NAMPA, Idaho – Katie Conklin was determined that she did not want to come to Northwest Nazarene University.

As a junior looking at schools she had crossed the small Idaho college off of her list of schools because her older brother Luke went there. She wanted to carve her own path.

God had a different plan for her, however.

"I wanted to be different and be really certain where I went was the best fit for me and not just because my brother went here," she said.

Despite not wanting to give the school a chance, her mind quickly changed soon after visiting the campus. She said God helped her realize it was the obvious choice.

"It became pretty apparent when I was looking at other schools that this would be the only place that would be a good fit for me," she said.

Conklin will compete for the Nighthawks at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday at the Idaho Center's Jacksons Track in Nampa.

"Track led our family (to NNU)," she said. "I came out to visit and my heart turned and I realized this is where God wants me to be. It is the only school I applied at."

The nursing major has had success on and off the track since she got here. She is a team captain as a junior, is in third place in school history in the high jump, sixth place in the long jump, seventh in the 60-meter hurdles and eighth in the triple jump.

"Her growth from freshman year has been tremendous," said Nick Collins, the associate head track and field coach. "Just in terms of maturity and the way she goes about being a competitor.

"Freshman year she wanted to just say, 'Yes, coach.' Whether she understood what I was saying or not. Now, we have really good conversations and that is what I really love about athletes at that level – where they can have a conversation about what is going to move them forward. She is at that spot right now and it is great."

Conklin is there athletically and spiritually.

She lives her faith out both as a student and an athlete, constantly encouraging teammates, praying for them and texting them with kind words.
"She is someone that people look up to," senior Rachel Bartlow said. "Her faith is evident in the way she talks and practices. You can tell she is striving to give God the glory in what she does."

Conklin works hard at her faith and is glad that she ended up coming to NNU.

"Being here at NNU every week, every day, every semester, every year, it gets more obvious that this is where I need to be," she said. "It cultivates an attitude of a pursuit of God. Going to church, different bible studies and meeting people who have a passion for God and having Him at the head of all they do.

"It is leading me to Christ-like behavior because that is what they are reflecting."  

And Conklin is reflecting God's love back to the world at large.

"I don't think I've ever heard a vile thing come out of her mouth," Bartlow said. "Everything is positive and uplifting.

"She is a good example of an NNU student who lives out the mission."