Rani Goodland
It all started when…
Rani Goodland was a Maribyrnong Sports Academy student-athlete in Tennis from 2010 to 2014. Rani graduated from Maribyrnong College in December 2014 with very good VCE results. She had worked hard since Year 9 to achieve her dream goal of a Tennis scholarship to an NCAA college in USA.
Rani was recruited by University of Toledoin Ohio, where she completed her first two years in US college, starting in August 2015. Then, in 2017 Rani transferred south for the final two years of her undergraduate studies, to St Mary’s Universityin San Antonio Texas, where the climate is warm and sunny!
Graduation: In June 2019, after two very successful years in the classroom and on the tennis court, Rani graduated from St Mary’s Universitywith Bachelor of Business Administrationdegree, specialising in Marketing. Her final GPA was 3.90 (on a 4.00 scale) = high A grades for all subjects.
Finally, in July 2019, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announcedthat Rani and some of her St Mary’stennis teammates had earnedITA Scholar-Athlete awards- Academic All American
In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athletestatus a player must meet the following criteria in both Sport and Academics:
· Sport: compete for a full season of NCAA competition as a playing member of college tennis team and
· Academics: achieve an academic grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale)
2019-20: OPT - Marketing Analyst Internship
After graduation, international student-athletes are permitted to remain in USA for one extra year of OPT (Optional Practical Training). OPT is like an internship, it is paid practical work experience for a maximum of one year; the work experience must be related to the degree.
Rani has remained in San Antonio to complete an Internship or OPT as a Marketing Analyst. The practical business skills and experience she will gain this year will assist her as she starts her professional working life.
Rani is excited to meet Gabi Ioannou, 2018 VCE graduate from Maribyrnong Sports Academy, who will arrive on campus atSt Mary’s University in August 2019 to start her first year as a student-athlete in Tennis!