JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –Continuing efforts to further instill core values into its student-athletes, the Jacksonville University athletic department held a pair of leadership programs on Monday, March 19.
Directed towards underclassmen, the sessions gave student-athletes the opportunity to hear from many local leaders in business, entertainment, sports and education on how to better network and take self-ownership in personal and professional settings. Conducted by the athletic department's Student-Athlete Services office, the MAGNET (male) and WE L.E.A.D. (female) spring seminars were programming initiatives aimed at preparing students to win on the field and in the work place. Participants from each of the school's 20 athletic programs came together to network with each other and the program's distinguished guests by participating in icebreakers, round table discussions and question & answer sessions.
Held inside Historic Swisher Gymnasium, the MAGNET (Men Achieving Greatness Network) program paired budding male athletes with local role models with professional business experience. A panel of six guests, made up of two Jacksonville professors, three business professionals from AXA Advisors and an NBA skills coach, directed students on how to balance academics and athletics, network towards professional life, and more. Among many topics of discussion were the biggest obstacles facing today's job market and transitioning from a collegiate atmosphere into the professional world.
"The program provided such an ideal forum for our young men to develop, both personally and professionally," Director of Student-Athlete Services Andy Heston said. "We are so thankful to have hosted our special guests, as they delivered such diverse forms of perspective."
While the male portion of the program was taking place, JU's female student-athletes met in Gooding Auditorium to engage in the WE L.E.A.D (Women's Empowerment through Leadership, Education, Altruism, and Development) segment. The event's seven panelists, which included representatives from the JU Career Resource Center, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and Action News JAX, led the group in discussions similar to that of their male counterparts. These included resume building, the 30-second elevator pitch, appropriate interview and work attire, how to create separation from competitors when interviewing, and the power of internships when entering the workforce, among many other topics.
"The spring 2018 WE L.E.A.D. "Women Winning in the Workplace" program truly spoke to the four pillars of leadership, education, altruism, and development, in which the initiative was originally created," Associate Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Services and Senor Woman Administrator Lauren Cevis said. "Without the active participation of our seven panelists, a program like this would not possible. My hope is that our female student-athletes left the program feeling educated, encouraged, and empowered."
As one of the many student-athlete-oriented services that the Jacksonville University Student-Athlete Services office provides, the program is expected to run twice each school year, with the goal of fostering the personal and professional growth of JU's student-athletes.
