In this Fuel Your Future series, we profile six motivated students on their educational journey and learn how Davenport is igniting their passion and fueling their future. 

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We first featured Logan Sowers a year ago as he was about to embark on his journey as a student-athlete at Davenport University. It had always been his dream to play volleyball at the collegiate level, and he was excited to be a Panther.

With one year under his belt, Logan reflects on his first year at Davenport, focuses on what lies ahead for him, and has some advice for incoming freshmen.

Logan said Davenport is fueling his future by giving him the education needed to become a therapist so he can help people battling mental health issues. Today, he holds fast to that desire and said his first year at Davenport went exceptionally well, so well that it fired him up even more about pursuing his career as a therapist. “I loved my classes and my professors last year,” said Sowers. “My professors were so supportive, and one of the reasons I’ve been so committed and focused on earning my Human Services Case Management degree.” 

The sense of community at Davenport and the ability to form lifelong friendships are just a few reasons why Sowers loves where he landed. Living on campus has allowed him to meet new people and become immersed in all of the activities Davenport has to offer. “Some of the people I met during my first few days on campus are the ones I still see every day and hang out with. I’m so glad I got involved right away because it helped me feel connected,” he said. 

He cautions incoming freshmen about spending too much time in their rooms and encourages them to explore campus. “My advice is to get out and meet people and make the most of your time here,” he said. “Make new friends, find new hobbies and take advantage of all of the cool Student Life events that are offered, like Panther Prowl and the Super Bowl party. There’s always something going on!”

His favorite highlight from his first year at Davenport is when he traveled with the men’s volleyball team to Phoenix, AZ. “That was one of the coolest experiences of my life,” he said. “I played and watched my favorite sport, enjoyed new cuisine and enjoyed the hot Arizona weather.” 

As far as his first year playing college volleyball, Sowers said things went better than he ever could have imagined. “There are so many great things to say about my teammates, but if I had to choose just one, it would be how resilient they are,” said Sowers. “They show up regardless of how they feel or what is going on in their lives, and not because they have to, but because they want to.”

The team’s cohesive bond helped them end the season with a 57-13 record and claim the conference championship. In the region, the team was ranked third and in the top 10 in their division.  And to top it off, Sowers will be returning to the team in the fall as a leader. “I am honored and privileged to be a captain this year, and I look forward to meeting all of the freshman players,” he said. 

Sowers is optimistic for what the new academic year will bring in the classroom and on the volleyball court. 

“I am super excited to enter my sophomore year and feel prepared and ready to dive back in. Being a freshman can be intimidating, but once you get into the rhythm of things, everything works itself out,” he said. 

He has learned that juggling college classes and a sport at the same time, and wanting to succeed at both, takes growth and discipline. “You need to be tough mentally, but you also need to eat well, get enough sleep and be organized so you can manage your commitments. You can be the student, athlete, teammate, competitor and human being you want to be; you just have to work at it.”