St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Hosts Career Connections
3/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | General
QUEENS, N.Y. -
St. John's student-athletes, members of the band, cheer and dance groups, coaches, administrators and potential employers filled the D'Angelo Center Ballroom on Monday night, taking part in the department's annual Student-Athlete Career Connections. The event, co-founded by Athletic Director Emeritus Jack Kaiser, was highlighted by a keynote address from John Bender '87CBA, Chief Executive Officer of Allied World Reinsurance Company.
Nearly 30 corporate representatives from various industries including sport management, marketing, financial services, public service and education were in attendance to network, share advice and recruit members of the Red Storm to their respected companies and institutions.
The evening began with introductory remarks from Dr. Nancy Kaplan, Associate Provost, who welcomed the assembled crowd to the event.
"Student-Athlete Career Night is one of the many highlights of our overall Student Development Program," Kaplan said. "We are proud to showcase our student-athlete population and how well-rounded they are as individuals."
After Dr. Kaplan briefly spoke, Director of Athletics Anton Goff thanked those who made the event possible and addressed the student-athletes about the tremendous opportunity presented to them.
Associate Director of Development, Rino Grzinic '77SVC, followed by introducing Bender to the crowd. Bender started his address by reminiscing about his childhood summers on his uncle's farm in County Roscommon, Ireland.
"Farming is hard work, don't let anyone fool you," Bender said. "I knew I did not want to grow up and be a farmer, I needed a plan." Bender went on to say that one of the most important things in life is not to only have a plan, but to be adaptable with the plan, because you never know what life is going to throw at you. As the co-founder of St. Baldrick's, Bender stressed the importance of giving back and pushing others to be better. St. Baldrick's is a volunteer-powered charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.
After Bender concluded his address, dinner was served and student-athletes were able to interact with potential employers for the remainder of the evening. Soliciting advice on the working world and picking up tips to make their career prospects even more promising, student-athletes learned how to adapt their skills to potential future employment. As Bender said in his remarks, "You never know when someone from your past will have a major influence in your future. I was fortunate to get opportunities because of the people who I knew and stayed in contact with."
Stephanie Elgegren, a member of the women's tennis team and Co-President of SAAC stated, "It is a great opportunity to see our student-athletes being able to speak with multiple employers and talk about their experiences." She went on to say how Mr. Bender's comments to "push others to succeed" really made an impact on her as a senior.
St. John's student-athletes, cheer, dance and band members have demonstrated their motivation and achievement both on and off the field, excelling in leadership positions and throughout the community, making them strong candidates for employment. Here at St. John's, Student-Athlete Career Connections is just the beginning as the Red Storm start to plan for their future careers.
Players Mentioned
