JIM KNOUS, CLASS OF 2012
Colorado School of Mines was one of several colleges Jim Knous considered as a senior at Basalt High School, but he admits he was a bit daunted by the school’s reputation for tough academics. “A deciding factor in my school selection was receiving a scholarship. I knew that since I didn’t have to worry so much about the cost of college, I could dedicate myself to excelling at this very prestigious school,” he says.
After just one year at Mines, the freshman civil engineering major has already racked up some impressive achievements. He was selected as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Men's Golf Freshman of the Year for the 2009 season and was named to PING’s 2008-09 NCAA Division II All-Central Region Team. And, his performance in the classroom has been on par with his success on the links, earning him a position on the honor roll for his first semester.
Being a recipient of the Leo N. Bradley Family Scholarship makes it easier for Jim to tackle the challenges of being a collegiate student-athlete. “The scholarship lets me know that someone is rooting me on, which encourages me to try my hardest,” he says.
Spending half of each week during the season on the road with the golf team, he has out of necessity become an expert at time management. “I’m a pretty social person, so I’ve had to learn how to divide my free time into studying and socializing—I often do homework with friends as a way to combine both.” Determination, he says, is the key to his success: “Whatever I do, I just have to find a way to excel.”
Three things about Jim Knous:
Best 18 holes: 66
Favorite golf course: Ironbridge Golf Club, Glenwood Springs, CO
Favorite class: Earth and Environmental Systems, Professor Christian Shorey