Loyola Athletics Pursuit of Excellence Spotlight: Zoe Schmit

NEW ORLEANS – Loyola Wolf Pack cheer student-athlete Zoe Schmit is this month's edition of the Pursuit of Excellence Spotlight. Schmit takes the Jesuit values of "pursuing excellence and living a life with and for others" to the next level, whether it's in competition, in the classroom, or in her spare time. 
 

"Her kind heart, academic performance, and ability to conquer gameday are unmatched," Wolf Pack cheer and dance head coach Courtney Cadore said. "She is someone who commits to excellence and always wants what's best for the team. She effortlessly forms connections with all team members and makes new members feel welcome and included. I admire her heart and her ability to see the positive in all situations."
 

Schmit, who is in her junior year at Loyola, has become a leader for the Wolf Pack competitive cheerleading team. Her dedication to her sport and teammates is unmatched, and she applies Jesuit values in her stewardship of the team. But, she's finding ways "live life with and for others" away from the mat. 
 

"Living a life with and for others not only means being someone my teammates can rely on but also transferring it to the real world," she said. "Hospice volunteering has further reinforced the importance of service to others for me, especially as a younger volunteer in a space where that presence is not very common. Witnessing these emotionally vulnerable moments has taught me to use my compassion as a tool and to be grateful for every day."
 

A native of Belle Chasse, Louisiana, Schmit is a biological sciences major with a concentration in pre-health sciences at Loyola, also minoring in public health and chemistry. She plans to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon, as her own personal history with an ACL reconstruction surgery fueled her passion for the medical field. As her head coach said, her ability to see the positive in all situations was shining bright during her rehabilitation. 
 

"Though it was a tiring and painful journey, I would not take it back because it inspired me to pursue medicine," Schmit said. "An interest that has only grown stronger through my work as both a physical therapy technician and a medical assistant in the same clinic as the doctor who helped me return to what I love: cheerleading."
 

Schmit's commitment to service, leadership, and personal growth is rooted in the environment she found at Loyola, and it's one that aligned with her values from the very beginning. As she navigated the college search process, she was drawn not only to academic opportunities but also to a campus culture that emphasized connection, support, and genuine care for students. From her first visit, Loyola stood apart from other institutions she explored. 
 

"From the recruiters to the financial aid office to the tour guides, everyone was genuinely welcoming," Schmit said. "It never felt commercialized or harshly competitive like most schools I toured; instead, it felt warm and personal, like they truly wanted me there. I visited colleges that made me feel as though I should have felt lucky just to be considered, but Loyola made me feel like they were lucky to have me become a part of their family, and that made my decision easy.
 

These spotlights honor a student-athlete who not only excels in their sport but also embraces the greater purpose of using their talents to serve and inspire others. 

Please submit your nominees with specific examples of how your nominee exemplifies these characteristics - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLSU9L3RIq7rytJzmj9_XQZa8knsut8u96cb_jZ_vpMgppFw/viewform?usp=header