University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Valentina Haupt's Contributions to Southern Miss Extend Beyond Golf
2/20/2019 4:01:00 PM | Women's Golf
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss senior women's golfer Valentina Haupt has played 100 rounds in her collegiate career, and she has given 100 percent, if not more, in more pursuits than most student-athletes could even think to do.
The native of Santiago, Chile, currently serves as the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) president and has been named everything from a WGCA All-American Scholar (three times) to C-USA Player of the Week. She also boasts a 3.9 cumulative GPA.
So how did it all begin?
"I started playing when I was 10," she said. "I started traveling at 12, and that's when I really got into it. I traveled to other cities and countries to play, so that's when I realized it's what I wanted to do."
The Haupt family moved to Miami, Fla., when she was 15. Her father, who is Chilean, was born in America and moved the family back to the states because of his job and that the children could become citizens if there by 18. Valentina says the advantages of seeing girls from other countries in tournaments and different types of pressure have since shaped her playing successes.
But the international move had its drawbacks in the short term.
"It was hard at the beginning. It wasn't hard to understand English, just speaking it," she said. "I wouldn't talk to anyone. It was hard to leave my coach at home, but I didn't know who I was going to be coached by. It took me nearly 2 1/2 years to find the coach I have now. He went to the navy and I had to find another."
Haupt definitely found her stroke, so to speak. She twice qualified for the Junior PGA Tour in Florida, including the South Florida Junior PGA Championship. She also competed for Chile in the 2015 Pan American Games. College was the next step.
"I had a few different offers to stay in Florida, and Southern Miss was my first visit," Haupt said. "I knew I was coming here and didn't take any others. I guess it was just meant to be."
As if the transition from the high school to the college greens were not enough, in came a new opportunity for Haupt socially and academically: becoming a SAAC officer.
"My freshman year coach [Erika Brennan] nominated two people. I stayed in it until now, and last year I was the conference rep and got to go to Texas. I was involved in health and safety for the conference. This year, I got to be the president and league rep for the first time.
"It's a funny story... I wasn't running for president," she said. "The day we had the elections, it was during a meeting and I was playing in the conference tournament. A girl called me and said 'congrats, you're the president.' I said 'how? I didn't even run.' They just voted me in."
Haupt has spearheaded several efforts in her time at the top. SAAC initiated a $1,000 fundraising effort for HOPE kits to help breast cancer patients centered around the Oct. 20 football game. The committee is also dialing in on Homes For Hope, donating old Southern Miss Russell Athletic apparel, planning events for National Student-Athlete Day (April 6), the annual Talon Awards and mental health welfare awareness.
The diverse experiences do not end there. Haupt was one of 11 Golden Eagle student-athletes to take part in the athletics leadership academy's Outward Bound, a seven-day wilderness excursion in far northern Minnesota. Each person was outfitted with a backpack weighing between 40-50 pounds, carrying everything to sustain us on our backs - food, water, filtration systems, tents, sleeping bags, pots, and other supplies. No cell phones or electronic devices in-tow, no showers, no bathrooms, no deodorant, no convenience stores, no running water, and no Keurig coffeemakers. Just a single change of clothes.
"The Leadership Academy was a unique experience that not only helped us grow as leaders, but as people. It was such a great group and learning environment. Additionally, the Outward Bound experience was a life changing, one of a kind experience. The most important lesson I learned from the experience is that there is always something left in the tank. It really opened my eyes that the only thing stopping us, is our mind. Also, I realized that you cannot get through by yourself for you need to rely on your peers to help along the way." - Haupt via "Outward Bound, In Their Own Words (July 19, 2018)"
All student-athletes are faced with the burden of fulfilling their academic and athletic requirements, while also trying to sustain a rewarding social life. Haupt says she prides herself on her skillful planning that balances it all out, including when she has played 36 holes in the searing sun and hop on a SAAC conference call. From there, she is able to conquer homework and still make it to bed around 10 p.m.
Head coach Lucy Nunn, in her first year at the helm, commended Haupt for being one of the first athletes to "bridge the gap," upon her arrival that summer, where they could get on the course and chat and play.
"She carries herself very well," Nunn said. "You would never know when she's stressed or whatever. She's mellow on the golf course and the academics are part of her routine and it makes sense that she finds time for everything really."
Miranda Holt, the only other senior on the team and a freshman roommate of Haupt, has been close to her ever since they were roommates freshman year.
"My forever memory of her is that she works the hardest out of anyone," she said. "Her and I were just talking recently about going pro and she didn't know if she wanted to. I said, 'if anyone's gonna do it, it's gonna be you.'"
Who knows what will be in store on the links for Haupt after this spring concludes. She has been well-versed in the athletic administration world thanks to her Conference USA efforts and jobs within the Southern Miss athletics marketing office. Haupt says she would enjoy staying in collegiate athletics, especially behind-the-scenes jobs like marketing or event management based on her love of organization, planning, ideas and creativity. There is also one more thing, and an obvious one, that has shaped her desires.
"After playing golf, I don't know if I could be inside all day. I feel I'm good at being under pressure and fast-paced, and not getting stressed."
And if there is one more takeaway from the story of Southern Miss' Valentina Haupt, Holt can help.
"She is so prideful and strong and knows who she is," she said. "Her taking the role of being so high up in SAAC is different from the girl I knew freshman year. She's really taken charge and will achieve what she wants to achieve."
Southern Miss begins its spring season Monday at the Icon Invitational in The Woodlands, Texas.
Our student-athletes are looking to raise $1,000 for breast cancer patient HOPE kits by the Oct. 20 Homecoming football game.
— Southern Miss🔝 (@USMGoldenEagles) October 7, 2018
SAAC president and @SouthernMissWG senior Valentina Haupt is here to give you the scoop!
Donate ➡️ https://t.co/xcYmsSXByn pic.twitter.com/dypkgiDD0M
.@Seymour_USM is impressed by this drive from @SouthernMissWG's Valentina Haupt! #SMTTT ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/6jAsni7ahJ
— Southern Miss🔝 (@USMGoldenEagles) October 10, 2016
Valentina Haupt was named @Conference_USA's Golfer of the Week! Read more about her performance: https://t.co/lgeSNaY12Z #SMTTT pic.twitter.com/DmGs0p88fG
— Southern Miss W Golf (@SouthernMissWG) March 29, 2017
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