By: Parker Schafer (Edward R. Murrow College of Communication)

Lauren Wille is dedicated to swimming, putting in countless hours at the gym and in the pool. But when the water settles and the lockers are clear, Wille volunteers to help those in need.
Wille said she is a kinesiology and psychology major, for the sole purpose of helping others.

"I have always had an interest in helping people, which is why I kind of went into the aspect of kinesiology and psychology because (physical therapy) is helping people on the daily," the WSU freshman swimmer said.
Wille has dedicated her free time to her community and the people around her.

"I had over 300 hours of community service that I had done throughout high school," Wille said. "I have worked with a lot of different organizations. One of my favorites is called the Project Linus project, which is where we make tie blankets for poor communities and I think I have made over 200 blankets for them."

When the pandemic struck and WSU shifted classes online, Wille was not deterred. She started making dog toys out of old shirts that were lying around her house. She donated more than 100 dog toys to the animal shelter in Oswego, Illinois.

However, none of her commitments to community service got in the way of her time in the water. She placed in the top 10 at state as a junior in high school in breaststroke and freestyle events. As a senior, Wille pushed herself to get first place in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle races at the sectionals meet, sending her to the state competition.

"I tried a lot of sports," she said. "I tried soccer and basketball and softball. And I am not very coordinated. So my parents kind of threw me into the pool and I kind of fell in love with it."
Wille said swimming brought her closer to family and friends.

"I have met so many new people through this whole entire journey," she said. "I was on two or three different club teams and then a high school team, so I have gotten to know hundreds of people."

Wille said being 2,000 miles away from home has allowed her to build a new family on her swim team at WSU.