Rose received scholarship because of accomplishments at PCC

 
In the early 1970’s track wasn’t a popular sport for women to participate in. For that reason, Tami Rose was the only female on the Pratt Community College track team from 1972-1974.
 
Along with participating in track, Rose was also on the volleyball and basketball teams and a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an academic honor society. 
 
“At the time I was involved in everything I could be,” she said. “They only offered three girls’ sports and I was in them all. I think it’s good that the college offers more for students to be involved in now.”
 
Rose said she has good memories of all three sports but track and basketball were her favorite.
 
She also said that being the only female on the track team wasn’t difficult because all the guys considered her a sister and the coachtreated her just like one of the guys, expecting her to practice right along with them.
 
Rose, who went to Skyline High School, said she chose to go to PCC for her first two years of college because she could live at home and work.
 
“My parents weren’t rich and I had to figure out how to go to college on my own,” she said. “Being able to live at home the first two years helped a lot with cost.”
Rose said she thinks PCC is a great option for students.
 
“I had a great experience there and think that if a person doesn’t know what they want to do than it’s a great opportunity,” she said. “If I hadn’t gone to PCC I never would have had the option to go on to KU with an athletic scholarship.”
 
During her sophomore year, Rose qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association national track meet, which was held in Dodge City that year.
 
“When I was told it was in Dodge I about crocked,” Rose said. “I was really hoping to travel somewhere fun.”
 
She received second place in the javelin at that national meet and was also an All-American.
 
After graduating from PCC with a degree in Physical Education, Rose went on to the University of Kansas where she received a scholarship for track and field.
 
While at KU she won the Big Eight championship in javelin.
 
Once Rose graduated from KU she went to work at a reservation in Arizona for a couple years but wanted to get closer to home. When a job opened at theSouth Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative she moved back to Pratt and has been there for 28 years.
 
Rose is an Adapted Physical Education Specialist. She works with physically disabled and handicapped people from the ages of five to 21 to teach them physical education activities to help them when they go into regular P.E. and to help them function better in day-to-day life.
 
“Some of my students will never be able to drive, but they can learn to ride a bike,” she said. “By being able to ride a bike they can gain some independence they wouldn’t otherwise have.”
 
Since moving back to the area, Rose had made sure to go to the Beaver Backer Bash each year to help students with scholarships.
 
“I want students who need a scholarship to be able to have one,” she said. “I think PCC is a great asset to our community.”