College of Education

A scholar/athlete


Daven Harmeling, ’09, masters role of scholar-athlete

Daven Harmeling plans a teaching and coaching career

It's no slam-dunk to be both an athlete and a scholar. Daven Harmeling has excelled at both. His stats include ranking 10th on WSU basketball's all-time list in 3-point field goal percentage, and carrying a 3.54 grade point average.

The Cougar basketball player will be among students highlighted at Washington State University's May 9 commencement ceremonies in Pullman. He will pick up two bachelor's degrees from the College of Education: one in kinesiology, the other in health and fitness education.

It was hard not to let the emotional intensity of basketball interfere with his focus in the classroom, Harmeling admits. And there weren't enough hours in his weeks. During the PAC-10 season, his team was on the road from Wednesday morning through Sunday night.

So how did he do it?

"It's most important to know how to manage your time and to communicate with your teachers," Harmeling says.

After completing his student teaching next fall in Vancouver, he will be certified to teach and coach at the high school level and, possibly, at a college some day.

Harmeling has modeled the scholar-athlete role for his future students and players. He has been a PAC-10 All-Academic Honoree for three years. He is a two-time ESPN The Magazine, District VIII All-Academic honoree. He contributed to three winning Cougar seasons, including two NCAA tournament appearances.

To handle the rigors of varsity athletics while excelling in a teacher education program is impressive, says Professor Tariq Akmal of the Department of Teaching & Learning. He describes Harmeling as "a pleasure to have as a student."

"He always contributed to the class, raised important questions, was a role-model for his peers, and was always upbeat, improving the mood of those who sat around him," Akmal wrote in his recommendation for Harmeling. "As a future teacher, he has tremendous potential for working with his young charges."

Harmeling graduated from Fruita (Colorado) Monument High School, in 2004. His parents are Mary and Jeffrey Harmeling of Grand Junction. He credits his achievements both on and off the field to his family, and describes his faith as a driving force in his life.

--By Julie Titone, director of communications,  jtitone@wsu.edu.

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