Southeast football player Daterraion Richardson and President Carlos Vargas
Southeast Missouri State University football player Daterraion Richardson told the Universitys Board of Regents today about his experiences as a student athlete, pursuing his education goals on and off the field.
Richardson a defensive lineman and senior corporate communication major with a minor in criminal justice from Liberty, Missouri, said he knew he wanted to attend Southeast after his first visit in high school.
I felt Southeast was a good fit for me because when I came on a visit, everyone was welcoming, said Richardson. I’ve grown a great deal since being here at Southeast. My people skills and communication skills have all improved since I became a Redhawk.
As a student athlete, Richardson has found leadership opportunities by serving on the Student-Athlete Activity Council and SEMO Football Leadership Council. His commitment on the field led to being named to the pre-season second-team all-Ohio Valley Conference defensive line in 2019 and being part of the team to win the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference title.
My greatest highlight as a student athlete is winning the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference Championship with the football team, he said.
He credits Tom Matukewicz, Southeasts head football coach, as his most valued mentor on campus. He gave me the opportunity to better my life, and get a degree, and along the way has helped with a number of other things, Richardson said.
Off the field, he has invested his time in community service projects and organizations, volunteering as a mentor at Alma Schrader Elementary School in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Lewis and Clark Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri. He is also a certified nursing assistant (CNA) caregiver at Forward Living LLC in Liberty.
Succeeding academically has also been a focus for Richardson. He was named to Southeasts Presidents List in fall 2020 and the Deans List in spring 2019, fall 2019 and spring 2020.
This past summer, he had the opportunity to explore his interest in law enforcement in an internship with the United States Marshal Service, Eastern District of Missouri.
After interning with the United States Marshal Service, Richardson knew what he wanted to pursue as a career after graduating from Southeast in May 2021. My goal for after college is to gain my dream job as a U.S. Marshal Deputy. Before that, I will be gaining law enforcement experience in the St. Louis area, he said.