DRIVE for Success Networking Night Brings Current Student-Athletes Together with A-Club Mentors
2/22/2018 11:54:00 AM | General
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Chris Donnelly, a junior on the Crimson Tide's 1992 national champion football team, recently returned to campus to have a conversation with Alabama's current crop of junior student-athletes. Donnelly took part in UA Athletics' DRIVE (Dedication, Responsibility, Influence, Vision, and Excellence) for Success Career and Leadership Development program's Networking Night at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Donnelly and the other members of the A-Club, the Tide's letterwinners organization, weren't there to reminisce about their playing days at the Capstone, but to help coach the next generation of A-Club members up on how to make a successful transition from the classroom and the playing field to careers beyond the Capstone.
"I think anyone that played here, that has worn the A and been a part of the A-Club has a lot of pride in that," Donnelly said. "So any time that we have a chance to come back and give back, it's really special. The DRIVE For Success staff does a really great job of communicating with us, with reaching out. Through events like this, they're building an even stronger bond between current student-athletes and the A-Club, and the better that connection is, the more success stories you're going to have in terms of people getting jobs and being successful after their Alabama career comes to a close."
Donnelly, the president and owner of the Prime Surgical, LLC, knows the benefits of hiring Alabama student-athletes, having recently brought on recent UA graduate and member of UA's 2017 national champion football team Andy Pappanastos.
"This was an event that I came to during my playing days here and it really helped me out," Pappanastos said. "Now I'm on the other side of it, trying to help others out. It's a good opportunity to pay it forward. When you get to Alabama it's huge to wear the A on your shirt. From the moment I got on campus I tried to meet as many people as I could and smile as much as I could and make those connections. It comes around full circle when you get ready for the next step. I think that's what you learn through events like this."
Rebecca Stover, a former member of UA's track and field/cross country team and now a marketing coordinator with ESPN and the SEC Network, encouraged the juniors in attendance at Networking Night to not only focus on their current careers, but to keep an eye on their future as well.
"When you're in school, a lot of times you're only looking at what is immediately in front of you, and you don't think about the fact that you're about to graduate," Stover said. "So it's really great to have programs like this in place, setting people up for success outside of athletics. I think it's great to come back as a recent graduate and say I just went through this. I think that helps me to relate with those that are about to go through the same process and offer some advice about to go about it."
Networking Night is geared toward allowing current junior student-athletes to gather with members of the A-Club and learn the art of networking on a practical level in a comfortable environment. The event included an explanation of the event, its central topic and networking tips and tricks from by Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Enhancement Jessie Gardner and an introduction to the A-Club by Associate AD Tommy Ford followed by a number of round table networking sessions as well as a networking reception. From the event, the juniors had the opportunity to pick up tips on first impressions, professionalism within the social media realm, dining etiquette as well as how to create a presence while networking.
"Being able to meet and talk to members of the A-Club was a great opportunity to get advice from those who have been in our shoes and know what to expect now that they're in fields that we're looking toward," volleyball player Quincey Gary said.
Networking Night is another part of Alabama Athletics' DRIVE for Success Career and Leadership Development program. DRIVE for Success is an innovative and dynamic initiative now in its fourth year. Highlighted through the DRIVE acronym the program's values are Dedication, Responsibility, Influence, Vision, and Excellence. The mission is to actively support professional and leadership growth of current and former Crimson Tide student-athletes through practical education and comprehensive programming in preparation for success in life.
All the latest information on Alabama Athletics can be found via @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook. You can follow Alabama's DRIVE for Success program on Twitter via @TideDrive.
