Krystal Schmidt’s uncommon tenacity produced uncommon achievement.

In this uncommon time, Schmidt is the Indiana University East Class of 2020 Naomi Osborne Scholar, an annual honor given to the IU East graduate with the highest grade point average.

Krystal Schmidt of Chrisney, Indiana, is the Naomi Osborne Scholar for the Class of 2020. The human life science major graduates this spring with minors in in psychology, exercise science, chemistry and neuroscience.

IU East’s 2020 Graduation Celebration coming up on Friday, May 15, marks the completion of four accomplished years in Richmond for Schmidt, a Heritage Hills High School graduate who came to IU East from Chrisney in the southwest tip of Indiana.

Schmidt will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Human Life Science. She also earned minors in psychology, exercise science, chemistry and neuroscience in preparation for a planned career as a physical therapist.

Uncommon achievements. Uncommon time.

The customary May Commencement Ceremony has been postponed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. As the Naomi Osborne Scholar, Schmidt would have helped lead the members of the Class of 2020 as they were inducted into the Indiana University Alumni Association.

It’s one of many traditions altered for Schmidt and the rest of the Class of 2020.

“It has been difficult to cope with this very abrupt end to my college career, but I know it was only done out of necessity,” Schmidt said. “I hope that many lives are saved by the sacrifices that everyone has had to make.”

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According to Merriam-Webster, “If someone calls you tenacious you’re probably the kind of person who never gives up and never stops trying – someone who does whatever is required to accomplish a goal.”

Krystal Schmidt is a member of the IU East Red Wolves women’s tennis team. As a singles player, Schmidt earned 56 wins, more than any other tennis player in the program’s history.

That’s Schmidt in a sentence.

Schmidt’s professors in the classroom and coaches on the tennis court probably never met. Yet they all used that same word – tenacious – to explain Schmidt’s secret to success.

Schmidt traces that tenacity to her family upbringing.

“I know how hard life can get,” she said, “so I wanted to get the most out of my education so that I can accomplish my goals. My mom especially has always told me that I can do anything if I put my mind to it, so every day I give it my best effort.”

Schmidt was a student at Heritage Hills High School when she was inspired to channel that tenacity toward a career in physical therapy.

Schmidt was, in her words, “trying to deduce what I wanted to do with my life,” when she had the opportunity to spend a day shadowing her sister-in-law in her role as a physical therapist assistant (PTA).

“I remember thinking, ‘Wow! This is awesome! I love this!'” she said. “And from that point on, I wanted to be a physical therapist.”

Schmidt arrived at IU East in the fall of 2016. She admits she was not familiar with the school until coaches from the IU East athletic department contacted her as a prospective tennis recruit. Like so many other IU East students, Schmidt appreciated the chance for a quality education in a small-school setting.

“IU East really clicked with me because of the small atmosphere. It just felt like home,” Schmidt recalled four years later. “The girls on the tennis team I met, they were all friendly and outgoing. I felt comfortable here.

“And I really liked the degree. I thought the human life science degree would really prepare me for physical therapy school.”

Krystal Schmidt is the women’s tennis records holder for best single-season doubles winning percentage and longest doubles winning streak. Schmidt was also active off the court as a volunteer, member of the Student Government Association and Circle K.

Uncommon perception – she was exactly right.

Schmidt will continue her studies in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Indiana State University, a three-year program in Terre Haute.

She can picture herself working with the elderly, thanks to a strong bond she enjoyed with her grandfather. She can picture herself working with athletes, thanks to her own background as a college-level tennis player. She can also picture herself helping others in neurological care, wound care or pediatric care.

Jill Russell, a former visiting instructor at IU East in the department of biology and one of Schmidt’s favorites, can picture Schmidt succeeding in any line of the profession.

“Krystal is going to be a phenomenal physical therapist,” Russell said. “She’ll be extraordinary working with patients because she’s got that personality – so easy to be with – that she is going to set all of her patients at ease.”

Russell noted that uncommon tenacity in Schmidt’s uncommon accomplishments.

“She has tenacity, and I love that in her,” Russell said. “The key to being successful academically in college is stick-to-it-ive-ness. Especially in the classes Krystal took. Anatomy. Physiology. Those are hard classes! And on top of that, it’s medical terminology. It’s like learning a second language at the same time. It doesn’t come easily to anyone, even high school valedictorians.

“There’s twice as much information in half the time, and you have to master it. And that’s where Krystal shines. She has the IQ. She has the maturity. She knows on days she can’t bring her ‘A’ game, that you don’t give up, but you dive in harder. She totally epitomizes that. It’s her biggest strength, her tenacity and perseverance.”

As an example, Schmidt remembers spending long hours writing, writing and re-writing a Physics 1 formal report early in her IU East career.

“It was incredibly challenging for me, and it forced me to seek help to understand gravitational and contact forces on a deeper level,” she said. “My research skills at that point were admittedly underdeveloped, but I was able to persevere and persist to acquire this skill.”

The persistence paid off. Schmidt gained understanding of gravitational and contact forces. Just as importantly, she gained appreciation for the effort needed for future grade-A work.

Flash forward to today. Schmidt relishes describing her recent honors thesis project. Her work focused on current physical therapy interventions for rotator cuff injuries, a not-uncommon and often career-altering issue for athletes involved in sports that require a throwing motion.

“I am most proud of this paper,” she said. “It helped me realize how far I have come and how much I have improved as a researcher.”

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“Naomi Osborne Scholar” will headline Schmidt’s college resume. It’s just the first line on a uncommonly long and varied list of college accomplishments and activities.

Schmidt particularly enjoyed volunteering at “Night To Shine,” a prom night experience for people with special needs.

“The man I was assisting was dancing to the ‘YMCA’ song, and he was just so happy,” she said. “It was a reminder that the little things can make such a big difference.”

Schmidt also served as a mentor and science fair judge at Hibberd Intermediate School. She volunteered at a local animal shelter. She assisted at Safety Village, where area youngsters learn traffic safety. She was part of an IU East service-learning trip to the Dominican Republic that focused on making hundreds of water filters for families in need. She served on IU East’s Student Government Association. She was a member of Circle K International, a college branch of the Kiwanis International community.

Schmidt also won several key victories in the most successful four-year stretch in the history of the IU East women’s tennis program.

Schmidt is the third consecutive Naomi Osborne Scholar from the IU East athletic department. Lucas Huffman from the Red Wolf men’s basketball program was honored in 2018. Bre Nowak from the IU East women’s golf program was the Naomi Osborne Scholar for the Class of 2019.Huffman, is currently in the medical program at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis. Nowak completed her first year at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Erskine Ratchford, IU East’s tennis head coach during Schmidt’s four seasons, agrees that Schmidt’s uncommon tenacity also produced uncommon results on the tennis court.

Schmidt showed her mettle in one of her very first matches as a Red Wolf. She found herself locked into a pressure-packed singles match against a strong opponent from Franklin College.

A match that lasted more than four hours. As Schmidt fought through painful leg cramps. With the team score tied at 4-4.

With all of the players and supporters from both schools watching, knowing Schmidt’s match would determine the team’s fate.

“This was the first defining moment for me about Krystal,” Ratchford remembers. “In this tough situation you would normally like to have a senior player taking on the pressure of playing the deciding match. Krystal found herself as a freshman dealing with the challenge of not only winning the match for herself, but also for the team win for the Red Wolves. Krystal displayed a competitive spirit and a will to win that was representative of a senior-level player and won 7-5 in the third set to seal the team win for us.”

Uncommon tenacity. Unsurpassed results.

That win was one of 56 singles victories that Schmidt accumulated during her IU East career – more than any other Red Wolf tennis player, ever. She also holds IU East women’s tennis records for best single-season doubles winning percentage and longest doubles winning streak.

“Her tenacity is remarkable,” Ratchford said. “Over the past four years I have seen her in numerous matches that were long and challenging, winning many, but regardless of the outcome, she never quit.

“Besides her match play, her work ethic in practice and efforts to improve her level of play were a constant. This constant and consistent effort to make herself a more skilled tennis player – and also an accomplished college student who is very supportive to many people – and then fight to win her matches with a remarkable determination is a shining part of her outstanding college story.”

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Told that her professors and coaches all picked “tenacity” as her defining characteristic, Schmidt concurred.

“I definitely agree with their assessment of my tenacity,” she concluded. “I wouldn’t call myself the smartest person in my graduating class, but I think my perseverance and drive to succeed has helped set me apart.”

Uncommon tenacity, uncommon achievement in this uncommon time.