Stephanie Batchelder
April 5, 2010
Name: Stephanie Batchelder
Hometown: Chico, CA
Sport: Volleyball
Position: Setter
Favorite Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (NIV)
Despite being a very humble person Stephanie Batchelder has great confidence in her faith in her Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Her favorite bible verse speaks truth in her life as she strives to seek the Lord with her whole heart everyday.
Batchelder grew up in Chico, California where she went to Pleasant Valley High School and played both volleyball and basketball. After high school Batchelder attended College of the Siskiyous where she continued to play both sports.
At COS she was an all-conference selection in volleyball two years in a row. Although she had great success at the junior college level, Batchelder had planned to give up sports after her last season. However her junior college coach pushed her to pursue volleyball in college as she was getting recruited to play by several schools.
Bacthelder accepted a volleyball scholarship to Henderson mainly because she “felt good about this place”.
So far her ‘good feeling’ has led her to success at Henderson. Batchelder really enjoys her time at Henderson and had a very productive season in volleyball in 2009. In her first year at Henderson Batchelder helped the reddies reach the conference tournament and led the team with 672 assists on the season.
Batchelder did not grow up in a Christian home. She wasn’t forced to go to church on Sundays or forced to say grace before meals. She went to church for the first time when she was a teenager and began to get involved in several ministries.
She gave her heart to Christ on a mission trip to Mexico. There she helped local people by building houses along with a church group. Batchelder also volunteered at a Christian camp on weekends during her senior year called Woodlief.
“I can always depend on the Lord, He’s always there for me when I’m low,” Batchelder said. “He gave you the ability to play (sports) so it’s important to recognize him for that.”
Batchelder has become more comfortable sharing her faith with others as she has grown herself in faith.
Batchelder went through some rough times in junior college in which God was not her priority but has made a stand to seek Him with her whole heart and now lives for Him.
“My advice to the upcoming Christian-student-athlete is to be who you are, and don’t be afraid of who you are. Stick to what you believe in regardless of what is happening around you.”
Batchelder is on track to receive her BA in recreation. She then plans to earn a Masters in recreation and become the graduate assistant at HSU. She eventually hopes to coach or become an athletic director but is willing to do “whatever God has planned for me.”
