McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Clayton Rask

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 18th is Clayton Rask a member of the men’s golf team.

Coach Brad James believes that Rask epitomizes what a student-athlete represents. According to James, “Clayton has outstanding work ethic on and off the golf course. It has been great having him a part of the Gopher golf program.”

Academic Counselor Chelsie Schafer has been impressed by Clayton’s interests in areas outside of athletics, his traditional academic pursuits, and his commitment to helping to improve society.

“Clayton has been working all semester on the Warrior to Citizen Campaign through the Center for Democracy. The campaign was developed to help reintegrate veterans into society,” Schafer said. “In addition, he has also been part of a new health initiative that is working to help change the way society thinks about health and wellness in our everyday lives.”

Dennis Donovan has been witness firsthand to Clayton’s efforts this past year as his directed study supervisor. “Seeing this young man taking seriously the opportunity to be a citizen-athlete is exciting. Clayton came to the University with the gift of golf, but now he has the gift of knowing how to be a citizen. In this time of many public issues, Clayton knows he can be part of the solution and the skills he has developed are priceless.”

Rask is a senior majoring in communication studies. He will graduate this May.