CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois student-athletes wrapped up their six-month mentorship program with a mentorship appreciation breakfast on April 12.
In collaboration between Varsity I and the Illini Way Student-Athlete Development offices, the program paired current student-athletes with former Illinois student-athletes who have gone on to have success in a variety of fields. Fighting Illini student-athletes were paired with a mentor who is a working professional in the field of interest that the student-athlete would like to pursue, which allowed them to establish professional relationships and develop work skills for life after college.
Launched in October, this year's mentorship program concluded in mid-April and featured several group events and one-on-one sessions between mentors and their mentees. During the six-month program, participating student-athletes were encouraged to meet with their mentors at least once a month either virtually or in person. Given their busy schedules as a college student and a Division-I athlete, the program was intentionally designed to be flexible for all parties involved.
At the start of the program, student-athletes were asked to brainstorm at least three goals to complete by the end of the project, which included identifying which career fields best suited their skills and interests, getting support as they transition out of athletics, and more.
For graduate student Serena Starks of Illinois Softball, who is pursuing a master's degree in Management and was asked to speak at the end-of-year mentorship appreciation breakfast event, the program allowed her to gain insight into the professional workforce ahead of her graduation in May.
"The mentorship experience has many layers to it because it is not only one connection, but a window into a network of connections," Starks said. "That is why the mentorship program is so important."
In addition to one-on-one time with their mentors, participating student-athletes took part in a kickoff event and a virtual mid-year meeting, the latter of which included an alumni panel to discuss things like their transition out of sport and how they coped with it, mistakes they made during their career journeys and how to avoid them, the skills in their respective fields that are needed to be successful, pivoting careers, and important moments in their career journeys.
The panel then transitioned into breakout sessions based on the participating student-athletes' top five majors: sports, business, health, law, and entrepreneurship. The event provided a more intimate setting for mentors and student-athletes to connect and learn.
Adalia McKenzie of Illinois Women's Basketball was paired with Morgan Martin, a former Illini cheerleader and the owner of Live and Believe Wellness. A Recreation, Sport and Tourism major, McKenzie, who also spoke at the end-of-year breakfast banquet, gained invaluable experience from the six-month mentorship program.
"The mentorship program has greatly impacted my life," McKenzie said. "I have learned the importance of doing research and keeping a growth mindset. Having a mentor has helped me grow in communication while also staying prepared for opportunities to gain knowledge. It is great being able to have someone to look up to, and I am thankful that the mentorship program provided this."
Not only did the student-athletes leave with inspiration, knowledge, and understanding of their fields of interest, but the mentors also walked away with memories of their own.
"I went into this program hoping to give so much to my mentee, Adalia, but in return, she gave me so much more," Martin said. "From talking about purpose and vision, to tips to helping her choose an internship, to now being able to give tips to help maximize her experience at her upcoming internship, we were able to touch on so many different things.
"Often as student-athletes, you feel like the only focus that people want from you is in your sport, so to have that time where we got to talk about life outside of basketball now and in the future was so beneficial. This was definitely the mentorship that I wish I had during my time as a varsity cheerleader at U of I. The benefits of being able to learn how to leverage the U of I and Varsity I network are so powerful, and for the athletes to be tapped into this so early in their college careers is key. They are so much more than just athletes but our next U of I alumni leaders."
The Fighting Illini Mentorship program fosters meaningful connections between student-athletes and alumni, empowering student-athletes to take ownership of their futures and establish a solid foundation for success. The Varsity I and the Illini Way Student-Athlete Development offices both appreciate student-athletes and alumni, as their contributions and involvement make this program exceptional. To learn more about this program, reach out to Mary Long (mlong09@illinois.edu).
