UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA BECOMES 90th SCHOOL PARTNER OF CAREER ATHLETES
University of Florida set to provide career connections to current and alumni athletes
Kansas City, Kan. (May 6, 2010) - University of Florida Athletics recently agreed to a multi-year partnership with Career Athletes. The partnership provides a national representation of unique career development resources for Florida current and alumni athletes. President and CEO of Career Athletes, Chris Smith stated, "Career Athletes is thrilled to be partnered with The University of Florida. While they do a great job on campus with career education, the staff at Florida sees the benefits in partnering with Career Athletes to complement all of the wonderful services they provide to current/alumni Gator student-athletes." Florida is no stranger to success and is one in only four programs in the 2008-2009 Learfield Sports National All-Sports top ten to post a graduation success rate above 85 percent. Rew Woodruff, Life Skills and Career Counselor for the University of Florida Athletic Department explains, "Career Athletes is a fantastic addition to the resources we provide here on campus and will be an invaluable tool to both current athletes as they transition into the working world AND to alumni as they change jobs/careers."
Career Athletes provides Florida Athletics the unique ability to enhance fundraising and recruiting efforts while securing thousands of meaningful career opportunities for alumni athletes nationwide. Keith Carodine, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student Life at University of Florida, said "We believe the partnership will assist former Gators searching for employment opportunities." This Online Career Community Network will also provide benefits such as mentoring, professional networking, virtual career coaching and twelve years of best practices from the leading and largest career services organization assisting athletes, athletic departments and campus career centers. The University of Florida "Community Network" consists of current and alumni athletes from the institution as well as local, regional and national employers all managed and monitored by Career Athletes at its home office in the Kansas City area.
DJ Washington at Career Athletes explains that beyond an athletic department's initiative assisting with career opportunities and educational resources, it also helps when there is already a foundation on campus toward academic success. "As the most frequently outsourced group among career education in collegiate athletics, Career Athletes understands the importance of providing an efficient yet dependable platform relative to every athletic department regardless of size, reputation, and revenue. Every school partner brings something different to the Career Athletes Community, but all have the same expectations in providing the best services possible for its current and alumni athletes," shared Washington, Vice President, Career Education and Training. Additional achievements during the 2009-2010 school year for University of Florida include:
• Fifty-three student-athletes were named to the 2010 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Winter Academic Honor Roll
• Thus far in 2009-2010, three student-athletes have received SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards - Tim Tebow (Football), Ray Shipman (Men's Basketball), and Bank Vongvanij (Men's Golf).
• The sports represented on the Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll included Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving, and Gymnastics.
The University of Florida Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has led student-athlete involvement in three projects thus far during the 2009-2010 academic year. In the fall, over one hundred UF student-athletes participated in Climb for Cancer, a chance for children cancer survivors and their families to come to campus for various activities. Student-Athletes also worked to provide four hundred eighty-four local elementary school children with new athletic shoes by collecting monetary and shoe donations. Also, SAAC held its first annual Florida Lettermen's Awards (FLAs) this spring. The FLAs is modeled after the ESPYs and will continue to be an annual event to honor the athletic and academic accomplishments for Gator student-athletes.
The University of Florida ranked 15th among the top national public universities according to the 2009 U.S. News & World Report. In a single season, Florida Athletics produced twelve top ten nationally ranked teams including the national football champions during the 2008-2009 year. The institution has more than 300,000 alumni and millions of fans around the world representing the "Gator Nation".
Career Athletes is the leading and largest career services organization assisting athletes and expects to team up with university career centers, athletic departments and varsity clubs, particularly, during the economic downturn.
