Kansas City, Kan. (May 24, 2010) - University of Vermont Athletics 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 University of Vermont current and alumni athletes. "We are excited to be partnering with Career Athletes. Our current student-athletes stand to gain a great deal from the career education opportunities afforded through Career Athletes before they graduate and further we are very pleased to be able to provide more career networking opportunities to our very talented student-athlete alumni base. Not only will Career Athletes alumni network help us connect our former student-athletes with potential employers but it will also allow our alums to stay more connected to UVM Athletics," stated Amy Forbes, Assistant Coordinator for Student-Athlete Services and Life Skills Coordinator.
Career Athletes provides Vermont 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 12 years of best practices from the leading and largest career services organization assisting athletes, athletic departments and campus career centers. The University of Vermont "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 Vermont 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. Vermont is no stranger to success as indicated by additional achievements during the fall 2009-2010 school year:
- 80 student-athletes were named to the fall 2009 Academic Honor Roll for the America East Conference. This amounts to 62.7 percent of the entire student-athlete population at University of Vermont.
- For the 15th straight semester, Vermont student-athletes have posted a GPA above 3.0, with a 3.155 in the fall 2009.
- Vermont Athletics have won five straight, with a total of six, America East Academic cups (1996, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) which is an award given to the conference school with the highest cumulative GPA.
- Caitlin Patterson, a sophomore on the Nordic ski team, was named the 2010 recipient of the prestigious NCAA Elite 88 Award at the NCAA Ski Championships. This award is given to a student-athlete who has competed at the national championship level while also achieving the highest academic standards.
- Both the men's and women's basketball teams won the America East Conference, earning invitations to the NCAA tournament, with the women making it to the second round of the tournament.
- Individually, Franz Bernstein, a sophomore on the Nordic ski team, won an NCAA championship in the 20k freestyle.
Over the past year, Vermont student-athletes have participated with Vermont's Special Olympics & Penguin Plunge, Pink Zone, Burlington Boy's & Girls club, Burlington MS Walk, University of Vermont's Green Up Day and various other community service programs.
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.
