Heidelberg College freshman Rachel Dick is only 18, but she's already learned how to overcome adversity.

Dick, a volleyball and softball student-athlete, is a sufferer of Crohn's disease, a serious and chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract.

Because of her efforts to overcome the disease, Dick won the 2001 Ina Brudnick Scholarship, an annual national award that recognizes a student for his or her successful ongoing battle to overcome inflammatory bowel disease.

A native of Clyde, Ohio, Dick played varsity softball, volleyball and basketball in high school and was a member of the National Honor Society.

In June 2000, Dick was blindsided by Crohn's disease. She lost 35 pounds from her 5-10, typically 135-pound frame, and she was bedridden. Initially, doctors didn't know what was wrong.

"My mom has Crohn's disease, but I had different symptoms from hers. So, we were surprised to find out I have the same thing," Dick said.

Crohn's disease is a painful, incurable illness that may inflame the small and large intestines, causing diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, fever, and sometimes rectal bleeding.

Sufferers also experience a loss of appetite and sometimes severe weight loss. Its numerous complications can include bowel obstruction and abscesses.

Some medications decrease inflammation and can control the symptoms, which can vary with each person.

Once Dick knew what the problem was, she started treatment at the Cleveland Clinic. By the time her senior year of high school began in September 2000, she was back in uniform for the volleyball team.

"I am living proof that with persistence, faith, desire and a knowledge of Crohn's disease, people can be themselves again."

Part of being Rachel Dick is being a student-athlete. An award-winning softball pitcher in high school, she had planned to play softball at Heidelberg.

This fall, Dick surprised a few people by also earning a spot on the volleyball team, where she ended up among the Ohio Athletic Conference leaders in blocks per game for the season.

Dick plans to pursue an education degree at Heidelberg, where she also plans to continue playing volleyball and softball.

"My future dreams are to become an elementary teacher and help students with special needs," she said. "I now know personally how some students may feel when they have illness, disabilities or even learning problems."

For more information about Crohn's disease, see the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's Web site at www.ccfa.org