University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Student-Athletes Connect with Employers and Alumni at Networking Night
9/22/2014 3:06:00 PM | Delaware Athletics
NEWARK, Del. -- A new area of emphasis within the University of Delaware Athletic Department that focuses on student-athlete development was on full display last week at the Bob Carpenter Center as UD Athletics and Career Services partnered to host a Student-Athlete Networking Night.
Organized by newly appointed UD Senior Woman Administrator and Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development Christine Motta, the event connected over 50 employer organizations with almost 300 Blue Hens student-athletes for a night of conversations and connections. The event was deemed a huge success.
“As we continue to focus on our student-athletes' development in the areas of career development, leadership development, and service learning opportunities, this event is a night where our athletes have an opportunity to invest in their own career development and futures…and they took advantage of it,” said Motta. “I am constantly reminding our athletes that there will be an abundance of opportunities to develop as a total athlete, inside and outside of the playing lines.
“Many of our athletes are actively searching for internships and full-time opportunities, but I also want our younger athletes to have exposure to events like this to experience a networking environment and listen to the conversations that are taking place,” Motta continued. “Career Services does an amazing job of engaging employers and bringing them to our campus to recruit, as well as providing career programming for UD students. By collaborating with Career Services, athletics can provide our student-athletes with appropriate career development opportunities that take into consideration an athletes' unique needs and schedules due to athletic participation.”
The event also brought back many student-athlete alumni who returned to campus as employer representatives with the hopes of recruiting and connecting with current Blue Hen athletes.
“Staying consistent with our department's ongoing mission of developing leaders academically, athletically, and socially, it is great for our student-athletes to see first-hand examples of the great things that our former athletes are doing, and it speaks volumes that our student-athlete alumni want to come back to recruit our current student athletes,” said Motta. “It's a testament to our athlete alumni, our current athletes, and the great work that is being done across our department and with our campus partners to prepare our athletes for current and future success.”
