It's time to meet the Auburn equestrian freshman class as we bring you Q&As with the newcomers. We're kicking off our final week of questionnaires with Montgomery native, Gracie Sullivan!
Hometown: Montgomery, Ala.
Major: Exercise Science
Prior to Auburn: USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championship … Junior Hunter Finals from 2017-2019 … Seventh place at the 2018 Junior Hunter Finals – Younger Large Junior Hunters.
Q: Why did you chose Auburn?
A: I chose Auburn not only to be a part of a winning team, but also to be a part of a family. Auburn has felt like home to me since I was a child. Growing up an Auburn fan, my family would drive up often for sporting events. Driving up to Auburn was always the highlight of my week!
How long have you been riding and what was the name of your first pony?
I have been riding for 10 years. The first pony I rode was named Cheerio.
Since you're from just up the road, what has been the best thing about being so close to home?
Although I haven't been home because of COVID, it's nice to know I am only forty-five minutes away from my family. It's also great having one of my brothers in Auburn with me!
What is the best vacation you've ever been on and what made it so awesome?
The best vacation I've been on was our family trip to Ireland. My dad's family is Irish, so for my parents' 25th anniversary, we traveled around the southern half of Ireland. The trip was unforgettable because sixteen of our closest family members tagged along; I won't forget to mention the culture and scenery were amazing.
What is your favorite homecooked meal?
My favorite homecooked meal would be my dad's Boston butt or porkchop with fresh vegetables.
If you're stranded on a deserted island, what three teammates do you bring with and why?
This is a tough question because obviously I would prefer to bring the whole team. The three teammates I would bring if I was deserted on an island would be Helen Lohr, Samantha Briggs, and Grace Pearson. I said Helen because she knows the tricks on surviving thanks to ROTC. Training has made her very strong, and she would help a lot on the island. Another teammate mentioned was Sam because she is very organized and a peacemaker. If we became frustrated on being stranded or too many people trying to take the lead at once, Sam would be the best teammate to solve problems. Lastly, I said Grace because she has a knack for assembling different necessities. My goal would be to get off the island as quick as possible, so Grace would be needed to build a raft.
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
I would live in Italy for a year. It has always been a dream to visit Italy because of the atmosphere and history. I have always been fascinated with the culture and could see myself enjoying living there.
What is your favorite Auburn tradition?
It is hard to pick my favorite Auburn tradition since my family has created our own over the years. During football season, I would say the intro/hype videos and watching the head of band run during the pregame performance always make my day. Also, you can never forget watching Nova, now Aurea, fly around Jordan-Hare. If I had to choose a tradition related to AUET, I would say watching the last run of the Reiners is fun because we yell "WARRRRRRR EAGLE, HEY!" in sync with the horse.
What is your major and what do you plan on doing with it?
My major is Exercise Science and I think being a physical trainer or athletic trainer would be enjoyable.
What has been your favorite class so far at Auburn? Why did you enjoy it so much?
My favorite class at Auburn has been Intro to Psychology with Dr. Seth Gitter. I loved the class because he challenged us to not only understand behaviors and conditions, but also think deeper about what we were talking about in each chapter.
How would your friends and family describe you in three words?
I think my friends and family would describe me as caring, positive, and hard-working.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
My favorite holiday is Christmas because I get to see my close family and go to church to serve the multiple Christmas services. It's nice to attend a church service with my family and then help bring smiles to other families when they attend a different one. It's a win-win.
What movie could you watch on repeat and why would you chose it?
I could watch Remember the Titans on repeat because not only is it based on a true story about hardships we still struggle with today, but also there are funny moments that keep it interesting. It's also the best because it's a football movie.
Favorite spot on campus?
My favorite spot on campus is Jordan-Hare Stadium. Yes, I enjoy my classes in Haley Center and the Student Center, but Jordan-Hare will always be my favorite.
What has been your favorite memory so far with your teammates?
Out of the many great memories with my teammates, our first home meet and our South Donahue Nerf gun war are tied for first. It was so fun to see everyone in action at the meet because AUET has a family bond like no other team. My other favorite memory is our Nerf gun war. A handful of freshmen and upperclassmen joined to battle in South Donahue Residence Hall. It was a great way for us to have fun and find out more about each other.