[Article] Hughes juggles school and skating

[Spun Silver]

Others have noticed the same trend. I some posters consider the Hughes family above reproach and immune from criticism of any kind.

But I think more posters just don't like to assume the worst about people in general, especially young people. Especially when there are other plausible explanations, like media editing, or thoughtless blurting as Casper suggests.

 

[PolymerBob]

Both Emily and Katy Taylor are quite accomplished academically. They both won a $25,000 scholarship at an awards presentation at Nationals. Several other skaters won as well.

 

[Mathman]

^ Also Emily Samuelson (Samuelson and Bates, U.S. junior champion ice dancers). The award is for skaters in regular accredited high schools who excel academically.

 

[Sylvia]

Both Emily and Katy Taylor are quite accomplished academically. They both won a $25,000 scholarship at an awards presentation at Nationals.

Wish it were that high! Each of the 10 winners received a $2,500 scholarship.

Several other skaters won as well.

Here's the link to the complete list (7 of the 10 skaters competed at Nationals this year): http://spokane2007.usfigureskating.org/News/EventNews/012707StateFarmScholasticTeam.aspx

 

[Mathman]

The story is a little misleading on that point, LOL. It says:

"State Farm provides $25,000 in scholarships to team members, as well as team jackets."

So I guess that means $25,000 altogether. (It doesn't say how many team jackets -- I hope they don't have to fight over them.)

It's like the old gag, "I'm going to buy you all a drink! Oh, what the heck, I'll buy you each a drink!"

 

[skatingguy123]

Elite colleges such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford ect. look not only for excellent academic achievements but something to seperate them from the rest of the 4.0 GPA and 2400 SAT applicants. That is one of the things that Emily posses with her skating. I am a skater who competed on the Junior Grand Prix this year and was accepted to Harvard early. During my interview my interviewer told me that he was very confident that I would be accepted not only because I was very strong academicly but becuase I excelled in something very different and skating is something that colleges really seem to enjoy. Here are the matriculations to elite universities of some of the skaters who have competed internationally both recent and past.

Debbie Blinder - Princeton
Anna Peng - Princeton
Paul Wylie - Harvard
Debi Thomas - Stanford
Mark Vaillant - Columbia
Sarah Hughes - Yale
Michelle Kwan - UCLA
Kim Navarro - Columbia
Evan Bates - U of Michigan
Derrick Delmore - Stanford
Trevor Young - U of Michigan
Timothy Goebel - Columbia
Jane Bugaeva - UNC
Matt Savoie - Cornell

 

[Spun Silver]

Impressive and you make a very good point.

Big congratulations to you! I hope you can put your disciplined habits to work for you in a new area. Your competing experience should be good prep for the intense atmosphere at Harvard.

I hope you'll keep skating too. (There is a NYC Ballet star at Harvard, Damien Woetzel, who is somehow keeping his career and studies going at the same time.) Best of luck!

 

[bekalc]

I don't know. Dick Button complained that too many skaters give up education. Very few attend high school etc. I mean what about Bebe, for example?

In reality, I think that its quite smart for Hughes to sign up for school next year. She has to probably see the writing on the wall, with the fact that you will have Mirai, Meissner, Wagner, Zhang, Cohen competiting for world spots/Olympic spots in two years.

I also think that Hughes would be someone the Ivys would be interested in. I read an article about the University of Chicago application process. They said they get so many kids with extra curriculars, that its hard...BUT, one think that really speaks well to them is when they get an applicant who excells academically, but is also a great athlete. The reason is they feel that athletics and academics are very different things. However, athletics require a lot of hard work and discipline. They feel that such discipline goes well for academic success.

And if Harvard goes gaga over a Junior Grand Prix competitor. Why not go gaga over a former Olympian and Junior world bronze medalist.

Is Emily the best skater in the world: NO. But she's had a better career than most skaters could ever dream of.

Being a great athlete and a great student, also suggests some well roundedness.

 

[Spun Silver]

Yes, and she's also obviously very personable - such a positive personality. She has a great future IMO.

 

[Mathman]

Very few attend high school etc. I mean what about Bebe, for example?...

Being a great athlete and a great student, also suggests some well roundedness.

I think Bebe graduated from high school with honors last year (Faith Baptist). She went full time until she was 16, then made an arrangement with the school that would allow her more time for training. She has taken some college level courses at a city college and on line. Her "most admired skater" is Paul Wylie, because of his commitment to education and his Christian faith.

Bebe is also an accomplished pianist and is active in her church. I don't know what her plans for full-time college are, after her skating career is over.

BTW, both Meryl Davis and Charlie White are full-time students at the University of Michigan. They delayed entrance to college for one year to concentrate on their skating, but say that they are happier (and much busier!) this year, with a wider range of interests and activities.

 

[Bill508]

Emily is a super girl and Im glad she realizes her future is not among the greats of figure skating. I wish her well as she fades from the scene.

 

[R.D.]

^ Did hughes say she was retiring? cause if she did I must have missed something.

 

[euterpe]

Emily hasn't said she's retiring, but she's made it plain that she intends to go to college next year; her top choice is Harvard.

RIght now, like many skaters, Emily attends high school only part-time. It's a whole other thing to attend an Ivy League school and have to attend class on a regular basis, achieve good grades, and still maintain a tough training schedule. It can be done, but neither the education nor the skating is going to get the attention it deserves.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Despite the opinions of some posters, I hope to heaven & earth Emily decides to continue skating... she has all of the basics down pat along with a fabulous on-ice personality. She also reminds me of Irina in that she has the signs of a late bloomer ala Irina...

She had an up & down season with terrible music for her long program, but I'm sure TaDa has the fire & talent to really make a name for herself outside of being Sarah's little sister... it would be a shame if she left before truly reaching her potential...

 

[chuckm]

Emily underrotated 3 jumps in her FS, so I wouldn't say she has the basics down pat. And that wasn't the first time she was dinged for the same problem---remember Cup of China?

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Emily underrotated 3 jumps in her FS, so I wouldn't say she has the basics down pat. And that wasn't the first time she was dinged for the same problem---remember Cup of China?

Chuck, sweetheart, let's simply agree to disagree on the subject of Emily... our opinions are so vastly different, they always appear to be discussing two different skaters...

 

[antmanb]

Emily underrotated 3 jumps in her FS, so I wouldn't say she has the basics down pat. And that wasn't the first time she was dinged for the same problem---remember Cup of China?

When did triple jumps become part of the basics??

Ant

 

[chuckm]

When did triple jumps become part of the basics??

Ant

They are basics for elite level skaters. Skaters who can't do triple jumps don't make it out of the SP even at the Junior level. Go check the Junior World protocols and you will see that it is true.

 

[antmanb]

They are basics for elite level skaters. Skaters who can't do triple jumps don't make it out of the SP even at the Junior level. Go check the Junior World protocols and you will see that it is true.

I suggest you check with any figure skater (elite or otherwise) and any figure skating coach, even any official. The basics of figure skating are posture, stroking, knee bend, all of the basic turns and the rudimentary parts of spining and jumping. Triple jumps are not considered basics neither are flying spins.

Ant

 

[euterpe]

We saw a few purely 'basic' skaters compete in the JGP. They were from India, and they had nothing more than waltz jumps. Anyone who had achieved your definition of 'basic' skating skills, but no more than that, would even make it to Worlds.