Wawasee High School senior Jen Slabaugh signs the dotted line in committing to Indiana Wesleyan University to continue her track and cross country careers. Slabaugh is joined by parents Brian and Kathy Slabaugh as well as Wawasee cross country and track coach Jerid Stoffel, Wawasee cross country and track coach Doug Slabaugh and Indiana Wesleyan University assistant track coach Eric Jackson. (Photo by Mike Deak)

SYRACUSE – It wasn’t really much of a decision.

Wawasee High School senior Jen Slabaugh was offered a scholarship, and the choice to continue her running career as well as pursue an opportunity in elementary education at Indiana Wesleyan University were too good to pass up.

“I’ve been thinking about running for a while now,” Slabaugh said at her signing Monday at WHS. “It’s a big financial commitment. When I got the scholarship offer, I knew it would be hard not to run. It’s hard to imagine my life without running.”

Slabaugh, ranked No. 10 in her academic class at WHS, is hoping a major in education will allow her to pursue some missionary work overseas. Slabaugh’s endurance work has been true, earning four letters in both track and cross country as well as one letter in swimming this past winter. Slabaugh’s senior track seen has been colorful, where the senior most recently won a heat of the one-mile run at the Goshen Relays and has contributed to a very young Wawasee roster in need of leadership.

Slabaugh won an Honorable Mention All-Northern Lakes Conference award for cross country her sophomore year. IWU is planning on plugging in Slabaugh’s talents in both track and cross country.

“I’m thinking about doing some mission work overseas, and education will allow me to further that,” Slabaugh said. “It will teach me how to work with kids, if the opportunity is available for me. I am excited for what God had in his plan for me.”