Kurowski, volleyball star and grad student

From the volleyball court to the classroom: Julia Kurowski now educates local children as a grad school student-teacher.

Julia Kurowski '22 has won league championships and battled the nation's best in the NCAA volleyball tournament.

But on Sept. 7, the star volleyball setter and team captain took on one of her toughest feats, not on the court, but in the classroom as a student-teacher tasked with instructing children for the first time.

After studying educational studies and psychological science as an undergraduate, Kurowski enrolled in Colgate's Master of Arts in Teaching Graduate Program, which typically takes one year to complete. She's the first graduate student to play for Volleyball Head Coach Ryan Baker in his 17 seasons at Colgate.

Known as the MAT, the program places students in local schools, where they generally observe their cooperating teachers for a few weeks before they're handed the reins.

That was not how it went for Kurowski, however.

When she arrived for her first day at Hamilton Central School, her cooperating teacher, Monica Chamberlain, a sixth-grade teacher, used trial by fire to educate her pupil.

"My teacher said to me, 'You're not going to learn unless I throw you right in,'" said Kurowski, a native of Lancaster, N.Y.

It was a moment Kurowski had been thinking about for weeks. She was a bit nervous, but she's also a fiery competitor on the court, a student-athlete who tackles challenges head-on and never gets out-worked in the gym.

She was ready for the opportunity.

"In my head I had said to myself, 'Bring it on,'" Kurowski said. "I was really excited for the challenge. I have been so appreciative of how open she is to hand her class to me, and how she trusted me. It's the best quality a mentor could have. I'm a strong believer in hands-on learning and she was willing to give that to me. I will never forget all that she has taught me and will hold on to her lessons forever. Watching her teach gives me hope for the future of education."

Julia

After seeing their teacher step aside for someone they didn't recognize, the children were curious about their new instructor. Kurowski introduced herself and delved into the lesson.

It was an educational — and successful — first day for Kurowski. The children quickly warmed up to their new teacher, and saw her with admiration when she revealed she was a Colgate volleyball player.

"They were like, 'You're a superstar, could we come to your games?'" Kurowski said. "Later on they surprised me by showing up at our game against Army and I cried from happiness. They have been amazing with me and are very respectful."

Now more than a month into the program, Kurowski feels settled and in a routine. She spends four days a week at the Hamilton Central School, working full school days throughout the fall semester. On Wednesdays and Fridays, she takes courses at Colgate.

She's discovered that teaching is a journey, where students are not the only ones learning in the classroom.

"They teach me something new every day," Kurowski said.

Her biggest challenge has been finding a pedagogical approach that encourages all students to succeed. She also wants to be a support system as well as a teacher.

"Every day, the children bring something new," she said. "Every student has a different background. Every student has different experiences. Those experiences come through more and more every day as you get to know them.

Julia Kurowski — Kurowski's students surprise her at a recent game.

"Every day, it's a different battle. You'll either get the happiest kid in the world or the most upset. You don't know what you're going to get every day, so you have to be prepared."

Kurowski credits her grandfather, Ben Kurowski, for inspiring her to teach. Ben was a guidance counselor, teacher, referee, and coach in Buffalo.

"He always told me, 'It's not about how much money you make, it's about how happy you're going to be,'" she said. "I've always been one to gravitate toward kids. I think they have the most creative minds. They are such incredible thinkers and learners."

Kurowski, a volleyball recruit, chose Colgate because she wanted rigorous academics and a strong volleyball program. Coming from a close-knit family, she wanted a college community where she could experience a similar comradery with others.

"I've never been happier with my choice, never regretted it for a minute," she said. "It feels like home here."

After being an outside hitter in high school, she said she was a project in her first year at Colgate. Her technique needed work. But Baker, her head coach, believed in her.

It took many practices, and many one-on-one lessons with her coach for Kurowski to become a volleyball standout.

"Anything can happen if you are willing to put in the work," she said. "Ryan Baker trusted me from the very beginning. I have never met a coach like him. He cares an unbelievable amount and we have spent countless hours every day perfecting my setting abilities. The reason that I got Setter of the Year was because of him."

Kurowski in 2020 became Colgate's first-ever Patriot League Setter of the Year — and she repeated the honor again in 2021. Her awards include three First Team All-Patriot League honors and one Academic All-Patriot League nod. She was also named the Patriot League MVP after the win against American in last season's championship match.

In Colgate's recent game, a 3-1 win over Bucknell, Kurowski broke the program record for career assists with 3,955 — a record that had stood for more than a decade.

She's experienced winning seasons every year at Colgate, making the NCAA tournament once and the NIVC in her sophomore year campaign.

Now she's captain on a team that's yet again loaded with talent. After sweeping its opponents over the weekend, Colgate Volleyball is 20-4, with a 12-1 conference record. The team can clinch the conference regular season title with a win against Army on Sunday.

"The word that defines this team is 'tough,'" Kurowski said. "Every team has progressively gotten better and better. But this year, the discipline, the toughness and the togetherness, is what glues us together.

"Ryan always says, 'You live and die by your seniors and the leadership.' The seniors have done an incredible job every single year in setting the tone and culture of this program. We don't back down from a fight."

After earning her bachelor's degree, Kurowski said she wanted to return to Colgate to win another championship and enter the MAT program. She never considered going anywhere else.

Kurowski said she's already gotten looks to sign with professional volleyball teams overseas but she's going to take time to consider her options.

She credits a lot of her achievements to her family.
"My family comes to every single game that they can, which tends to be all of them." she said. "Family isn't an important thing, it is everything. They have believed in me from the start of this journey.

"It's crazy to think that there's life after Colgate," she said. "This small town holds such a large spot in my heart. I have loved every experience I've had here, whether it be volleyball or academics."

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