Student Athlete Development: A look back at key programming from the past year

Student Athlete Development: A look back at key programming over the past year

The University of Massachusetts student-athlete development department continued to provide well-rounded programming focused on career development, community outreach, leadership and community

Career Development:

The University of Massachusetts student-athlete development department held a trio of events in the Fall of 2024 which focused on preparing student-athletes for professional opportunities. Sessions included information and instruction which expanded their knowledge on creating a personal brand, formatting a professional resume and fine-tuning networking skillsets.

Each session focused on student-athletes in a different stage of their academic career and gave them a building block to continue to take the next step in their professional journey. The student-athlete development department collaborated with ALKU and 14 different employers to give student-athletes the opportunity to garner advice from professionals actively working outside of the university.

Freshman Event: Building your Personal Brand

Monday, Sept. 30 at the Football Performance Center
Worked on each student-athletes ability to understand their strengths through a Myers Briggs Personality inventory
Learned how to share those with brands and employers

Sophomore Event: Resume Refresh with ALKU

Tuesday, October 8 in the Boyden M Lounge
Worked with ALKU to teach student-athletes about resume formatting, action verbs, and marketing their student-athlete experience to employers
Student-athletes spend time updating their resumes with personal assistance

Upperclassmen Event: Networking Night

Monday, November 18 at the Campus Center Marriott Center
Upperclassmen student-athletes received the opportunity to talk with 14 different employers to practice their professional conversation skills, inquire about work and internship opportunities while expanding their network.

Networking Night was a great opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone and have professional conversations. It was amazing to remember that I’m not only a person outside my sport, but also have professional goals outside of it as well.

Taylor Richardson, Softball

Community Outreach:

University of Massachusetts athletic programs and the student-athlete development office partnered with 17 organizations to record over 600 hours of community service last fall. Women's swim and dive student-athletes partnered with Girls on the Run and traveled to Crocker Farm Elementary every Wednesday. They focused on movement that feels good for your body, positive affirmations and developing friendship with the students.

Men's and women’s basketball partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke throughout the semester to promote youth sports and provide mentorship. The boys and girls traveled to the Mullins Center during the season to support the men's program.

Four programs stood out in the Fall of 2024 as men's and women's basketball, women's swim and dive and baseball recorded the most community service. Men's basketball received the Community Impact Award for their dedication to supporting the community at-large.

The Massachusetts Student-Athlete Advisory Committee also ran an Adopt a Family Initiative over the holiday season. Through the hard word of many student-athletes 21 families received generous gifts for the holidays.

Leadership Academy

Over the course of six weeks 15 athletes across seven sports had the opportunity to take part in a leadership academy directed by the student-athlete development office with collaboration from outside experts and speakers. The academy focused on experiential learning designed to increase self-awareness, understand your personal leadership style and learn how to translate this to your team through effective communication.

My favorite part of Leadership Academy was being able to meet new people and learn about how to be a leader in all aspects of my sport.

Callen Powers, Baseball

Week 1: Forming Connections, growth mindset

Week 2: DISC Assessment

Week 3: Leadership Under Pressure

Week 4: What makes a great leader

Week 5: Contributing to your team

Week 6: Culmination event with Coaches

Affinity Groups:

University of Massachusetts Black Student Athletes United organized multiple events beginning with their annual family reunion hosted each year during the first week of school. The field day style event welcomed 70 people and included games, music, and Thomas’ Smokey Pit Stop BBQ. UMass BSAU also hosted Real Talk: Mind your Health, which focused on supporting the discussion and importance of student-athlete mental health. The group also successfully organized and promoted Unsolved Cases: Halloween Edition and it's annual plate sale fundraiser during the academic year.

The International Student-Athlete Alliance hosted both a game night and holiday movie event last fall. The group focused on events designed to foster community and destress around finals week.

University of Massachusets Athletics