U of M Crookston Senior Kevin Williams Running the Right Routes

2017 Sep 12

Every year, the National Football League (NFL) hosts the NFL Experience and one year, a young Kevin Williams had an opportunity to attend with his dad. He strapped on his cleats, threw on his football pads, and ran through obstacle courses. Looking back at that day still brings a big smile to the face of the University of Minnesota Crookston senior as he thinks back to this favorite childhood memory.

Since that day, Williams, who is from Houston, Texas, has had a passion for both sports and people. He first heard about the U of M Crookston from his fellow teammate at Dakota College of Bottineau, Derek Woods.

Woods and Williams both competed together and both decided to transfer to the Crookston campus. From that point on, Williams has excelled on the football field and in the classroom. He found the right route in the study of communication with a minor in coaching. This combination is the perfect combination because his dream job is to become an athletic director of a university, as well as taking advantage of opportunities as they arise. Communication with people is overall the most important thing he has taken away from his experiences at the U of M Crookston because without communication and connections, Williams believes you have nothing.

Discipline and drive make Williams successful. One of his greatest accomplishments is walking across the graduation stage last May. With one more semester left, Williams reflects on his time at the University of Minnesota Crooksotn. He is actively involved around campus as a full and running back on the football team, president of the Black Student Association, information desk employee and computer help desk employee. Last summer, Williams' internship was serving as the assistant manager for the UClear lab at the University of Minnesota Crookston where he set up events and meetings, while teaching technology and virtual reality to elementary and middle school students.

In Williams' free time, you will spot him in the weight room-so much so that his nicknames are "Weightroom" and "Big Kev." His favorite quote is "Get money, stay true," coined by rapper Paul Wall. It serves as a daily reminder to strive toward greatness, while staying true to himself. Having the opportunity to go to the University of Minnesota Crookston has been very rewarding for Williams.

The small campus with big campus experiences is something he says he will remember forever. This fall much like he was 14 years ago, Williams will be strapping on his cleats, throwing on his football pads and chasing his dreams one route at a time.