While most students refer to their strive for higher education as "a stretch for the finish" or "jumping hurdles along the way", one student within the Kean community balances academics with the literal manifestation of these metaphors. Aaron Lucas, sophomore accounting major, is one of the university's track team's all stars. With aspirations for future goals to compliment the already accomplished feats of his athletic abilities, Lucas is looking to sprint his collegiate career into a fully decorated achievement. Lucas planted his footprint solidly as a key player for Kean's track team during the 2008-09 New Jersey Athletic Conference when he took home first place under both the long jump and high jump categories. Appropriately, Lucas's demonstration landed him 'Rookie of the Year' under the men's indoor track and field all-conference teams and entitled him to become provisionally qualified for Division III national championships. Despite these achievements, Lucas remains modest stating, "I will not feel accomplished until I win a national championship for Kean University."

Lucas may derive his modesty on this athletic path from a humble beginning. Having not been recruited, nor heard of by any coaches for that matter, Lucas felt as though the odds were against him. Fortunately, and neutrally beneficial to both parties, Coach Michael Penta took a chance with Lucas and allowed him to be a part of the team. Since then, Lucas has fully embraced the team as a part of his life; conversations with Lucas are usually submerged in the topic of track. In the short time since his joining of the team, Lucas has undertaken the position of captain of the team's jumpers. His gravitation towards track itself has even sparked his interest in the world championship and Olympic's inclusion of the sport. Perhaps Lucas may someday seek to aspire for a different gold to bring back to Kean's campus.

Lucas is currently in the process of changing his major to physical education, no doubt a product of his dedication to the team. Lucas states, "I like sports and kids, so I thought a good way to combine the two would be to become a physical education teacher and a coach." It is often said that an effective teacher inspires community and strives to bring out the best in each student. Appropriately, Lucas is most thankful for the aspects of the team that encompass camaraderie and competition. Of the two, competition, as with most dedicated athletes, dominates over the two. Having developed a healthy and confident attitude towards the competitiveness of the sport, Lucas comments on the almost inseparable aspect of winning in sportsmanship. "Unlike other collegiate sports, we compete against Division I, II, and III, along with community colleges and professional athletes all the time. I also love the rivalries I obtained since my freshman year. It is people in our conference that always gets the best out of me because I cannot stand for them to beat me, whether they are a friendly foe or a disliked adversary."
Lucas, more personally, is a self-proclaimed family man and is often seen in company with his two cousins, Janel Sims or Justin McNeil, around campus. During last year's track season, Lucas's great-grandfather, Charles "Chubby" Walton, passed. Since then, Lucas has dedicated time to look up "to the heavens" and have words with his late great-grandfather. Win or lose, Lucas "thanks him for being along for the ride.