Congratulations to Our Graduating Co-Captain

BROOKLYN, NY - The Pratt Institute is highlighting graduating seniors who have worked tirelessly on the field, on the court, and in the classroom. Due to the cancellation of sports during the 2020-21 academic year due to Covid-19, each senior will have a spotlight to share their journey as a student-athlete at the Pratt Institute.

Today's senior spotlight features equestrian senior Ayse Ozkan (Potomac Falls, VA), majoring in architecture with a minor in sustainability and has a 3.37 gpa.

Assistant Coach Kathryn Cullen-DuPont on Ayse. "Ayse's been at the center of our team from our beginning as a non-competing club and through all our varsity experiences.  Her love for horses and everything horse-related, her commitment to and care for her teammates, the time she devoted to helping our team become a family, and her incredible organizational skills are just a few of the reasons that she was selected as one of our co-captains.  We'll deeply miss having her with us as an undergraduate rider, but we look forward to seeing her continue as an IHSA Alumni Rider!"

 What has been your favorite memory and experience as part of the equestrian program?  My favorite memory would be my first ever competition. I had never been so nervous and I was so scared to be out in the ring without my team. When I got on the horse and walking, I realized that in every corner of the ring there was a team member cheering me on. That's when I realized how equestrian is a team sport. 

What advice would you give an incoming recruit to the athletic department? My biggest advice to an incoming recruit would be to take advantage of the opportunities that comes with being on a team. This is a safe place to really start learning about time management and team work skills that you will carry on to your career. 

What will you miss most when you graduate from Pratt? What I will miss most is my team. They have become family to me. Although being an Alumni for Pratt Equestrian doesn't mean goodbye, just see you later. 

How has being an athlete at Pratt helped you grow as a well rounded student? Being an athlete at Pratt helped me balance a healthy life. It's hard to eat and sleep when ur an architecture student and health is often overlooked. After joining the team, I had to sleep and eat well before competitions and practices.

What are your personal goals once graduating? My first goal is to become a licensed architect. First, gathering three years of required hours then passing the five exams. You should also expect to see me ride Alumni at the Pratt Home show!