FIRST MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SCHOOL PARTNERS WITH CAREER ATHLETES
Hampton University set to provide career connections to current and alumni athletes
Kansas City, KS (February 1, 2010) - Hampton University Athletics recently agreed to a multi-year partnership with Career Athletes. The partnership provides a national representation of unique career development resources for Hampton current and alumni athletes. "The mission and vision of Career Athletes and of the Hampton University Department of Athletics mirror each other in our respective quests to ensure that our student-athletes are well-prepared to enter society after college with the knowledge, skills and professional contacts necessary to compete against anyone anywhere in the world. Consequently, upon learning about Career Athletes and its outstanding program, we saw this as a unique opportunity to live up to our creed of providing our student-athletes an ‘education for life.'" Stated Lonza Hardy, Director of Athletics at Hampton University.
Career Athletes provides Hampton 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 Hampton 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 Hampton 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. Hampton is no stranger to success as indicated by additional achievements during the 2008-2009 academic year:
•-184 student-athletes made the Dean's List and nine were named as an Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar
•- Seven student-athletes were named to the Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society
•- Recognized for raising over 1K for the American Heart Association and participating in a Heart Walk
Aside from achieving the above academic and community service success the athletic program at Hampton also boasts an array of talent in athletic competition, producing MEAC Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Champions and NCAA Division I Champion Francena McCorory, 400-meter dash. Hampton University also received the Mary McCleod Bethune MEAC All-Sports Award last year.
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.
