SE: Ranke One of Many First-Gen Students at K-State
Nov 17, 2021 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Last Thursday, as Kansas State held its First-Generation Student Celebration on campus, K-State redshirt senior guard Rachel Ranke was in the middle of practice with the women's basketball team. While the 2021 National First-Generation Student Celebration honored those students whose neither parent completed a four-year degree, Ranke was immersed in a unique situation.
Aside from being a first-generation college graduate, she is also a student-athlete, which for five years has placed high demands on her time and focus as she excelled in the classroom and on the basketball court.
"A lot of people don't realize how much you have to balance," Ranke said. "I've really learned time management. You're mostly in the gym, but then you might have a quiz that night or a bunch of homework assignments. You have to stay on top of both responsibilities."
Ranke, a native of Burnsville, Minnesota, is the third player in K-State history to record 1,000 points, 300 rebounds, 200 3-pointers, and 100 steals in a career.
Her proudest achievement, though, came when she walked across the stage at Bramlage Coliseum last May to receive her diploma with her parents, Scott and Rose, cheering her on. Ranke earned a degree in social science and continues to work toward her minor in Journalism and Mass Communications.
"I came to school to play basketball but getting a degree is most important," she said. "Of all my achievements, that's the one I'm most proud of just because not a lot of people finish college. Just to have that next to my name and on my resume is something I'm very proud of. I wish my whole family could've made my graduation, but to have my parents there meant everything to me.
"I've always wanted to make my parents proud, so for them to see me walk across the stage was really important to me."
From the first time Ranke touched a basketball, she wanted to go places. In the third grade, she made it a goal to play college basketball. She was ranked as one of the top 60 high school players in women's basketball and the 2017 McDonald's All-American nominee from Minnesota. She was also the 2017 Minnesota Ms. Basketball Finalist. She helped Eastview High School to a 113-14 record during her high school career.
Ranke said that her parents encouraged her to reach her dreams as a student and as an athlete.
"They've supported me my whole life," Ranke said. "They supported me more than anyone else did and sometimes even more than I believed in myself. I just needed a push. They've been my rock through everything, my ups and my downs, and they never lost faith."
Ranke said that "college can sometimes make or break you" and for her, that took the form of college algebra. She said it was a struggle, but she passed.
Her true passion is in the field of Journalism and Mass Communications. She enjoyed her social media management course, and her hands-on experience in writing stories for the K-State Collegian. She believes that her interest in journalism coupled with her experience as a student-athlete could bode favorably for her when she pursues a career.
"I want to work in public relations and in professional sports," she said. "I've had a lot of interest in working in the NFL, whether that's in social media or as a broadcaster. I'll take any opportunity, but I hope to first play professional basketball."
What has Ranke learned along the way as a first-generation student-athlete graduate?
"I've learned a lot more about myself," she said. "I learned a lot of life lessons and needed to learn those life lessons in order to move on and become a better me. I honestly didn't think about being a first-generation graduate while also being a student-athlete until today. I was like, 'OK, I'm the first one in my family to do that.'
"I hope I'm not the last one to do it."
Last Thursday, as Kansas State held its First-Generation Student Celebration on campus, K-State redshirt senior guard Rachel Ranke was in the middle of practice with the women's basketball team. While the 2021 National First-Generation Student Celebration honored those students whose neither parent completed a four-year degree, Ranke was immersed in a unique situation.
Aside from being a first-generation college graduate, she is also a student-athlete, which for five years has placed high demands on her time and focus as she excelled in the classroom and on the basketball court.
"A lot of people don't realize how much you have to balance," Ranke said. "I've really learned time management. You're mostly in the gym, but then you might have a quiz that night or a bunch of homework assignments. You have to stay on top of both responsibilities."
Ranke, a native of Burnsville, Minnesota, is the third player in K-State history to record 1,000 points, 300 rebounds, 200 3-pointers, and 100 steals in a career.
Her proudest achievement, though, came when she walked across the stage at Bramlage Coliseum last May to receive her diploma with her parents, Scott and Rose, cheering her on. Ranke earned a degree in social science and continues to work toward her minor in Journalism and Mass Communications.
"I came to school to play basketball but getting a degree is most important," she said. "Of all my achievements, that's the one I'm most proud of just because not a lot of people finish college. Just to have that next to my name and on my resume is something I'm very proud of. I wish my whole family could've made my graduation, but to have my parents there meant everything to me.
"I've always wanted to make my parents proud, so for them to see me walk across the stage was really important to me."
From the first time Ranke touched a basketball, she wanted to go places. In the third grade, she made it a goal to play college basketball. She was ranked as one of the top 60 high school players in women's basketball and the 2017 McDonald's All-American nominee from Minnesota. She was also the 2017 Minnesota Ms. Basketball Finalist. She helped Eastview High School to a 113-14 record during her high school career.
Ranke said that her parents encouraged her to reach her dreams as a student and as an athlete.
"They've supported me my whole life," Ranke said. "They supported me more than anyone else did and sometimes even more than I believed in myself. I just needed a push. They've been my rock through everything, my ups and my downs, and they never lost faith."
Ranke said that "college can sometimes make or break you" and for her, that took the form of college algebra. She said it was a struggle, but she passed.
Her true passion is in the field of Journalism and Mass Communications. She enjoyed her social media management course, and her hands-on experience in writing stories for the K-State Collegian. She believes that her interest in journalism coupled with her experience as a student-athlete could bode favorably for her when she pursues a career.
"I want to work in public relations and in professional sports," she said. "I've had a lot of interest in working in the NFL, whether that's in social media or as a broadcaster. I'll take any opportunity, but I hope to first play professional basketball."
What has Ranke learned along the way as a first-generation student-athlete graduate?
"I've learned a lot more about myself," she said. "I learned a lot of life lessons and needed to learn those life lessons in order to move on and become a better me. I honestly didn't think about being a first-generation graduate while also being a student-athlete until today. I was like, 'OK, I'm the first one in my family to do that.'
"I hope I'm not the last one to do it."
Players Mentioned
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