Many people have hobbies they enjoy, such as painting, singing or playing various sports.
Head golf coach Karen Exon takes one of her hobbies, kayaking, to a new level by using it for personal enjoyment and to help others.
Exon has taken part in paddle sports and sailing for most of her life. Throughout middle school and high school, her father was interested in sailing and she continued to sail through young and middle adulthood.
“I’ve been serious about (kayaking), as far as racing, for about three and a half or four years,” Exon said.
She began looking into kayak racing while she was also looking for aerobic exercise that could keep her physically fit and outdoors.
“I read an article in the Missouri Conservationist about a kayak race called the Missouri River 340,” Exon said.
Exon has competed in three MR 340 races. In each race, she was the oldest female competitor. Exon has improved her racing time every year she participates.
In her first race, she received fourth place and finished the race in about 79 hours. In her second race, she received third place and finished the race in 62 hours.
In her most recent race, which started Aug. 24, she received fourth place and finished in about 52 hours.
Exon said the proceeds for the MR 340 go toward a cleaner river. She also uses the money she raises for the race for other groups she personally supports.
“The last three years I have used this race to fundraise for … the Baker University men’s and women’s golf teams,” Exon said.
Sophomore Vance Beiser, said it is nice for Exon to raise money for the team.
“She is already a great coach and role model, but when she puts the team before herself it shows a lot of great character and how much she really cares about us,” Beiser said.
Some of the money Exon raises helps team members pay for a trip with Exon and her husband every other year to Alabama.
On the trip, the teams participate in community service. Exon and the golf teams also use the traveling time to practice golfing in warm weather.
“The golfers and I do 20 hours of community service. This year it will probably be oil cleanup,” Exon said. “The last couple of years it’s been hurricane disaster cleanup and some years we’ve done Habitat for Humanity.”
Sophomore golfer Bristol Brandt is looking forward to going on the trip, not only to spend time with her teammates, but also to help out people who are in need.
Senior golfer Krista Yaktine is also looking forward to helping others.
“It shows everyone that we like to help other people,” Yaktine said. “We’re not just representing the golf team, but we’re representing Baker.”
