Kent State Student-Athletes Participate in Experiential Learning Trip
9/11/2024 12:37:00 PM | Baseball, General, Men's Basketball, Softball, Women's Basketball, Wrestling, Gymnastics, Men's Track & Field, Women's Lacrosse
PITTSBURGHÂ - A group of Kent State student-athletes traveled to Pittsburgh last month as part of the inaugural KSU Experiential Learning Trip. The trip was a unique opportunity for selected student-athletes to expand their horizons, gain valuable leadership experience and be exposed to new opportunities. The trip was built on three components which are educational, historical, and cultural significance.
The location coincided with the Kent State football team's season-opening game at Pittsburgh. The student-athletes were required to apply for the trip as well as input from coaches.
The eight student-athletes were Allie Lee (Lacrosse), Alyssa Guns (Gymnastics), Carley Penner (Softball), Dionna Gray (Women's Basketball), Peyton Cariaco (Baseball), Cian Medley (Men's Basketball), Corey Boerio (Wrestling) and Ayden Bath (Men's Track & Field). Members of the Kent State athletic staff included Associate AD for Academic Services Amy Densevich, graduate assistants Drew Wiemers and Jasmine Jeffries, and student video content producer Jessie Sines.
Wiemers, a former student-athlete at Northern Illinois University and a second-year athletic administration graduate assistant at Kent State, first shared this idea with administration last spring. He worked closely with Densevich and other members of the staff to bring this idea to reality.
"We had a tremendous group of student-athletes that made the most out of the opportunity presented.", said Wiemers. "They created friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. To see this vision come to life and give our student-athletes a platform to represent their team as leaders was what I was most proud of. One of our pillars of the mission statement is 'Boldy prepared for life after sport' and I believe this trip accomplished that."
"This trip gave eight Kent State student-athletes the opportunity to come together, grow and lead.", added Densevich. "As a result, they represented not only their programs but the athletic department and the university to the highest level. We are all appreciative to Drew for bringing this initiative to Kent State, and look forward to the possibility of making this a tradition."
The trip began with an interactive session with University of Pittsburgh student-athletes and administrators. They received tours from the Roberto Clemente Museum and the Heinz History Center/Western PA Sports Museum. The group also did some sightseeing which included the Duquesne Incline, Point State Park, and the Clemente Bridge.
Day two began with coffee and great discussion with President Todd Diacon and Vice President, Director of Athletics, Randale Richmond before heading to the Flash Nation Tailgate. The student-athletes interacted and made connections with alumni and donors. Then, headed to the football games to cheer on their fellow student-athletes.
We were fortunate to have been able to fund this impactful trip through university funding. The goal is to expand on this trip and offer future opportunities supported through the generosity of our donors and alumni.
Student-Athlete Reactions:
"I really enjoyed the student-athlete experiential learning trip to Pittsburgh! I got the chance to network with the Kent State donors and alumni. I also got a chance to connect and learn from the student-athletes at the University of Pittsburgh. This trip was great to grow as a person and to not only get my name out there but to share the experiences I have had over the years on the softball team at Kent State. I would recommend this experience to all athletes if you want to grow as a collegiate athlete and get ready for the real world".
"My overall thoughts of the trip is that it was very great for me. As a new student athlete at Kent State, I felt like I've been here for more than two months. The trip allowed me to build relationships that can last a lifetime and meet people who are just as motivated as me. Being able to speak to the donors and all the people that heavily support Kent State Athletics was also great! Knowing that they are supporting you through the good and bad and have the highest expectations for you makes you want to win 100 times more just for them. Also being able to state your feelings and thoughts as a student-athlete to the AD and President was also great. It means a lot to a student-athlete when they know they are heard and what they have to say is at taken into consideration"
"I'm really glad Drew introduced this idea to our program and was able to successfully bring it to life. I hope we're able to continue with this opportunity for our future athletes. It was great to collaborate with Pitt's athletic academic administration and see some of the impressive things they have to offer their athletes. It is always a priority to maximize the student athlete experience while simultaneously preparing for life after sport, so it is really important that these conversations happen. I hope we were able to provide them valuable insight into our program and that ideas from both sides are implementable. My favorite part of the trip was probably networking with alum and donors on the pre-game boat ride. It was entertaining to hear stories from their time in college, as well as learn about their careers. And it is always a plus when I get to grow my connections and enhance my career growth opportunities!"
Players Mentioned
