Hood College junior women's lacrosse midfielder Brandy Noel is this week's CAC INTRODUCING ... featured athlete.  Noel was the AWCC Newcomer of the Year and has finished second in scoring for the Blazers the past two seasons.

What is your background in the sport you play?  I started playing lacrosse when I was 7 years old.  It was 1995, the first year they opened the Recreational league for GORC. Ever since then I have loved to play! I played for GORC until I was in high school. Then I played lacrosse for Old Mill High School and now I'm playing here at Hood!

What is your favorite spot on campus?  My favorite spot on campus is definitely the Quad. It is the spot on campus in between all of the dorms so everyone goes outside when it is nice. We go out there to do homework, play lacrosse (when we aren't in practice), to catch some sun and to just hang out with friends.

Other than your team, what organization (s) do you participate in?  Other than my lacrosse team, I am also a member of the field hockey team. I have played field hockey just as long as lacrosse so I love it just as much! I am so excited for the 2009 field hockey season because we are getting a turf field and I know we can do great things!

What is the most important societal issue facing college students?  The most important issue facing college students is definitely the economic crisis. This is because it is so hard to attend college, go to classes, do homework, play sports and work at the same time. Because of this it is not common that you see students, especially athletes, with a job. Another thing is that it is so hard to find a job when graduating college. I know I am stressed out because when I graduate I am not guaranteed a job. This is because I am majoring in Elementary and Special Education, so most counties are on a hiring freeze for teachers.

What is your major in college, and what is the most important thing you learned in that discipline?  My major is Elementary and Special Education. The most important thing that I have learned in this major is that it is our job to help ALL students succeed both in and out of the classroom. We are their role models so we must act like it. I am going to strive to be the best teacher I can be for my students!

Other than your family members, who was the most influential person in your life?  Other than my family, the most influential person in my life is my best friend Lauren Perzan. She attends Hood College as well and she is my roommate. Not only do we play lacrosse together yet we also play field hockey here at Hood. She is my competition yet in a very good way. I strive to be like her and be better at everything I do.  She always tells me the right thing to do when I go to her for advice. I couldn't ask for a better best friend or roommate.

If you could give one piece of advice to elementary school children, what would that advice be?  Listen to your teachers!! They are there to help you and they care about you more than you know. They want to teach you how to succeed in everything you do, in and out of the classroom.

What is your favorite form of entertainment?  My favorite form of entertainment is definitely my family and friends. When I'm home from school, my family is my form of entertainment. My dad is probably the funniest person I know, he is always cracking me up. When I'm at school, my friends are my entertainment. I don't even think we need a TV or anything around our apartment because we are all too busy cracking up at each other!

Outside of the Capital Athletic Conference, who or what is your favorite sports person or team?  For sure the New York Yankees! I represent them proud. I have loved them for a long time and cannot wait to go their games this year!! GO YANKS!!

Name three (3) people, real or fictional, living or dead, that you'd like to have dinner with.  The three people I would like to have dinner with are my Poppop (my grandfather), Nick Markakis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. I would have dinner with my Poppop again. He passed away shortly before I went to college, and I miss him so much. I love him so much and still think of him every day. The second person I would have dinner with is Nick Markakis. This is because he is a great athlete and he is so gorgeous. I would like to ask him what it takes to be such a great athlete. The third and final person is Arnold Schwarzenegger. I'm kind of obsessed with him. He is just such a great guy and role model. He has such a fascinating life and is an inspiration for all of us.