FIRST BIG SKY CONFERENCE SCHOOL PARTNERS WITH CAREER ATHLETES

Weber State University set to provide career connections to current and alumni athletes

Kansas City, Kan. (May 13, 2010) - The Weber State University Department of Athletics and Career Center recently agreed to a multi-year partnership with Career Athletes.  The partnership provides a national representation of unique career development resources and networking opportunities for Weber State's current and alumni athletes. Director of Career Services, Winn Stanger explains, "It is with great pleasure that The Career Center at Weber State University is partnering with our Athletic Department and Career Athletes.  This is the logical next step in our close relationship with WSU Athletics and our great student-athletes.  A career after athletics is in the future of every one of our student-athletes.  Someone has said that ‘Success occurs when preparation meets opportunity'.  We believe that our partnership will help prepare our athletes for a lifetime of opportunity and success with contact to mentors, alumni and employers.  We hope our team members will take advantage of this great opportunity to participate in The Career Athletes program."  

Career Athletes provides Weber State Athletics the unique ability to enhance fundraising and recruiting efforts while securing thousands of meaningful career opportunities for alumni athletes nationwide.  Weber State University Associate Athletic Director/ Senior Woman Administrator, Amy Crosbie stated, "Our partnership with Career Athletes is a result of an effort to provide Weber State student-athletes with the knowledge and skills they need to guide them towards a successful career in whatever profession they choose.  Career Athletes is a key component that will assist our student-athletes in their transition to an enjoyable professional experience upon graduation.  Additionally, the networking and services offered by Career Athletes will be significant in the continued development of our relationships with our student-athlete alumni." This Online Career Community Network will provide benefits such as mentoring, professional networking, virtual career coaching and 12 years of best practices from the leading and largest career services organization assisting athletes, athletic departments and campus career centers.  The Weber State University "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.  "We are pleased to assist Weber State Athletics and the Career Center with their commitment toward career development of athletes, but it is also just as important to recognize the program's culture of achievement in community service, academic performance and athletic success," shared Washington, Vice President, Career Education and Training.  Weber State is no stranger to success as indicated by additional achievements over the past year:

• Over the past year 110 student-athletes were named Big Sky All-Academic, 15 of 16 teams earned combined GPA's of over a 3.0 and the Wildcat's won the Sterling Savings Big Sky Conference President's Cup, which combines athletic and academic success.  Weber State has won the President's Cup four of the last seven years.
• During the fall 2009 semester 39 student-athletes earned Big Sky Academic-All Conference selections.
• Beau Hadley (Football) was named to the Academic All-American First Team for the second straight year after posting a 4.0 GPA.  
• Hadley and Rebecca Ritchie (Women's Soccer) earned the Big Sky Conference Scholar Athlete Awards.
• Soccer (3.23 GPA), Volleyball (3.23), Men's Cross Country (3.37) and Women's Cross Country (3.49) each averaged higher than a 3.2 GPA.

Weber State's Student-Athlete Advisory Council has been active in the local community teaming up with Habitat for Humanity, providing aid relief to Haiti and hosting a "Day as a Wildcat" for local elementary school age children.

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.