As winners of the 2022 Accelerating Academic Success Program Career Development Award, Karissa Hoffman of Sacramento State and Yoro Sidibe of Norfolk State attended the Career in Sports Forum held June 2-5 at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis.
The forum brought together 200 student-athletes to explore potential careers in sports while offering opportunities to network with and learn from current athletics professionals.
Participants heard from more than 90 speakers in panel discussions, breakout sessions and keynote presentations. Student-athletes walked away from the experience with a thorough understanding of athletics as a career path and where they fit into the industry's landscape at the first in-person forum since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We are very grateful for all of the speakers, facilitators and industry professionals who poured hours of wisdom and knowledge into this year's cohort," said Sable Lee, assistant director of leadership development. "Our participants were ready and engaged from start to finish and were able to walk away with tangible and transformational skills that will serve as catalyst to their lives after sport."
The Accelerating Academic Success Program assists Division I schools as they develop programs and systems designed to increase graduation rates and ensure academic success. The Career Development Award covers the cost of travel to two NCAA professional development events.
Hoffman, a gymnast for the Hornets, recently graduated with a kinesiology degree with an emphasis in clinical exercise and rehabilitation and a minor in history. She will start a business analytics master's program in the fall and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Her career goal is to become an athletics administrator at a Division I institution or work for an NFL team. This was Hoffman's second consecutive Career in Sports Forum.
"The experience and networking opportunities at these events is invaluable for student-athletes looking to pursue a career in sports," she said. "Between last year's event and this year's event, it helped solidify the career path I'm headed down and gave me confidence that I have the tools I need to succeed in my future endeavors."
Sidibe, a junior guard/forward on the Spartans basketball team, is majoring in accounting with an eye toward working in the business or finance department of an athletics department. The Kolda, Senegal, native wants to use his education to create programs that give back to African communities.
Attending the Career in Sports Forum left Sidibe energized and ready to put what he learned to use.
"The Career in Sports Forum has really helped me understand how I can use my strengths and skills to be successful in the sports industry," he said. "It was a life-changing experience for me. I never thought in my life that I would have this opportunity. I am still processing the fact that I was at the NCAA headquarters and that I got to meet so many great people that live to serve and empower others. I am very humbled."
Sidibe departed directly from the conference and flew to Senegal, where he was hosting the second Africa NextGen camp. Geared toward inspiring young Africans and giving back to his country, this year's basketball camp aimed to host 200 kids, four times as many as the 2021 camp.
With a desire to use sports to help change lives, Sidibe is a living example of the impact athletics can have. Sidibe described the feeling of hosting these camps as the highlight of his life, right alongside playing in the Division I men's basketball tournament twice.
Growing up, Sidibe said it was challenging to get the basic resources needed for school or sports. He had sneakers so worn that his feet would touch the ground. Sidibe vowed to make a difference if he was ever in the position to do so.
On a return home to visit family and renew his visa, Sidibe brought a large collection of shoes made up of the multiple pairs he received each season and donations from friends and teammates. He gave them away to kids in his hometown. Now he's hosting a camp that he never would have had the chance to attend as a kid.
"That's why I build my whole existence trying to make things better for my community. I have been to a lot of places, learned about a lot of cultures and built a lot of meaningful relationships with people all around the world because of sports," he said. "Sports gave me a fair shot at life and has shaped my life. I want to use it as a tool to inspire and empower kids walking in my footsteps. I am nowhere close to where I want to be, but as I go and find my way, I want to bring others along."
During the Career in Sports Forum, Sidibe frequently amplified the event on social media and shared how much he was enjoying the networking and personal growth opportunities. He said he used the event to explore strategies to grow Africa NextGen and learn how he can do more to empower young people.
Hoffman, meanwhile, appreciated the opportunity to talk with Alexander Martin, player engagement coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, as she hopes to work in the NFL. She enjoyed connecting with a professional in her area of interest and relished the additional career development knowledge.
"I gained countless new connections, learned to network, got to see people who succeed in my chosen career field and talk with them one-on-one," Hoffman said. "The biggest takeaway from the event, though, was how willing everyone was to help us take the next step in reaching our goals."
