100-plus student-athletes meet alumni and employers at networking dinner
Event hosted by Center for Career Exploration and Success
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Published
More than 100 Miami University student-athletes attended a January networking event hosted by the Center for Career Exploration and Success.
100-plus student-athletes meet alumni and employers at networking dinner
•
Published
The Miami University athletics department is on a roll. The men’s basketball team remains undefeated at 22-0 and was ranked in the AP top 25 poll for the first time since 1999.
The men’s and women’s basketball teams are a combined 40-4, the second-best such record in the country. The hockey team is also on the rise, bolstered by a 6-0 start to the season and a recent sweep of nationally ranked St. Cloud State on the road.
In the midst of this banner year, 113 student-athletes representing nine varsity teams took part in a Center for Career Exploration and Success event designed to set them up for future success.
Held on Jan. 22, the Student-Athlete Networking Dinner helped participants build meaningful connections with employers and alumni, learn about etiquette expectations at dinner functions, and start considering what they will “go pro” in once they leave competitive athletics.
The event, sponsored by GALLO Wine Company, introduced student-athletes to alumni from 16 class years, spanning from 1970 to 2019. Professionals from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Deloitte, and the Ohio Department of Public Safety also attended.
Senior synchronized skater Paige Southworth grew up in rural Wisconsin and rarely had opportunities to take part in networking events. She never learned formal dinner etiquette or the social nuances that come with meeting employers over a meal.
"As I’ve progressed in my education and career, I’ve realized how valuable these skills are,” Southworth said. “In the corporate business world, building relationships often happens over lunch meetings, dinners, or happy hours. I’m grateful I was able to practice connecting with professionals in such a setting.”
The networking dinner also opened Southworth’s eyes to how supportive the Miami community can be when students take the initiative to connect.
“Miami alumni are truly willing to help you jumpstart your career,” Southworth said. “Building relationships with them is valuable because you never know who you’ll want in your corner down the road.”
Teams represented at the dinner included baseball, hockey, men’s basketball, men’s swimming and diving, softball, synchronized skating, women’s basketball, women’s swimming and diving, and women’s track and field.
The men’s and women’s basketball teams are a combined 40-4, the second-best such record in the country. The hockey team is also on the rise, bolstered by a 6-0 start to the season and a recent sweep of nationally ranked St. Cloud State on the road.
In the midst of this banner year, 113 student-athletes representing nine varsity teams took part in a Center for Career Exploration and Success event designed to set them up for future success.
Held on Jan. 22, the Student-Athlete Networking Dinner helped participants build meaningful connections with employers and alumni, learn about etiquette expectations at dinner functions, and start considering what they will “go pro” in once they leave competitive athletics.
The event, sponsored by GALLO Wine Company, introduced student-athletes to alumni from 16 class years, spanning from 1970 to 2019. Professionals from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Deloitte, and the Ohio Department of Public Safety also attended.
Senior synchronized skater Paige Southworth grew up in rural Wisconsin and rarely had opportunities to take part in networking events. She never learned formal dinner etiquette or the social nuances that come with meeting employers over a meal.
"As I’ve progressed in my education and career, I’ve realized how valuable these skills are,” Southworth said. “In the corporate business world, building relationships often happens over lunch meetings, dinners, or happy hours. I’m grateful I was able to practice connecting with professionals in such a setting.”
The networking dinner also opened Southworth’s eyes to how supportive the Miami community can be when students take the initiative to connect.
“Miami alumni are truly willing to help you jumpstart your career,” Southworth said. “Building relationships with them is valuable because you never know who you’ll want in your corner down the road.”
Teams represented at the dinner included baseball, hockey, men’s basketball, men’s swimming and diving, softball, synchronized skating, women’s basketball, women’s swimming and diving, and women’s track and field.
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg. Interested in learning more about the Center for Career Exploration and Success? Visit the website for more information.
