Six-time America East champion and two-time America East Scholar Athlete of the Year Shannon Murdock (Exeter, N.H.) left a tremendous legacy at UNH.
Murdock excelled in athletic competition as she captured the 5000m at the 2020 America East Indoor Championship and won five relay titles over her career. Murdock also placed second (2017) and third (2019) at the America East Cross Country Championship and was honored as the 2019 women's cross country Elite-18 Award winner, awarded to the event medalist with the highest GPA.
But her academic accomplishments were just as impressive as she was named the 2019 America East Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year and the 2020 America East Indoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. She was also a 2018 and 2019 inductee into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National Collegiate Athletic Honor Society.
While her time at UNH has come to an end, the invaluable experiences she has as an athlete and a student have helped her to grow into the woman she is today. Murdock won the Elite-18 Award at the 2019 America East Cross Country Championship THE UNH EXPERIENCE
"My experience at UNH was a long period of growth and development through which I emerged more knowledgeable, stronger, a little wiser and very grateful. I am very thankful to my teammates, my professors and classmates, my family, UNH athletics and especially Coach Hop for making my time at UNH possible and so meaningful."
Murdock explained a little bit about how everything she needed for her college experience was actually only a few minutes away.
"Growing up 25 minutes away from UNH in Exeter, N.H., I was like most New Hampshire high schoolers adamant that I was going to go to college far, far away. However, as I got deeper into my college search I realized that UNH had everything I was looking for: a strong nursing program and a robust running team with committed athletes and a dedicated coach, all set on a beautiful campus. UNH is the perfect synthesis of both worlds, offering the experiences of a big university with the feel of a smaller institution. At UNH, you feel noticed and valued. Professors and staff have a vested interest in helping you reach your goals, people are friendly and there are endless opportunities for involvement."
Everybody has their favorite spot on campus.
"The most underrated place on campus to do work or kill time between classes is the first room on the left when you walk into the Dimond Library, called the Milne New Book Room. It has the most comfortable chairs with plenty of outlets and tons of natural light. Check it out." MEMORIES ON AND OFF THE TRACK Murdock won the 5000m at the 2020 America East Indoor Championship
"I have so many great memories and experiences that are important to me for different reasons. Most recently, I am proud of my performance in the 5000m at the America East Indoor Championship. Though I had the privilege of being a part of a lot of AE team titles - cross country, relays - an individual title had until then eluded me. Though the race wasn't especially fast or outstanding, to achieve that goal this past winter in an event that was new to me was very meaningful."
Murdock explained the supportive and positive environment built through the women's xc and track and field teams.
"We are lucky to have a great team culture on the cross country and track teams at UNH. Undoubtedly my favorite thing about being on the team was the supportive and positive environment that is quite unique in the context of a high-level competitive and mostly individual sport. The team composition changed a lot in my five years, and the continuation of a positive dynamic was impressive, which is truly the legacy of 'Ladycatpack'."
What will she miss most?
"The thing I will miss most about UNH is practice. Gathering with my best friends for 2-3 hours to do what I love most was always the best part of my day." Danielle Gajewski, Cassie Kruse, Elinor Purrier and Murdock won the 4x800 relay at the 2017 AE Championship REWARDING OPPORTUNITIES
Getting the opportunity to be on the cross country and track and field teams and major in nursing taught Murdock a lot.
"Being a student-athlete helped me to develop a strong work ethic, teamwork and leadership skills, and the ability to acknowledge that despite hard work sometimes things won't go as planned, which is okay. I've also found that each and every person on a team brings something different to the table; it is variability in skill that lends strength to a team. I hope that I will carry these lessons with me for a long time and that they make me a better person."
Murdock gave an example of something she learned at the beginning of her career that lasted throughout her time at UNH.
"I learned early on that it is not what you do in the two hours of practice that make you successful, but what you do in the remaining 22 hours of the day. There are plenty of distractions available on a college campus, but as student-athletes we have a commitment to ourselves, to our teammates and to the university. Of course there needs to be a balance, but in general using that time productively is the best way to honor that commitment."
On top of all her time as a student, her research fellowship trip may be her most important and valuable academic venture at UNH.
"My research fellowship through NH-INBRE was one of the best academic experiences I had while at UNH. It opened my eyes to the many different career paths that are available to nurses and taught me the importance of encouraging research for the development of evidence-based practices that will provide best care to patients. I learned invaluable research skills that have given me a lot more autonomy as a nurse and a student. Ultimately, it was this that led me to apply and begin the Evidence-Based Nursing graduate program at UNH, allowing me to utilize my fifth year of eligibility."
Murdock has already started her career as she accepted her first job as a RN in Exeter Hospital's Nurse Residency Program which started in June. Murdock is an RN in Exeter Hospital's Nurse Residency Program AN EARLY ENDING
Murdock had one last message for her fellow seniors who's final spring season also got cut short due to COVID-19.
"First and foremost, I am so sorry that COVID-19 took away spring seasons, graduation ceremonies and senior festivities. It doesn't change the incalculable value you have contributed during your time at UNH! Thank you for your friendship and support throughout the seasons. I hope, as you transition to 'real life', that you carry the lessons you have learned with you and cherish the experiences you had during your time at UNH." Please check back to UNHWildcats.com as we continue our Senior Reflections series.
