TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) hosted its fifth annual Bearcats Go Pro Event Wednesday, October 11. Through the CPAWS program, SASS is committed to helping student-athletes prepare to be professionals and Bearcats Go Pro is the signature career engagement and professional development event for junior and senior student-athletes.
The evening began with over 120 junior and senior student-athletes breaking into groups and attending sessions covering different professional development topics. These sessions provided student-athletes with the opportunity to network with professionals, participate in mock interviews, learn proper dining etiquette, gain information on graduate/pre-professional school and hear advice on how to have a successful career after UC. Following the sessions, the student-athletes came back together and ended the evening with a social media speaker who discussed the power of social media and the potential influence it can have on a person's professional career.
During the networking session, student-athletes were able to connect with over 20 community partners, business leaders, recruiters and former student-athletes from the Cincinnati. The former Bearcats in attendance included, Tony Miliano (football), Gabrielle Calderone (track & field), Kwesi Daniels (football) and Katya Bure (tennis) who met her current employer from this event last year. Some of the organizations represented in this session included Northwestern Mutual, Proctor & Gamble, Mercy Health, Cintas, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Miami Valley Gaming.
The mock interview sessions gave students the chance to participate in an actual interview and practice their interviewing skills. Faculty and staff members from campus were there to conduct these interviews and provide the student-athletes with feedback on both their interview and resume.
During the professional dining session, student-athletes learned about the ins and outs of dining etiquette with communication specialist Mary Starvaggi from Etiquette Advantage. They learned key skills in a mock dining setting about proper etiquette and the importance of professional dining.
A new addition to this year's event was the graduate/pre-professional school session. Amy Robinson-Wheeler from UC's Graduate School-Operations, Susan Roth from UC's Pre-Professional Advising Center and Janaki Warner from UC's MBA program provided student-athletes with general information about their respective programs. Student-athletes then had the opportunity to sit down with representatives from their program of interest. Former and current fifth-year student-athletes currently going through some of these programs were also there to speak with the student-athletes and provide advice and information about their personal experiences.
Another new addition to this year's event was the career panel session. The professionals that made up the panel were Tarita Preston, Kyle Decker and two former UC student-athletes, Randy Martinez (football) and Craig Carey (football). As current successful professionals, these four spoke about their experiences as college students and student-athletes and the steps they took to get where they are today. The panel provided advice and insight on life after college and beyond. Student-athletes also had the opportunity to ask the panel their own questions and speak one on one with these individuals.
The evening began with over 120 junior and senior student-athletes breaking into groups and attending sessions covering different professional development topics. These sessions provided student-athletes with the opportunity to network with professionals, participate in mock interviews, learn proper dining etiquette, gain information on graduate/pre-professional school and hear advice on how to have a successful career after UC. Following the sessions, the student-athletes came back together and ended the evening with a social media speaker who discussed the power of social media and the potential influence it can have on a person's professional career.
During the networking session, student-athletes were able to connect with over 20 community partners, business leaders, recruiters and former student-athletes from the Cincinnati. The former Bearcats in attendance included, Tony Miliano (football), Gabrielle Calderone (track & field), Kwesi Daniels (football) and Katya Bure (tennis) who met her current employer from this event last year. Some of the organizations represented in this session included Northwestern Mutual, Proctor & Gamble, Mercy Health, Cintas, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Miami Valley Gaming.
The mock interview sessions gave students the chance to participate in an actual interview and practice their interviewing skills. Faculty and staff members from campus were there to conduct these interviews and provide the student-athletes with feedback on both their interview and resume.
During the professional dining session, student-athletes learned about the ins and outs of dining etiquette with communication specialist Mary Starvaggi from Etiquette Advantage. They learned key skills in a mock dining setting about proper etiquette and the importance of professional dining.
A new addition to this year's event was the graduate/pre-professional school session. Amy Robinson-Wheeler from UC's Graduate School-Operations, Susan Roth from UC's Pre-Professional Advising Center and Janaki Warner from UC's MBA program provided student-athletes with general information about their respective programs. Student-athletes then had the opportunity to sit down with representatives from their program of interest. Former and current fifth-year student-athletes currently going through some of these programs were also there to speak with the student-athletes and provide advice and information about their personal experiences.
Another new addition to this year's event was the career panel session. The professionals that made up the panel were Tarita Preston, Kyle Decker and two former UC student-athletes, Randy Martinez (football) and Craig Carey (football). As current successful professionals, these four spoke about their experiences as college students and student-athletes and the steps they took to get where they are today. The panel provided advice and insight on life after college and beyond. Student-athletes also had the opportunity to ask the panel their own questions and speak one on one with these individuals.