Carolyn LeFevre ’75 was recently inducted into the West High School Athletic Hall of Fame. She has been the certified athletic trainer at the high school through Ascension Via Christi’s outreach program since 2000.
Her journey in education and athletics began close to home. A graduate of Madonna High School, she attended Kansas Newman College, now known as Newman University, earning a Bachelor of Science in chemistry in 1975.
During that time, opportunities for women in college athletics were just beginning to take shape and she enjoyed playing volleyball and basketball in her senior year.
Her connection to Newman extended beyond graduation. She returned as a residence life director in 1999 for a year and then came back to earn a certification through the sports medicine program at Newman.
From clinical chemistry to athletic training
LeFevre’s career began in clinical chemistry, working in hospital labs analyzing test results for patients. While the work was important, it lacked the personal interaction she would later come to value.
“I’m a clinical chemist by trade,” she said. “When I began my career at Ascension, it was known as St. Francis Hospital. I also got a certification in clinical chemistry while doing that. I worked in the lab for many years with different medical staff; forensic pathologists, technicians and even veterinarians.”
Eventually, she felt called to something different.
“I decided, ‘I’m tired of this. What else can I do?’”
That question led her into athletic training — a field that allowed her to merge science with sports and athletes.
“What I’ve done is I’ve married my chemistry and my love of sports into sports medicine,” she explained.
Impact beyond the sidelines
When LeFevre began working at West High School as a certified athletic trainer through Ascension, she expected a short-term role. Instead, it became a 26-year career.
Her role went far beyond treating injuries. At a school with a high percentage of students facing financial challenges, she became a steady source of support and guidance.
“It’s always a fine dance,” she said, describing the balance of helping students manage health, school and life. “Kids are going to be kids. They just struggle with the same types of things as adults, just in different ways.”
LeFever developed great relationships with the students throughout her years, often offering mentorship and advice.
“I think my favorite part is just helping them understand how sports can be a part of their life and how staying healthy all kind of merges together,” she said.
She also became attuned to the deeper challenges students faced.
“I think I’ve really grown into understanding more of the psychological piece that goes along with the medical piece.”
Her impact is felt years later. Former students regularly return to reconnect.
“One of the most rewarding things is when a lot of my athletes come back,” she said. “They remind me who they are, and I get to see what their successes are.”
Some moments have been unforgettable, including performing CPR on a spectator during a football game. But even those experiences are secondary to the relationships she has built.
A well-deserved Hall of Fame honor
LeFevre was officially inducted into the West High School Athletics Hall of Fame on April 9 — an honor she described simply as “very humbling.”
Throughout her decades at West High, LeFevre’s career has been defined by quiet dedication.
She said she never felt like she was doing anything spectacular on a day-to-day basis.
After 26 years, she is set to retire this year. This upcoming life event has resulted in a lot of reflection for LeFevre.
“When you start doing a job, you don’t think that there’s going to be anything down the road. You just go and do your job,” she said. “You don’t think about the impact in the moment.
“But I realize it now,” she added. “When I look back, I realize the impact.”
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