Whether on the volleyball court or in the classroom, Catherine Seman has been nothing less than spectacular. She has achieved great success in the classroom, earning Dean’s List honors seven times. But what stands out most is her desire to help others.

As a URI freshman, Catherine traveled to New Orleans to help rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. She also participated in a Habitat for Humanity 5K fundraiser as well as Habitat’s “all-woman” build. Last summer, she led a four-week immersion program for Taiwanese exchange students, helping them adapt to the American culture. As their resident advisor, Catherine assisted them with their studies, provided cultural and social programming, and acted as a guide for weekend excursions.

“The biggest take-away I had from the program was that to truly understand another culture you must be empathetic and want to immerse yourself wholeheartedly,” she said. “Only by traveling can you fully appreciate another culture and way of life. “

Catherine showed a similar commitment in her URI volleyball career, even though a concussion made her miss some of her senior season. “Our athletic community has always been so supportive of my pursuits athletically, academically, and professionally,” she said. As a result, Catherine helped create three lasting student organizations: the RAM Project for student-athletes facing personal challenges related to their athletic careers; Injured Athletes Anonymous, a support group for injured student-athletes; and URI’s Legacy Dinner, which connects current athletes with former URI athletes.