Kalena Ricketts, a nursing major in her senior year and middle blocker for Farmingdale State College’s (FSC) Women’s Volleyball team, has it all and then some. Being named a member of the 2022 and 2023 Academic All-District Women’s Volleyball Teams, 2023 co-player of the year for the Skyline Conference, and All-Skyline Conference first team three seasons in a row are just a few of Ricketts’ accolades. But how does she manage it all? She sums it up with one word—community.
Born and raised in Bay Shore, New York, to parents Jenine Jordan and Ian Ricketts, she moved to Cambria Heights, Queens, at age 6 and lived with her mom and grandmother. During high school, Ricketts’ grandmother fell ill, and while spending time with her at North Shore University Hospital, Ricketts observed how caring the nursing staff was. “They became like family to us,” she said. The nurses even sent flowers to her grandmother’s funeral. This generosity and kindness spiked her interest in pursuing a career in nursing.
While searching for colleges, it was important to Ricketts to make sure she could pursue both her enthusiasm for nursing and her passion for volleyball. However, many colleges would not permit students to study nursing while playing an NCAA sport, due to the rigor and commitment of the major. Then she found FSC, which permits student athletes to choose any course of study. “FSC gave me an experience I wouldn’t get anywhere else,” said Ricketts.
Also a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Council, Ricketts serves as a coach for South Bay Volleyball Club in Melville and as a nursing assistant at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital in Queens.
“Kalena is an outstanding, well-rounded young lady,” said Kellie Block, coach of FSC’s women’s volleyball team. “She handled playing volleyball, academics, and serving as president of the Student Nurses Association (SNA) while still maintaining a social life and being an active nurse all at the same time. She managed this incredible workload with gratitude and grace. FSC is so lucky to have her as a role model for all incoming students.”
During her time as president of the SNA, Ricketts sponsored several successful nursing gear fundraisers. Additionally, Ricketts participated in health fairs and in community-wide activities both on and off the Farmingdale State College campus. She also represented the SNA at the annual convention of the Student Nursing Association of New York State in New York City, where more than 300 student nurses were in attendance.
“In her role as president of the SNA, Kalena was a role model to her classmates and helped to arrange for interesting topics/speakers at the SNA meetings,” said Nancy Maggio, DNP, associate nursing professor at FSC.
Ricketts said time management is the most challenging part of balancing it all. “Sometimes I bite off more than I can chew, but my support system always keeps me grounded and helps me get everything done. I am so grateful for them,” said Ricketts.
“I really couldn’t have done all this without my parents and brother, Larry Robinson, my coaches, Kellie Block and Brooke Cole, my professors, who work overtime to take care of the students in the nursing program, and my friends and teammates.”
So, what’s next for this rising star? She is using her COVID year of athletics eligibility to play Division II volleyball at Adelphi University and plans to apply for its Master of Science degree in nursing. Her goal is to work in a NICU or PICU.
“It was always my dream to play Division I or II, so it is surreal that I now have this opportunity to play Division II volleyball,” she said. “I’m excited to see how I perform at the next level and to make new memories.”
