Just nine games into the 2011-12 season, anyone who had watched an RPI women's basketball game could tell senior forward Hillary McKinley was on her way to having a career year.  Seven double-doubles, team leader and conference top-two in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.  She found ways to help the Engineers get the win or get close trying.

At the conclusion of the first half, Rensselaer owned a 6-3 record, thanks in large part to McKinley's success.  With the beginning of January came the start of Liberty League play and to the surprise of many, the Engineers kicked off the most important part of their schedule without McKinley.

The one who had frustrated the likes of Salisbury, Southern Virginia and Salem State to open the season was suddenly absent from the bench as RPI hosted RIT and St. Lawrence at East Campus Arena.

Hurt? Illness? Family Emergency? The answer was none of the above.  The Quinebaug, Conn., native missed the team's first two games of conference play for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

McKinley, a biochemistry and biophysics major at Rensselaer, spent seven days as part of a volunteer brigade to Honduras with the Global Medical Brigade.  The organization utilizes the volunteer efforts of college undergraduate students, along with licensed medical professionals, to provide health services to communities without the access or resources to their own healthcare.

Traveling with the RPI Chapter of the Global Medical Brigade, McKinley, along with four other students and a nurse, landed in Tegucigalpa, Honduras on January 3 to begin their experience.  Right from the start it was a moment she wouldn't soon forget.

“Even landing in the city was different,” said McKinley.  “Flying in you see shacks on the mountainside.  There are familiar things within the major parts of the city, but once we drove outside toward where we were staying, I think I realized how out of my comfort zone I was.”

McKinley was transported to a world so different from her own on that first day.  From dirt roads and cement houses, to tiny shacks and a considerable lack of resources, she and her group continued on for more than an hour and a half outside the city to where they'd be staying.

“I think in our society, we'd consider their living conditions to be extreme poverty,” she explained. “But for those people, they never complained.  There was no self-pity and they lived each day as it was.  For me, I think trying to understand how it could be normal was my biggest challenge.”

McKinley was not given much time to contemplate their surroundings as her group was put into action very quickly.  Teaming up with a brigade from the University of Virginia, they traveled each day from their dorm to a small village about an hour away.

“Basically there would be different stations set up in the village and we would help out the professionals at each one,” she said.  “So one day I got to work at the dental station and my job was to basically hand the dentist tools as they did a number of things like tooth extractions and such.

“Beyond that we helped with taking blood pressure and vital information that would then go to the doctors,” McKinley continued. 

McKinley, who aspires to be a pediatric neurosurgeon, explained that the medicine and supplies handed out to the patients actually came from Troy.  The RPI Chapter of Global Medical Brigades, which was founded in the fall of 2010 by Saba Azzizi '12, fundraised to provide medication with uses ranging from broad-spectrum antibiotics to anti-fungals, anti-parasitic, insulin and multivitamins.

The experience was one that McKinley wouldn't trade for the world.  During her trip, there were many times everything seemed to overwhelm her, but it made her appreciate the life she has back home as a whole.

“The different culture and lifestyle was obviously a big change,” she explained.  “But I got to see how resilient and determined the people of Honduras are.  Back here at home, I think preventative medicine is really something we take for granted, like the fact that we can go to the corner drug store and get vitamins.  That's not something that these people have.”

While the days were filled with so much activity that McKinley could hardly remember it all, there were down times that helped lighten the mood.  Upon their arrival to the complex, which in itself was like a small village, the group interacted with children from a nearby orphanage.

“We had been told prior to our arrival that we'd be in an area with an orphanage,” McKinley stated. “Our group made sure to bring art supplies and games with us, and was able to have fun with the kids.”

Overall, the experience taught McKinley to take advantage of what she has on a daily basis, as so many others are not as fortunate.  The trip also solidified her resolve to become a doctor.  She is hoping to get into a graduate program at the University of Hartford next fall, before going on to medical school.

Not surprisingly, McKinley's return to campus and the court the following weekend was a triumphant one, as she posted 14 points and 15 rebounds with five blocks in a 49-39 victory over Union.  Her continued strong play has pushed the Engineers toward the top of the standings and toward a potential playoff berth. 

Though her time left on the court can be counted down to a handful of days, the experiences she has had will continue to lead her to success well beyond Rensselaer.

One-on-One
Following my basketball career, I want to be: A doctor
Person who had the biggest influence on my life, thus far: my parents
The most famous person I have met is: Apollo Anton Ohno (Olympic speed skater)
My advice to young kids: Take advantage of the opportunities you have
Person in history I'd most like to meet: Abraham Lincoln
What are some of your hobbies besides basketball? I love to play soccer
What's your pre-game ritual? I double-tie my laces
If I were going to play another sport, it would be: Soccer
My Sportscenter highlight: It hasn't happened yet, but someday I'm going to dunk the ball!
People would be surprised to know that: I was a millionaire for a day.  I won an essay contest in 6th grade and the prize was a million dollars.  But it was only for one day, I couldn't spend it and the bank took it back the next day.
The greatest basketball game I ever played in was: The Liberty League Championship game my sophomore year.  We beat St. Lawrence in the Semifinals and then defeated Skidmore to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
 
My Favorite Things
Reality TV Show: Jersey Shore
Professional athlete: Blake Griffin
Actor/Actress: Ryan Gosling
Food: Steak
Color: Orange
Book: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Superhero: Batman
Movie: The Dark Knight
RPI Memory: I have to keep going back to the Liberty League Championship game.  There's no better memory.