FIRST BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE SCHOOL PARTNERS WITH CAREER ATHLETES
Gardner-Webb University set to provide career connections to current and alumni athletes
Kansas City, Kan. - Gardner-Webb University Athletics recently agreed to a multi-year partnership with Career Athletes. The partnership provides a national representation of unique career development resources for Gardner-Webb current and alumni athletes. Gardner-Webb University Vice President for Athletics, Chuck Burch stated, "Our goal is to provide GWU student-athletes with the knowledge and skills that will serve as the building blocks for a successful career in whatever profession they choose. We see our partnership with Career Athletes as a way of assisting 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 relationship with our athletic alumni."
Career Athletes provides Gardner-Webb Athletics the unique ability to enhance fundraising and recruiting efforts while securing thousands of meaningful career opportunities for alumni athletes nationwide. This Online Career Community Network will provide benefits such as mentoring, professional networking, virtual career coaching and 10 years of best practices from the leading and largest career services organization assisting athletes, athletic departments and campus career centers. The Gardner-Webb 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 Gardner-Webb Athletics with its 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. Gardner-Webb is no stranger to success as indicated by additional achievements during the fall 2009 semester:
• 179 student-athletes were named to the Dean's List or Honor Roll
• Three Gardner-Webb student-athletes were recognized as the Big South Conference Scholars-Athlete of the Year for their sport: Mario Brown (Football), Trent Kozman (Men's Soccer) and Jason Wenzel (Men's Cross Country)
• Over 57% of the student-athletes earned higher than a 3.0 GPA, with 52 student-athletes obtaining a 4.0 GPA, and 11 teams posting a team GPA of 3.0 or higher
Gardner-Webb's Student-Athlete Advisory Council has been active in addressing a variety of service projects impacting both local and global causes. The group's fall 2009 initiative focused on collecting canned goods to replenish the Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association's food pantry. This spring, student-athletes led a campaign to raise money and collect shoes for Samaritan's Feet, a non-profit organization dedicated to distributing shoes through the Shoes for Hope program.
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.
