Courtney Justus ’19 wasn’t only a stud on the volleyball court, but in the classroom. The Health Science Major with an emphasis in Pre-Physician Assistant and a Nutrition Minor, was a three-time selection for the All-Conference Academic Team. Her academic success lead her to apply and be accepted to Duke University to ear her Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. Justus stated “I wanted to attend Duke for a multitude of reasons. Duke is ranked #2 nationally of their Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and I knew I wanted to be challenged academically while also learning in a teaching hospital from world-class medical professionals.” The passion for athletics was also a huge reason why Justus selected Duke, stating “I was also attracted to the one-of-a-kind athletics programs Duke had to offer and the school spirit associated.”

Senior year, Justus was selected as team captain, as she helped lead her to team to the 2018 conference championships, as well as leading the student-athlete population as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. When reflecting on her time at as a Chapman student-athlete, Justus attributed the leadership opportunities she was able to uphold during her time to her success at Duke University. Justus commented that “The athletic experience at Chapman emphasized the importance of teamwork, communication, and resiliency. Completing a nursing program amid the pandemic came with unforeseen challenges that required determination and resiliency to succeed. The leadership opportunities available to student-athletes at Chapman were instrumental, as they provided me with the experience and confidence to advocate for myself and others. No matter what path you take, there are many transferable skills you can take from being a Chapman athlete into the corporate world to make you stand out and succeed.”

Now that Justus has completed her accelerated bachelors, she plans on working in the Emergency Department at Duke in a new graduate residency program.