and be able to converse with patients and doctors.
Best memory at Gwynedd?
My best memory at Gwynedd was scoring my 200th career point on my senior night and making lasting friendships.
What did being a student athlete mean to you?
Being a student athlete meant everything to me. I took to heart the values of hard work learned through both. I had to work, study on the bus to and from games, while also dedicating time to extra reps and workouts for lacrosse. The lessons I learned being a student athlete will stick with me for the rest of my life. When I look back on my time at Gwynedd I am extremely proud of myself for all I was able to accomplish on and off the field.
What similarities have you found between your current role and your current/things learned at Gwynedd?
With being a nurse I am constantly using what I was taught at Gwynedd. I learned how to effectively and thoroughly assess patients and how to recognize a change in patient status that needs to be addressed. I also learned tools on being a nurse leader at Gwynedd and I have taken on a preceptor role in my job. That has allowed me to put many of the leadership lessons I learned to use.
How have you handled stress in the past and how do you handle it now?
In the past I handled stress by going out and playing lacrosse, and pre practice and game hangouts in the locker room with my best friends. Now I handle stress by going for a run or walk, reading a book or by talking to my friends and family on the phone.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
In the future I see myself working in a surgical center and hopefully coaching lacrosse and or field hockey.
What do you look back on most for your time at Gwynedd?
I look back most on the lasting friendships and bonds I have made. Going into Gwyned and playing lacrosse after transferring from York College where I played field hockey left me unsure of how I would fit with the team and school. The moment I stepped on campus I realized that was not an issue because I met the best people and teammates who welcomed me with open arms. I always will look back on my very first practice with theteam because that's when I knew I found my home and made the right decision to transfer.
What advice would you give to current student athletes? Both professionally in terms of career but also in terms of life?
The advice I would give to current student athletes is to speak up and not be afraid to use your voice. The more you do it in your sport the easier it will come when you need to do it professionally. I would also say enjoy these years and don’t take them for granted. You only get these years to play with your best friends, enjoy every minute of it because one day you will miss everything, even the run tests. I would also recommend finding an adult league, I still play with former teammates in an adult league and it is truly amazing.
What do you find yourself doing with any sort of downtime that may have previously been dedicated to sports?
In my downtime that would have been dedicated to sports I have found myself going for walks with my dog and fiancé, reading, cooking, and currently planning a wedding.
ABOUT ATLANTIC EAST
The Atlantic East Conference is a member of NCAA Division III comprising eight institutions in a four-state area - Gwynedd Mercy, Immaculata, Marywood and Neumann Universities in Pennsylvania; Centenary and Saint Elizabeth Universities in New Jersey, Marymount University in Virginia, and Pratt Institute in New York.
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