The Shorthorn - Movin’ Mav Tim Caldwell becomes president of the Graduate Student Senate

HOME

Campus Life

Movin’ Mav Tim Caldwell becomes president of the Graduate Student Senate

Written by Bryan Bastible and Robin McDavid, The Shorthorn staff

Thursday, 05 February 2009 09:28 PM

Science and marketing research and business graduate Tim Caldwell is the President of the Graduate Student Senate and an active player for the Movin’ Mavs. (The Shorthorn: Stephanie Goddard)

Six years ago, college basketball player, Tim Caldwell’s life changed when he was in a car accident after fainting at the wheel.

He was paralyzed.

The marketing research graduate student’s greatest inspiration was his father, even though he passed away when Caldwell was 12 years old. Caldwell remembers that his father taught him to always do the right thing, and do it well.

“My dad was well-respected, well-thought of and had a good way of dealing with people,” he said.

While growing up in North Carolina, Caldwell stayed busy, playing baseball, basketball and volleyball.

After graduating high school, he pursued his undergraduate studies and played basketball at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Following the car accident, he started rehabilitation and eventually hand-cycling. Caldwell was playing basketball again within a year, only for a different team — the UNCC wheelchair basketball team.

A friend of Caldwell later told him about the wheelchair basketball team, the Movin’ Mavs, and Caldwell decided to try out.

He wasn’t sure that he would make the team, but the late Movin’ Mavs’ head coach Jim Hayes saw something special in him — so much that Caldwell ended up with a scholarship.

“Coach Hayes did not just prepare me for basketball, but he also prepared me for life,” he said.

Doug Garner, who took over the Movin’ Mavs after Hayes’ death, said Tim Caldwell is a hard worker.

“He shows up to practice early, lifts weights, watches what he eats,” Garner said.

Besides what he does on the court, Caldwell joined the Graduate Student Senate as a member in fall 2007. Caldwell worked his way up the ranks by becoming the senate’s president after Tracy Lynn Cloud resigned when she became a grandmother.

Student Governance assistant director and the senate’s adviser, Vanessa Balderrama, said Caldwell has done well in his role as president.

“He’s taken over without any issues,” she said.

Caldwell said he feels blessed and fortunate to be in the senate.

“I feel like joining the Graduate Student Senate is a way to give back, get connected, and the organization is also something good to put on my résumé when I start looking to have a career after I graduate,” he said.

After Caldwell completes his degree, he plans to start a career in Marketing Research or continue his education by pursuing a doctorate degree.

“I put my best into everyday,” Caldwell said. “That is success when you have done your best.”

Views: 919 | E-mail

Be first to comment this article

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 April 2009 08:13 PM )

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Housing Guide PDF