Temple University Athletics
To Serve and Protect: Lacrosse’s Brenda McDermott Continues Family Legacy
8.31.18 | Women's Lacrosse
What do you want to be when you grow up?
That is the question that children are asked all the time from parents and relatives. The answers run the gamut from astronaut to professional athlete and change as times moves on.
For Brenda McDermott, the answer when she was in high school was police officer, and that one became not just an answer, but a goal.
Today, McDermott, who was a standout women's lacrosse player for Temple from 2012-17, returned to McGonigle Hall, where her Owls team locker room resides, to graduate from the Philadelphia Police Academy.
"It comes full circle," said McDermott, who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2017. "I loved my time here at Temple, so to come back and have another graduation ceremony here is so very special."
McDermott did not have to look very hard when searching for her career path in law enforcement. All she did was look at her uncle, Mike Curry. The young teenager from Harleysville, Pa. looked up to Curry, who served 36 years on the Philadelphia Police force before retiring four years ago.
"It really started with my uncle," said McDermott on her interest in becoming a police officer. "I was attracted to his job and looked at him as a role model. I saw how he was able to help others and that is something I wanted to do as well."
A two-time All-BIG EAST first team performer for the women's lacrosse team, McDermott is no stranger to hard work, which is what it takes to be a police officer. At Temple she had to juggle academics, athletics as well as rehabbing from an ACL injury in 2012. She not only recovered from that, but etched her name in the Owls' record books for single season (32) and career assists (54).
"It is such a thrill to see Brenda achieving another major accomplishment in her life," said Temple head coach Bonnie Rosen. "Her passion for criminal justice and for making the world a better place is truly inspiring. I am so excited for Brenda to be taking this step in her life. Her enthusiasm to take on challenges, tremendous physical and mental resilience, ability to approach life with a sense of humor, and commitment to being a team player are all skill sets that she learned and applied throughout her time as a Temple student-athlete and Temple lacrosse player. I have no doubt that Brenda will not only excel in her career in law enforcement but that she will make everyone around her better in the process. "
As heralded as she was on the field, McDermott was equally driven in the classroom. She was named to the Temple Athletics Director Honor Roll (3.50 or higher GPA) all four years while also earning the BIG EAST Scholar Athlete Sport Excellence Award and Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area honors.
"A lot of what you learn by being a student-athlete translates into a career in law enforcement," said McDermott. "People think of student-athletes and just see the athlete part. They do not realize we are in the classroom and getting good grades and we have to manage our time. Being a student-athlete prepares you for the real world and specifically law enforcement as it involves stressful situations at times and we already have the tools to handle this."
Before she walked across the stage at McGonigle Hall Friday, McDermott had to go through a vetting process before being hired as a police officer for the SEPTA transit police department. Once vetted, it was back to school at the Police Academy for nine months of intensive training.
Saturday, she will be on the job, working at the Made in America Festival, an "all hands on deck event" for her department. After that event, she will start her career as a patrol officer with the SEPTA transit police, with her main responsibility being to provide a safe environment for people to travel in and around the three states and five counties in its jurisdiction.
Knowing what it means to be a teammate is something that McDermott feels particularly will help her in her career.
"There is a great bond among teammates and that is very similar in law enforcement," she explains. "We all have each other's backs. I never wanted to lose my teammates at Temple and now I am going on to another team and it is such a great feeling."
Lastly, McDermott may credit her uncle with her career choice, but it was her family that molded her into the young woman she is today.
"Growing up my parents always held my older sister and I to a strong set of morals," she states. "We were always being pushed in a direction that would motivate us to always do our best. My dad would always say 'it doesn't matter what job you chose to do, as long as you always give it 110% effort.' When I first told them I was serious about pursuing a career in law enforcement they were nothing but supportive of my decision. Also, over the last nine months they have provided me with a very strong support system throughout the academy process which I can't thank them enough for."
Philadelphia is fortunate that they have one of Temple's finest to serve and protect them.
That is the question that children are asked all the time from parents and relatives. The answers run the gamut from astronaut to professional athlete and change as times moves on.
For Brenda McDermott, the answer when she was in high school was police officer, and that one became not just an answer, but a goal.
Today, McDermott, who was a standout women's lacrosse player for Temple from 2012-17, returned to McGonigle Hall, where her Owls team locker room resides, to graduate from the Philadelphia Police Academy.
"It comes full circle," said McDermott, who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2017. "I loved my time here at Temple, so to come back and have another graduation ceremony here is so very special."
McDermott did not have to look very hard when searching for her career path in law enforcement. All she did was look at her uncle, Mike Curry. The young teenager from Harleysville, Pa. looked up to Curry, who served 36 years on the Philadelphia Police force before retiring four years ago.
"It really started with my uncle," said McDermott on her interest in becoming a police officer. "I was attracted to his job and looked at him as a role model. I saw how he was able to help others and that is something I wanted to do as well."
A two-time All-BIG EAST first team performer for the women's lacrosse team, McDermott is no stranger to hard work, which is what it takes to be a police officer. At Temple she had to juggle academics, athletics as well as rehabbing from an ACL injury in 2012. She not only recovered from that, but etched her name in the Owls' record books for single season (32) and career assists (54).
"It is such a thrill to see Brenda achieving another major accomplishment in her life," said Temple head coach Bonnie Rosen. "Her passion for criminal justice and for making the world a better place is truly inspiring. I am so excited for Brenda to be taking this step in her life. Her enthusiasm to take on challenges, tremendous physical and mental resilience, ability to approach life with a sense of humor, and commitment to being a team player are all skill sets that she learned and applied throughout her time as a Temple student-athlete and Temple lacrosse player. I have no doubt that Brenda will not only excel in her career in law enforcement but that she will make everyone around her better in the process. "
As heralded as she was on the field, McDermott was equally driven in the classroom. She was named to the Temple Athletics Director Honor Roll (3.50 or higher GPA) all four years while also earning the BIG EAST Scholar Athlete Sport Excellence Award and Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area honors.
"A lot of what you learn by being a student-athlete translates into a career in law enforcement," said McDermott. "People think of student-athletes and just see the athlete part. They do not realize we are in the classroom and getting good grades and we have to manage our time. Being a student-athlete prepares you for the real world and specifically law enforcement as it involves stressful situations at times and we already have the tools to handle this."
Before she walked across the stage at McGonigle Hall Friday, McDermott had to go through a vetting process before being hired as a police officer for the SEPTA transit police department. Once vetted, it was back to school at the Police Academy for nine months of intensive training.
Saturday, she will be on the job, working at the Made in America Festival, an "all hands on deck event" for her department. After that event, she will start her career as a patrol officer with the SEPTA transit police, with her main responsibility being to provide a safe environment for people to travel in and around the three states and five counties in its jurisdiction.
Knowing what it means to be a teammate is something that McDermott feels particularly will help her in her career.
"There is a great bond among teammates and that is very similar in law enforcement," she explains. "We all have each other's backs. I never wanted to lose my teammates at Temple and now I am going on to another team and it is such a great feeling."
Lastly, McDermott may credit her uncle with her career choice, but it was her family that molded her into the young woman she is today.
"Growing up my parents always held my older sister and I to a strong set of morals," she states. "We were always being pushed in a direction that would motivate us to always do our best. My dad would always say 'it doesn't matter what job you chose to do, as long as you always give it 110% effort.' When I first told them I was serious about pursuing a career in law enforcement they were nothing but supportive of my decision. Also, over the last nine months they have provided me with a very strong support system throughout the academy process which I can't thank them enough for."
Philadelphia is fortunate that they have one of Temple's finest to serve and protect them.
Players Mentioned
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