It’s been a banner campaign for Greenwood student-athletes this year, as the Gator programs have seen perhaps a record number of students sign athletic scholarships in recent months.

Despite all the signing ceremonies at Greenwood this year, none compared to what took place Friday.

There probably was no better turnout of supportive students, no louder applause, no bigger group of smiling faces – and of welled up eyes – than there were when Kate Tischner took the podium.

Tischner, a special needs senior volleyball manager at Greenwood, signed to become the new volleyball manager for Western Kentucky University next season. Kate, her parents and everyone in attendance couldn’t have been happier.

“I couldn’t be any more proud,” said Jane Tischner, Kate’s mother. “She is doing something as a senior and taking the next step that most all seniors get to take – and we’re just blessed with that.

“When you’re given an unexpected diagnosis about your baby, you don’t know what that’s going to mean for you and looking back, I don’t think any parent of any other child could be more happy for their child than we are today.”

Kate’s journey with the Greenwood volleyball team began two years ago, when she befriended a few former players and was eventually asked to help out as a team manager.

From there, she quickly went from a team manager to a source of inspiration – not to mention perhaps the loudest Lady Gator volleyball cheerleader around.

“A couple years ago, a couple of girls were peer tutors in her class and they really saw that Kate took an interest in volleyball and they just wanted to bring her in and be part of the team,” Greenwood volleyball coach Holly Whittinghill said. “And by doing that, the whole team just took her as one of our own – she became a player with us.

“She shagged volleyballs, she got us water, she was in on the cheers, they give her high fives in the hallway and it’s just been an awesome experience for not only her, but all the girls as well.”

With the experience of being so close with the team over the past two seasons, Jane Tischner said Kate’s been able to achieve a feeling that many high school athletes have – being part of a team.

It’s something she felt Kate has held dear.

“Kate developed a new identity of belonging to something,” Jane said. “And it really has made her more a part of Greenwood and she’s gotten what everyone wants to get out of a team – and that’s the sense of being on a team, and I think (volleyball) instilled that in her.”

On top of having an opportunity with the WKU volleyball team, Kate’s parents both said they were equally proud of their daughter for getting a chance to move on to college and continue to have positive interaction with others.

“Kate has always had a certain sparkle since she was a little baby – she’s just always sort of evoked a special something in you and it’s been really a great joy to see her go through Greenwood and see how the kids respond to her,” Kate’s father, Steve Tischner, said. “We’re very grateful to have this opportunity to go on and have that opportunity to continue to interact, that’s the main thing.

“To not just sit at home in front of the TV or the computer, but to be out in the community – it’s a big deal for us.”

Whittinghill agreed, saying Kate’s situation proves that anything’s possible and that the opportunity Kate has been given at WKU could clear a path for others like her to follow.

“It’s very special, I think that just having the opportunity to go on to college and take classes is a big thing in itself,” Whittinghill said. “But to also work with an athletic program like Western, and for them to accept this as an opportunity for them and as an opportunity for her to work with their program is not only a big chance for her, but it opens the door for a lot of other kids like her to be able to do something like this.”

The ceremony itself was particularly special right down to the smallest detail. Not only did Kate receive an escort to the stage from a classmate to a standing ovation, but she also received another loud cheer from the crowd after she performed her own rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” – something she said she had been practicing for weeks.

In the end, Kate said she has many fond memories of her time at Greenwood with the Lady Gator volleyball team. Still, she said she is very excited to move on and work with what she called her favorite team – the Hilltoppers.

“I love Western,” Kate said with a smile stretched across her face. “Go Hilltoppers!”