Being a student isn’t only about academics. For Ella Gilbertson, her time as a UMD student-athlete helped illuminate her eventual career path.
Originally from Illinois, Gilbertson was recruited to play basketball at UMD. “I had been to Duluth on vacation, and I love it here,” she says. “So once I met the team and saw the school, it just ended up working out.”
Gilbertson started her studies at UMD as a biology major but switched to the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) program. “I took an intro to communication disorders course for a liberal education credit and I fell in love with it,” she says. She knew it was the right choice because it combines her interests in helping people and science—and there are a number of possible career options.
She recounts being a student-athlete as she approaches graduation. It has been one of her most challenging yet rewarding experiences. Practice often runs late and away games can detract from time spent on schoolwork, so learning time management is critical.
Gilberston mentions that despite being on the road a lot, traveling around the country was a very memorable part of being an athlete; she not only got to see a lot of different places, but it also allowed for building connections outside of just college and athletics.
The community at UMD has played an integral part in making it an enjoyable experience, despite the challenges. “As a student-athlete you get so many resources, and faculty has been really helpful in managing the process. My professors were super accommodating,” Gilbertson says.
Last year, the women’s basketball team made it to nationals, and Gilberston recalls the whole department rallying around the team. “It’s awesome having people support you, especially in a bigger setting. Men’s sports might get more support, but they are some of the women’s biggest fans,” she says. “They come to a lot of our games, and it’s awesome and unique to have that community.”
Her devotion to academics and athletics has not gone unnoticed. During her senior year, she received two awards from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), an organization that uses “high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders.” Gilbertson was named to their All-Conference Team and earned an NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award, which is presented to senior students who maintain a GPA of 3.75 or higher.
Receiving these awards for academics was an honor. It was Gilbertson’s first time being distinguished in such a way for stepping into a bigger role. “It’s really cool to see all the hard work pay off,” she says.
Athletes, like Gilbertson, who lost a season during COVID were given the option to play for a fifth season in 2025-26. Though she has loved playing since elementary school, she chose to shift her attention to academics next. She applied and was accepted to multiple graduate programs, working towards her goal of a speech pathology job in a school or a hospital.
“It might be an adjustment—not doing any sports—but it’s nice to have a new beginning,” she says. “I had a great end to my career, and there’s more to life than basketball.”
This story was written by UMD student Jax Wilder, who is majoring in psychology. Jax assists Lissa Maki with communications for the College of Education and Human Service Professions.