With the rise in prominence of intercollegiate athletics, there has been an increase in interest in the success of student athletes. This interest has become common across all levels of intercollegiate athletic competition, and has increased dramatically in recent years to focus on the 75,000 community college student athletes who participate in approximately 500 community and junior college athletic programs. Although research has focused on the role of athletics in these colleges, few efforts have been undertaken to explore the student athlete in these two year colleges. Drawing upon a sample of over 200 student athletes at two Midwestern community colleges, this study both profiled who they were and where they came from, and also how they viewed themselves while enrolled. Although respondents did not classify themselves as predominantly athletes first, many of their self-reported perceptions were consistent with the literature that they believed strongly in the power of athletic participation to shape their lives. Respondents also viewed themselves as stopping-in to the community college before continuing their athletic careers at a four-year university. These findings led to the recommendations for community college leaders to define specifically what they envision for the purpose of athletics in their colleges.