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Donovan, of Hazel Green in southwest Wisconsin, chose the ����Vloge to pursue his goals, surrounding himself with friends, role models and mentors to become a key part of a burgeoning Blugold soccer program while spending countless hours studying on the team bus and in McIntyre Library focused on his coursework.

On Dec. 21, Donovan will graduate after 3.5 years with a 3.88 GPA, a bachelor’s degree in biology and a preprofessional health science minor with plans to apply to medical school. On the soccer pitch, Donovan is the 2024 NCAA Division III national soccer player of the year and scholar-athlete of the year, in addition to being a two-time All-American.

“There is no place that I would rather be than UW-Eau Claire,” Donovan says, looking back on his college career. “All the values that I have are displayed here — just being your genuine self, treating everyone with kindness and compassion. You get that from your professors and coaches, everybody I look up to here.”

Donovan chose UW-Eau Claire to play soccer because the sport was in its first year and he wanted to have a lasting impact on the program. Soccer head coach Casey Holm says Donovan leaves a legacy at the university, calling him the “gold standard” as a talented, hard-working player who is a “kind, polite and genuine person.”

“I can’t put into words how amazing of a young man Nathan is,” Holm says, “and the impact he has had on our program, on his peers, our coaching staff, future Blugolds, the community and the youth. Nathan has helped propel us to a national powerhouse because of what he has done on and off the field. Simply put, Nathan Donovan is one of a kind.”

During Donovan’s four years as a varsity starter, he was a record-setting scorer on Blugold teams that amassed a record of 64-13-8. He finished his career as UW-Eau Claire's all-time leader in nearly every statistical category. He ranks third in the history of NCAA Division III with 229 career points and fourth with 94 goals.

This year, the Blugolds won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles as Donovan led the nation in scoring with 26 goals. Donovan won both the College Sports Communicators’ Academic All-America Team Member of the Year award for Division III soccer and the United Soccer Coaches Division III Player of the Year. 

Donovan helped the Blugolds reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III Championship this season and win the WIAC regular season and tournament titles. Unfortunately, Donovan tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during the final minutes of the WIAC championship game win in November and was unable to play in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Blugolds advanced to the Elite Eight of the tournament before losing 2-1 to eventual national champion Amherst College in the sectional finals. UW-Eau Claire finished the 2024 campaign with a 17-2-5 record.

“I can’t lie — it was heartbreaking,” Donovan says of the injury. “I’m trying to have a positive outlook on it. Everything happens for a reason and there is something to learn from it. It’s how you play the cards you’ve been dealt. It’s how you flip the script.”

Donovan has an interest in orthopedics and may pursue it as a medical career, in part, because of his knee injury. The physician who was to operate on Donovan’s knee is a former college athlete who had a career-ending injury, so he could empathize with Donovan’s situation.

“Something I learned early on in healthcare is that you want to display empathy rather than sympathy,” Donovan says. “You don’t want somebody just feeling sorry for you and feeling bad for your situation; you want somebody to be able to relate to you, to put themselves in your shoes and understand what you’re going through.”

Even before coming to campus, Donovan knew he wanted to enter the healthcare field. He found his calling while working as a certified nursing assistant at an elder-care facility the summer before enrolling at UW-Eau Claire.

“The second I started doing that, I really enjoyed it and just had this natural joy of serving other people,” Donovan says. “It’s a source of fulfillment helping someone else. It’s truly a rewarding experience and job, and I knew healthcare was where I wanted to be.”

UW-Eau Claire exposed Donovan to “phenomenal” opportunities like the Mayo Clinic Health System-MedEx shadowing experience where students follow physicians in different medical specialties during typical workdays in the clinic. He also learned from Mayo Clinic Health System physicians’ healthcare presentations during the Medical Academy Program series at UW-Eau Claire.

“Part of my journey in the four years I’ve been here is differentiating why I want to be a doctor,” Donovan says. “UW-Eau Claire has really aided me in providing resources to help me come to that conclusion.”

Creanna Cote, assistant director of the Health Careers Center, met Donovan during his orientation when she worked in the Advising, Retention and Career Center and recalls him as a thoughtful, well-prepared student who was eager to learn and get involved on campus. In her current role in the Health Careers Center, Cote has continued to meet and discuss career goals with Donovan.

“His mature, respectful and professional demeanor has always stood out to me, and it is no surprise he has been recognized for his academics and leadership on and off the field,” Cote says. “One of the best parts of my job is to see a student who is eager and excited for their future take advantage of the opportunities in front of them and watch them excel when they do so. Nathan’s resilient mindset, ability to learn, listen and grow, and to think about what he values and wants in his career will set him up for success. I have no doubt about that.”

Donovan plans to take the medical college admission test (MCAT) in summer 2025. After he rehabilitates his knee, he would like to take a gap year to play professional soccer before entering medical school to prepare for his future career as a physician.