Student-Athlete Enhancement Newsletter - May 2019
5/8/2019 1:03:00 PM | General
Student-Athlete Enhancement at the Capstone is dedicated to providing a well-rounded student-athlete experience by supporting total-person development in preparation for success at Alabama and in life. Through our Life Skills and DRIVE For Success programs, we deliver comprehensive education and engagement to grow student-athletes personally and professionally, while promoting opportunities for leadership advancement and service in the community. Our intention is for this newsletter is to tell the story of the those experiences. For any more information on our programs, please contact Jessie Gardner, Joe Suiter or Dr. Adora Hicks.
Polished Professional: Physical Lifestyle Transitions
Over the course of the 2018-2019 academic year, our senior student-athletes have engaged in topics that will assist in their successful transition to working professional. For student-athletes, maintaining physical activity can be challenging after their intercollegiate career has ended. Thus for the final Polished Professional Series, Amanda Poppleton (Assistant Sports Nutritionist), Erin Weaver-Cohen (Director of Rehabilitation Services) and Esi Atinkah (Athletic Trainer) from UA's Athletics Department provided valuable information about diet and exercise to assist student-athletes in maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle after the completion of their athletic career.
A-Club Spotlight - Atokie Boman
Position: Investment Advisor Representative
Employer: Primerica
Major at Alabama: Telecommunication and Film, Corporate Finance
Sport: Football
Years Competed: 1993-1997
Advice for current student-athletes
"You have to make good choices. The choices you make, good or bad, in the first 18-23 years of your life will impact your life for the next 40+ years. Make sure you have a very strong PLAN B. Your reality tomorrow could very well be totally different than your reality today. Do not get good at succeeding in things designed for failure, procrastination, lack of preparation, expecting things to be given to you."
Emerging Tide Leaders Academy Concludes Year with Lindsey Devine
With the year coming to a close, our Emerging Tide Leaders got together for one final session to grow in their leadership, this time with guest speaker and Volleyball Head Coach, Lindsey Devine. After a successful 16-year stint at East Tennessee State where she became ETSU's all-time winningest coach, Devine was chosen to take Alabama's program under her direction. During last week's ETLA dinner, Devine equipped the group with valuable skills and knowledge to add to their "Leadership Toolbox", challenging the attendees to self-reflect and activate specific areas of their leadership.
1st & Ten Club Talks Careers with Alabama Football
Prior to A-Day, Alabama football had the opportunity to practice more than just plays as members of the team networked with 30+ 1st & Ten Club professionals in a variety of industries. The 1st & Ten Club is a select group of former athletes, alumni and professionals who assist football players in preparing for and transitioning to post-athletic careers, in conjunction with Alabama Athletics' Student-Athlete Enhancement program. Through an engaging panel discussion followed by dinner together, Alabama football student-athletes gained career insight and advice valuable to their development as future professionals beyond sport.
Student-Athlete Spotlight
Cade Auerbach, Swimming and Diving
Major: Mathematics, Economics and Finance
Place of Internship: Cortland, Real Estate Investment Firm in Atlanta, Georgia
A Day in the Life: "Cortland is a real estate investment management firm that deals with acquisitions of multi-family properties as well as construction, property management, and the marketing associated with its assets. I worked as a member of the investments department, where I used financial models to predict returns and the future value of properties that the firm was interested in acquiring."
Career Goal: "I am interested in management consulting as well as other careers within the Finance and Economics fields."
Internship Advice: "The best advice that I could give to anyone who is working as an intern is to get to know as many people as possible. Most people are willing to meet with you, so take advantage of that!"
Crimson Choice Awards
The Alabama Athletics Department's annual Crimson Choice Awards presented by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), was held on April 16 at the Bama Theatre in downtown Tuscaloosa. During this memorable night, Crimson Tide student-athletes were recognized for their athletic and academic accomplishments throughout the 2018-2019 season.
For the second year in a row, Alabama athletics welcomed back Laura Rutledge as the emcee of the event. Laura entertained the crowd with her follow up questions for the award winners, as well as her personal stories of her husband, former Alabama baseball and MLB athlete Josh Rutledge. The night showcased members from most varsity teams, with coaches, faculty, staff, and honored guests coming together to celebrate the athletes' achievements.
National Student Athlete Week
During the first week of April, Alabama's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) initiated various opportunities to recognize the accomplishments of their peers who excel in the classroom, through competition, and in the community. The recognition was in conjunction with National STUDENT-Athlete Day, recognized nationwide on April 6th each year. SAAC kicked off the week hosting an ice cream social at the new Dining Hall, giving them a chance to chill out with their friends. The rest of the week featured social media spotlights highlighting various academic and athletic accomplishments, while also promoting student-athletes involvement in various service projects.
ProjectTUSK
The last International Night of the semester was April 10th, and the country celebrated was New Zealand. Courtney Gettins (softball), Max Kennedy-Till (men's swimming & diving), Ilaria Earl and Jorja MacRae (rowing) were all special guests at the dining facility as Chef Tricia Buzzelli, and her staff showcased delectable dishes that reflected traditional New Zealand cuisines.
Serving Our Community
Alabama student-athletes have a unique opportunity to serve Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas and are dedicated to giving back to those in need. This month, many student-athletes were committed to making an impact in the community and continued their efforts to motivate others.
Josh Casher (football) and Hunter Jaynes (men's swimming & diving) spent time at Oakdale Elementary encouraging students to achieve their goals and always strive for academic excellence.
With April being the month for Easter, student-athletes from football, rowing, soccer, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, men's track & field, and volleyball gathered at Alberta Head Start for an Easter egg hunt.
To conclude the month, the Athletic Department coordinated a day of service in Lee County as part of the tornado relief efforts. This day of service took place on April 27th, marking the anniversary of when Tuscaloosa was hit with a EF4 multiple-vortex tornado that devastated the community in 2011. Several student-athletes, coaches, staff, and athletic administration traveled to Opelika, Alabama to help construct walls for homes that were damaged. Additionally, student-athletes from Auburn University and members from East Alabama Medical Center joined in the efforts, uniting to serve the state of Alabama.
Quick Chat With SAAC
The month of April was lively for SAAC with the coordination of the Crimson Choice Awards and other initiatives. Thankfully Athletic Director, Greg Byrne provided an opportunity to relax by inviting SAAC members to his home for dinner and mingling.
April was also the last opportunity for the senior class, including SAAC President, Knox Auerbach to meet as a group. Next year, SAAC will have a new president, but we could not let Knox leave without sharing his experience.
"It's been a fantastic experience getting to serve as SAAC President this year. I am grateful for everyone that has given me the opportunity, and I am excited to see what the future holds with Alize and Sam. I trust they will continue finding ways to improve SAAC through service. It's been a fantastic four years here, and I couldn't have made a better decision to join SAAC. It has been the capstone of my experience at Alabama."
