Alumni Connections Preparing Blue Hens For Future Success

Being a part of the University of Delaware men's lacrosse program is more than just a decision to join a family for four years. It's a bond that spans decades and connects Blue Hens in every walk of life.

No better example of that bond than the new program, Blue Hen Watch: Teammates for Life and the second annual career preparation trip to New York City.

"Our Blue Hens Lacrosse alumni are some of the most passionate, loyal, engaged and supportive people I've ever been around. They are critical to our efforts to assist our young men with opportunities to earn valuable internship experiences as undergraduates and gainful employment upon graduation," head coach Ben DeLuca said. "Our Blue Hen Watch: Teammates for Life program and our annual NYC Career Preparation and Alumni Networking Event are vital pieces of our program's efforts to educate and prepare our young men for success in all aspects of life."

Blue Hen Watch: Teammates for Life is a newly established program that pairs alumni with a current student-athlete from each class for mentorship opportunities, life experiences and to help build a network after graduation.

"The UD Men's Lacrosse alumni networking program is playing a critical role in the professional growth and development of the student-athletes. The coaching staff and athletic administration continue to build a highly interactive platform for both the student-athlete and the alumni base," Elijah Conte '16 said. "The reason I am actively involved in the program is that during my search for employment, this program played a vital role in accelerating me into my career. Three and a half years later, it is so rewarding to work with current players in their career search, just as a number of alumni did for me."

"Nearly every day of my life, I reflect back on some sort of lesson or experience I had during my time with the Delaware men's lacrosse program. I truly value and am grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences and the lessons that I've learned during my life with the current student-athletes," Chris Guttilla '84 said. "The relationships and connections that I made through being a part of the University of Delaware community has been critical to where I am in life today. It's an honor to be able to work with these coaches and help these student-athletes become the best versions of themselves in every facet of life."

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In addition to the Blue Hen Watch: Teammates for Life program, every junior and senior was a part of the second annual New York career preparation trip, which is a full day spent with lacrosse alumni in different facets of the business world to share their experiences with current Blue Hens. Dennis DeBusschere '99 served as the host for the Career Prep & Networking Event.

"I felt so fortunate to be a part of such a rewarding experience. I gained insightful knowledge on how to pursue my passions in the job market. Having the opportunity to meet, ask questions and form relationships with such successful alumni is rare, especially with our busy schedules as student-athletes. Our juniors and seniors learned a lot about how to expand and maintain our network. We're extremely grateful to have had this opportunity," junior Evan Gavalakis (double majoring in Finance and Management Info Systems) said.

"Being able to go to NYC and connect with alumni and hear about their careers was an eye-opening experience. It emphasized the bond between UD players, past and present. The alumni taught us a lot about the possible career paths that they've been able to pursue, but the thing that I learned the most was how much our large alumni network is looking to support us as we explore internships and full-time jobs. I left feeling inspired and excited to pursue a career of my own and look forward to being a part of the alumni family." – senior Drew Silvera (majoring in Finance) said.

"The trip to NYC was an incredibly valuable experience where I got to learn from alumni who were in my exact shoes applying for jobs after playing Division I lacrosse at Delaware. I got to learn numerous golden tidbits of information from them such as how to prep for interviews and the best ways to establish and maintain connections for future opportunities. I also got the chance to start creating my own personal connections with Delaware lacrosse alumni." – junior Matt Kilkeary (majoring in Finance) said.

These two initiatives are part of the beginnings of an enhanced investment by the athletic department into the career readiness of its student-athletes. Part of that investment is a thriving partnership between the athletic department and the UD Career Center to optimize Blue Hens' career readiness and the resources available to students across campus to prepare for their future.

University of Delaware Athletics

Alumni Connections Preparing Blue Hens For Future Success

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