BUIES CREEK, N.C. – West Point won the initial recruiting battle, but Campbell won the war.  That cliché certainly tells part of the story of how Lauren McNamara-Clement came to be a Fighting Camel.
 
Circumstance, timing, and a desire to be "more than just a student-athlete" led the native of Raleigh to Buies Creek, which is also where she has begun her professional journey.
 
McNamara-Clemente's journey, like many Campbell student-athletes, is a story of growth over a four, or more, year period.  Not only did she become a starter on a championship basketball team, but she immersed herself in the collegiate experience beyond her athletics responsibilities.
 
The generosity of Fighting Camel fans, alumni, family, and friends truly make a difference in the lives of student-athletes at Campbell University.  Through the newly created Women's Empowerment Fund, the Fighting Camel Club's goal is to make that experience even better, specifically for our female programs.
 
"Everything happens for a reason"
As a senior at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, McNamara decided to accept an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and an offer to play basketball for the Black Knights of the Hudson.   However, she suffered a knee injury during her final season, and discovered that she would need to attend the Army prep school and delay her enrollment in the Academy while she rehabilitated her injury.
 
Initially recruited by Coach Wanda Watkins' staff and later by Coach Ronny Fisher's, McNamara-Clement did not want to postpone her collegiate experience.  It also just so happened that the Camels still had a scholarship available in the spring of 2017.
 
"I was supposed to be at Campbell," said McNamara-Clement.  "Whether I knew it or not, God said, 'we're going to make sure you get there.'"
 
An All-Cap-8 conference performer as a prep, McNamara-Clement made an impact in her first season, twice earning Big South freshman of the week honors, while playing in all 30 games with 18 starts.  Despite the time demands placed on a typical student-athlete, she found ways to be involved in other ways on campus.
 
She was involved in an all-female Bible study group and later in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Campbell Multi-Cultural Council.  She was named SAAC President in 2020 and chosen to participate in the NCAA Student-Athlete Engagement Group later that year.
 
Big South Conference athletic communications professionals chose McNamara-Clement as the league's women's basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2021.
 
"I knew I wanted to be more than a student-athlete," said McNamara-Clement.  "Campbell allowed me to do that, and I don't know if I would have been able to do that at a lot of other places. Early on I was able to get leadership experience, have mentors and be involved with SAAC.  That prepared me as much for the real world as being a student-athlete did."
 
McNamara-Clement took full advantage of her full athletic scholarship.
 
Fighting Camel supporters helped fund a trip to the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2018, when the Camels spent a large portion of their time in service to local residents while also practicing and playing three games against international competition.
 
She helped lead the Camels to the 2020 Big South regular season title, and one year later was named to the Big South all-tournament team one year later after CU reached the 2021 conference final.
 
All the while, she was carrying a full course load and working 20 hours per week as a social work intern in the oncology department of Central Harnett Hospital in Lillington.
 
In addition to her pursuits outside of athletics, McNamara-Clement was involved in women's basketball service projects like the Miracle League, Special Needs prom and Lunch Buddies at local elementary schools.  She graduated in 2021 with a degree in social work.
 
Another opportunity
With a year of NCAA eligibility remaining due to the Covid-19 shortened 2020 season, McNamara-Clement took the opportunity to play as a graduate transfer in 2021-22 at Mercer, where she earned a master's in higher education and had the chance to compete in the NCAA tournament.
 
However, her Campbell roots called when she was hired by new A.D. Hannah Bazemore in September 2022 as coordinator of athletics administration.  She served as the main point of contact for the athletic director's office as well as the human resources coordinator for the athletics department.  In addition, she was involved in several special projects, including the Orange Tie Gala and Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame.
 
"Leaving Campbell for a year, made me realize how much of a special place it is," said McNamara-Clement.  "I had a whole year of reflecting on why it was special.  This really feels like home."
 
After a year in the athletics department, she accepted a position as Coordinator for Student Care and Case manager in the Office of Student Life and Christian Mission.  Her duties primarily focus on student support in academic, social and emotional aspects.
 
"I interacted with a lot of people as an undergraduate that I now call colleagues," said McNamara-Clement.  "That helps me to better serve our students.  Being able to carry that servant leadership aspect through life is ultimately the reason I come to work every day."
 
McNamara-Clement appreciates the life skills that she learned through her student-athlete experience – especially with a program like the Campbell women's basketball team.
 
"The standard of excellence," she said of what sets the Campbell program apart from others.  "I never experienced people cutting corners to get to an end. Attention to detail. There are no small things. Everything's important. Being able to translate the skills you learn into real-word leadership skills."
 
On November 18, 2023, in celebration of Wanda Watkins Day, the Fighting Camel Club officially announced the creation of the Women's Empowerment Fund. The Women's Empowerment Fund supports female student-athletes in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Gifts to the Women's Empowerment Fund qualify donors for Fighting Camel Club benefits.
 
To support the Women's Empowerment Fund, click HERE.