Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University: Academics and Sports

DENVER, CO, February 28, 2014

Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University has always loved soccer, but this 21-year old college senior is immersed in the study of finance and looks forward to a long and successful career in that field. And that doesn't leave Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University much time for sports.

As a high school student Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University played varsity soccer, and remembers that time fondly. "To be honest," he acknowledges, "when I reflect on my time in high school, the one thing that sticks out to me most was my time spent on the soccer team."

But carrying a full academic load leaves precious little time for sports. "I wanted to focus as much on my studies as I could," Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University admits. But this ambitious and determined undergraduate has done more than simply focus on academics. Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University is the founder and president of PSU's Parkinson's Foundation, which raises awareness and money to fight the disease. He is also the founder and vice president of the Penn State Financial Modeling Association, and a member of the Penn State Real Estate Club and the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

"It's not that I've stopped loving the sport - nothing could be further from the truth," he says. So how does Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University keep soccer in his life? Between practices and games, teams sports are a major commitment, and Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University realized that with his workload, he didn't have enough time to participate. "To make up for it, though, I've turned to officiating the sport, and I couldn't be happier!"

Becoming a certified soccer referee is a major commitment in and of itself, though not nearly as time consuming as being on a team. Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University draws on his own experience to advise others who are interested in being a soccer ref. To get that certification, would-be referees must attend entry-level clinics, which he says are typically about eight hours of training. The required certification test is based on international soccer rules and regulations. "Don't worry over much about the test," Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University says. "If you simply do your homework and make sure that you study the rulebook - which isn't too thick - you'll do absolutely fine on the test itself."

There are different levels of soccer referees, says Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University, beginning with Level 9. After one year, those who want to advance can go for their Level 8 certification, which requires additional study - what's known as a bridge class. "Becoming a referee is very rewarding for those who love the game of soccer," Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University says. "Especially for those of us who can no longer dedicate six days a week of our time to play the sport. It's easy to stay in shape to be a referee, and then you can pass your knowledge and love of the sport onto others. Not to mention, you get paid!"

About: Matthew Nemeth of Penn State University is a lifelong soccer fan who also advocates for Parkinson's disease.