University of Pittsburgh Athletics
#FBF - Panthers Pursuing Professional Development
10/20/2017 4:41:00 PM | Life Skills
Pitt student-athletes have shown a sustained commitment to their professional growth
Helping student-athletes secure the next steps in their professional career is one of the core elements of the mission of the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program. That is why we are proud to say that the student-athlete graduates of the Class of 2016 had a 97% post-graduate placement rate within six months of graduation. As we approach this year's Career Networking Night on October 30th, we wanted to take a moment to look back at how this core part of a student-athlete's experience has evolved over the years, and how today's student-athletes make the most of their networking opportunities.
Since the inception of Life Skills at Pitt in the mid-1990s, career programs and networking opportunities have been an important part of any academic year. That was the case for Senior Associate Athletic Director Penny Semaia, who attended his first Pitt Athletics-connected career event when he was a sophomore in 2000. "My mentor, former Pitt Athletics student life administrator Donna Sanft, planned for and strongly encouraged us to attend and participate in the career nights provided," said Semaia. "I remember entering the space and being amazed by both the number of professionals willing to help us and the diversity of industries and career choices available. Today we are blessed to have great Life Skills professionals such as Jackson Martin and Lisa Auld who work one-on-one with our student-athletes in preparation for these opportunities."
As we moved into the early 2000s, the events put together continued to grow and change in their scope and impact. As Semaia became a professional in the Life Skills program, Senior Associate Athletic Director Marcus Bowman was a senior student-athlete who also took advantage of the career networking opportunities put together by Life Skills. "As a student-athlete, I remember the Career Night gave me a chance to connect with some professionals and gain some knowledge of the core professional skills I needed to transition into my career," said Bowman. "Attending as a networker over the last few years, it has impressed me how well our student-athletes carry themselves in the professional setting of Career Networking Night, and how robust and diverse the represented industries are. It's a testament to the quality programs our Life Skills unit puts together and the impressions that our student-athletes leave on employers that the event continues to expand and draw more professionals and organizations every year."
The events put together have continued to evolve, as have the approaches of the student-athletes who participate in those events. Associate Athletic Director for Sport Administration Jennifer Tuscano has seen the change in student-athletes perceptions, having served for 10 years as an academic support professional in the Office of Academic Support Service for Student-Athletes (ASSSA). "Working as an academic advisor, I often saw students take advantage of the early Career Nights as a chance to understand how their majors could line up to career options that they didn't even consider before they got on campus, and how their ideal careers fit into the academic choices they were making" Tuscano noted. "Now as an administrator and participant, it is fantastic to see our student-athletes understanding how all of their experiences interrelate as they make connections at Career Networking Night. It reinforces how important it is for us as sport administrators to ensure that all of the pieces, from academics to life skills to other resources, are there for the student-athletes to take advantage of."
This year's event continues the forward momentum that has developed through the work of the Life Skills program and the athletic department, and will serve as another unique opportunity for student-athletes to make the most of their time at Pitt. The event is the hallmark of Career Development programming, which includes one-on-one career counseling appointments with Jackson Martin, Career Consultant for Student-Athletes, a three-workshop Professional Etiquette Training Series, and other opportunities for career growth.
Initiated as one of the pilot programs of the NCAA's Student-Athlete Affairs Life Skills Program, the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program is committed to providing student-athletes an opportunity to prepare for success academically, athletically, and in their personal growth and development.
To keep up with the program, follow @Pitt_LIFESKILLS on Twitter and Instagram, and to find out how to get involved with the program's offerings, click here: Get Involved.
Helping student-athletes secure the next steps in their professional career is one of the core elements of the mission of the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program. That is why we are proud to say that the student-athlete graduates of the Class of 2016 had a 97% post-graduate placement rate within six months of graduation. As we approach this year's Career Networking Night on October 30th, we wanted to take a moment to look back at how this core part of a student-athlete's experience has evolved over the years, and how today's student-athletes make the most of their networking opportunities.
Since the inception of Life Skills at Pitt in the mid-1990s, career programs and networking opportunities have been an important part of any academic year. That was the case for Senior Associate Athletic Director Penny Semaia, who attended his first Pitt Athletics-connected career event when he was a sophomore in 2000. "My mentor, former Pitt Athletics student life administrator Donna Sanft, planned for and strongly encouraged us to attend and participate in the career nights provided," said Semaia. "I remember entering the space and being amazed by both the number of professionals willing to help us and the diversity of industries and career choices available. Today we are blessed to have great Life Skills professionals such as Jackson Martin and Lisa Auld who work one-on-one with our student-athletes in preparation for these opportunities."
As we moved into the early 2000s, the events put together continued to grow and change in their scope and impact. As Semaia became a professional in the Life Skills program, Senior Associate Athletic Director Marcus Bowman was a senior student-athlete who also took advantage of the career networking opportunities put together by Life Skills. "As a student-athlete, I remember the Career Night gave me a chance to connect with some professionals and gain some knowledge of the core professional skills I needed to transition into my career," said Bowman. "Attending as a networker over the last few years, it has impressed me how well our student-athletes carry themselves in the professional setting of Career Networking Night, and how robust and diverse the represented industries are. It's a testament to the quality programs our Life Skills unit puts together and the impressions that our student-athletes leave on employers that the event continues to expand and draw more professionals and organizations every year."
The events put together have continued to evolve, as have the approaches of the student-athletes who participate in those events. Associate Athletic Director for Sport Administration Jennifer Tuscano has seen the change in student-athletes perceptions, having served for 10 years as an academic support professional in the Office of Academic Support Service for Student-Athletes (ASSSA). "Working as an academic advisor, I often saw students take advantage of the early Career Nights as a chance to understand how their majors could line up to career options that they didn't even consider before they got on campus, and how their ideal careers fit into the academic choices they were making" Tuscano noted. "Now as an administrator and participant, it is fantastic to see our student-athletes understanding how all of their experiences interrelate as they make connections at Career Networking Night. It reinforces how important it is for us as sport administrators to ensure that all of the pieces, from academics to life skills to other resources, are there for the student-athletes to take advantage of."
This year's event continues the forward momentum that has developed through the work of the Life Skills program and the athletic department, and will serve as another unique opportunity for student-athletes to make the most of their time at Pitt. The event is the hallmark of Career Development programming, which includes one-on-one career counseling appointments with Jackson Martin, Career Consultant for Student-Athletes, a three-workshop Professional Etiquette Training Series, and other opportunities for career growth.
Initiated as one of the pilot programs of the NCAA's Student-Athlete Affairs Life Skills Program, the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program is committed to providing student-athletes an opportunity to prepare for success academically, athletically, and in their personal growth and development.
To keep up with the program, follow @Pitt_LIFESKILLS on Twitter and Instagram, and to find out how to get involved with the program's offerings, click here: Get Involved.
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