Temple University Athletics
Avery Ellis, Brooke Williams and Kristen Kemnitzer with Bowie State Athletic Director Clyde Doughty
NCAA Career in Sports Forum Recap - Kristen Kemnitzer
6.10.16 | General, Women's Fencing
From June 2-5, three Temple student-athletes were among the 200 across the nation invited to attend the 2016 NCAA Career in Sports Forum. Football's Avery Ellis, fencing's Kristen Kemnitzer and lacrosse's Brooke Williams all wrote about their experiences for OwlSports.com. First up is Kemnitzer's account of her time in Indianapolis.
Last weekend I was fortunate to be one of the 200 student-athlete attendees of the 2016 NCAA Career in Sports Forum held in Indianapolis, Ind. The four-day forum had multiple keynote speakers representing different departments of collegiate athletics, and workshops aimed at enhancing our understanding of the industry and helping us capitalize on the transferrable skills garnered from being a student-athlete. Some of the highlights for me were learning about my strengths and weaknesses through a DiSC personality assessment, and listening to the keynote speakers talk about their leadership experiences and what makes a successful team. Â
One of my favorite quotes from the weekend came from Texas A&M University Commerce women's basketball coach, Jason Burton. He spoke about the emotional intelligence needed to be a successful coach and how "the best player on the floor is the one who makes everyone around them better." As a member of the fencing team at Temple, with fencing being as much an individual sport as a team sport, this resonated with me because of how it can shape the culture of a team. Even though only one of us fences at a time, the positive energy and support coming from the rest of the team has the ability to make all of us better throughout a day of competition.
The forum was meant to expose student-athletes interested in a career in sports to the multiple opportunities that collegiate athletics offers. With all of the possible careers ranging from being an academic advisor, athletic director, or working on planning NCAA championships, it left me unsure about exactly what I want to do within the sport industry although I am positive that I want to work in a position where I can help others achieve their personal goals.Â
Another quote from Coach Burton was "It's not about wins and losses, it's about building people." One thing that every speaker had in common regardless of their position in the NCAA or respective athletic department, was that they all had a passion and drive to help student-athletes fulfill their goals and prepare them for the future. College athletics has given me enormous opportunities to grow and become a better well-rounded person. The benefits of being a student-athlete at Temple extend much farther than continuing to practice the sport I love. I am lucky to have role models in the Resnick Center, athletic department, and weight room that encourage all student-athletes to strive to be the best versions of themselves.
If I left with one thing from the Career in Sports Forum, it would be an immense appreciation for my coaches, advisors, teammates, and the people at Temple whose passion for working with student-athletes allows us to gain the most from our collegiate athletic experience. I want to give a huge thank you to everyone at Temple and the NCAA that made this opportunity possible, and I hope that one day I can inspire young professionals by using the same motivation and passion that I have been fortunate to experience at the Forum and in my time at Temple. Â
By Kristen Kemnitzer, Temple Fencing
NCAA Career in Sports Forum Preview l Photo Gallery
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Last weekend I was fortunate to be one of the 200 student-athlete attendees of the 2016 NCAA Career in Sports Forum held in Indianapolis, Ind. The four-day forum had multiple keynote speakers representing different departments of collegiate athletics, and workshops aimed at enhancing our understanding of the industry and helping us capitalize on the transferrable skills garnered from being a student-athlete. Some of the highlights for me were learning about my strengths and weaknesses through a DiSC personality assessment, and listening to the keynote speakers talk about their leadership experiences and what makes a successful team. Â
One of my favorite quotes from the weekend came from Texas A&M University Commerce women's basketball coach, Jason Burton. He spoke about the emotional intelligence needed to be a successful coach and how "the best player on the floor is the one who makes everyone around them better." As a member of the fencing team at Temple, with fencing being as much an individual sport as a team sport, this resonated with me because of how it can shape the culture of a team. Even though only one of us fences at a time, the positive energy and support coming from the rest of the team has the ability to make all of us better throughout a day of competition.
The forum was meant to expose student-athletes interested in a career in sports to the multiple opportunities that collegiate athletics offers. With all of the possible careers ranging from being an academic advisor, athletic director, or working on planning NCAA championships, it left me unsure about exactly what I want to do within the sport industry although I am positive that I want to work in a position where I can help others achieve their personal goals.Â
Another quote from Coach Burton was "It's not about wins and losses, it's about building people." One thing that every speaker had in common regardless of their position in the NCAA or respective athletic department, was that they all had a passion and drive to help student-athletes fulfill their goals and prepare them for the future. College athletics has given me enormous opportunities to grow and become a better well-rounded person. The benefits of being a student-athlete at Temple extend much farther than continuing to practice the sport I love. I am lucky to have role models in the Resnick Center, athletic department, and weight room that encourage all student-athletes to strive to be the best versions of themselves.
If I left with one thing from the Career in Sports Forum, it would be an immense appreciation for my coaches, advisors, teammates, and the people at Temple whose passion for working with student-athletes allows us to gain the most from our collegiate athletic experience. I want to give a huge thank you to everyone at Temple and the NCAA that made this opportunity possible, and I hope that one day I can inspire young professionals by using the same motivation and passion that I have been fortunate to experience at the Forum and in my time at Temple. Â
By Kristen Kemnitzer, Temple Fencing
NCAA Career in Sports Forum Preview l Photo Gallery
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Players Mentioned
Foil
/ Women's FencingTemple Men's Basketball | Babatunde Durodola Day In The Life
Saturday, September 13
Ep. 3: Temple Volleyball Head Coach Linda Hampton-Keith || Lacrosse Student-Athlete Jenna Facciolli
Friday, September 12
Ep. 2: Temple Football Alum Tyler Matakevich || Gymnastics Junior Amelia Budd
Friday, September 05
Elevate the Owls: Temple Athletics' Competitive Excellence Fund
Tuesday, September 02
