Wildcat Workshops offer student-athletes time to connect and grow outside of the classroom and competition
By Kenny Ayres
Three days out of the week during swimming season, Henry Gingrich â26 VSB leaves his residence hall at 5:30 a.m. and returns around 11 that night. His schedule is full of athletic and academic opportunities that he would never trade, but is also one that leaves him with little extra time.
This is the nature of the commitment Villanovaâs student-athletes put into their sports and coursework. Thatâs why the Office of Academic Support for Athletics and Student-Athlete Development joined forces several years ago to create Wildcat Workshops, offering opportunities for student-athletes to grow professionally, socially and personally, all on their schedule.
Chapter members gain knowledge and expertise by engaging with guest speakers, attending state and national Student Nursesâ Association conferences and preparing publications, presentations and independent studies on leadership that are linked to their involvement in SNAP through these activities that help them prepare for successful nursing careers.Ìę Ìę
âWe found that student-athletes wanted to go to info sessions or attend various programs, but it often conflicted with their class or athletic schedules,â says Jenn Brophy, director of Academic Support for Athletics. âWe were thinking, âHow can we still provide them with these same opportunities, but in a manner that they would be able to participate?ââ
ÌęThe program was initially geared toward professional development: rĂ©sumĂ© building, career advice and the like. While still including those topics, organizers have since incorporated workshops focused on mental health and classes in financial literacy, nutrition and yoga. On the social side, food truck events and holiday socials allow athletes to connect outside of sports and the classroom.
What began as a collaboration across two departments in Athletics has grown into a cross-campus collaborative effort, thanks to the work of Eryca Bennett, director of Student-Athlete Development, who oversees all aspects of the Wildcat Workshop series. Many faculty and staff members volunteer their time to work with student-athletes.
âWe have never reached out to someone to come over and help with a workshop and had that person say they didnât have the time or see the value in it,â says Allison Venella â08 CLAS, â13 MA, senior associate athletic director of Student-Athlete Development.
The impact the workshops have had on the student-athletesâ lives is evident.
âEven if itâs just a half hour, it allows me to take a step back from my athletic, academic and social life and just relax,â Henry says.
Taryn Nichols, assistant director of Academic Support for Athletics, says the whole program is driven by the idea of showing the student-athletes âthat we are thinking about them and care about how theyâre doing.â
Riley Homer â23 VSB, â25 MBA, a member of the Volleyball team, has attended most Wildcat Workshops offered during her time as a Villanova student-athlete. âIt speaks to how amazing this community is,â Homer says. âWe are respected not just as students or athletes, but as people. And we are focused on becoming the best people we can be.â
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