Former Limestone University Athlete & Honors Student Has Research Article Published

Francisco Salinger Cenzual, a former Limestone University volleyball player and Honors student, was recently published in the American Journal of Educational Research as first author with research he spearheaded regarding international student-athletes.

Dr. M. Felicia Cavallini from Limestone and Dr. David J. Dyck from the University of Guelph rounded out the research team.

Cenzual 's research focused on the process of assimilation that international student-athletes experience when they move to a different country to play their respective sports and to continue their education. In the study, 10 international athletes were interviewed on their personal experiences through the process of assimilation to the United States college setting as student-athletes. Conclusions were drawn regarding what helped them overcome this stage of integration and what added more stress to this process.

This research focused on the challenges that international student-athletes face when arriving in college in the United States and what they can do to overcome these challenges, as well as what the institutions can do to provide support. Key recommendations to improve integration and accommodations into the American collegiate academic and athletic campus culture are presented in the research.

“This research publication is a result of Francisco's Limestone Honors Program project in our Principles of Coaching class which focused on the challenges international student-athletes face as they assimilate into our host country,” Cavallini explained. “Francisco has a tremendous amount of talent as a researcher, academic thinker, and writer. I was all too happy to mentor his research process while contributing to and preparing the manuscript for a successful publication.”

Cenzual earned his undergraduate degree at Limestone in Business Management and Sport Management. He was recently named to the 2020-21 Academic All-America Division II At-Large team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), naming him the first men's volleyball player in program history to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America first team honors. He also becomes the first men's volleyball player to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America twice, while becoming the first Limestone student-athlete selected by CoSIDA to its first team since 2017. In the past year, the Cipolletti, Argentina native has started work in Limestone’s Master of Business Administration program.

The American Journal of Educational Research is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that provides rapid publication of articles in all areas of educational research. The goal of this journal is to provide a platform for scientists and academicians all over the world to promote, share, and discuss various new issues and developments in different areas of educational research.