NU for Life Hosts 5th Annual Wildcat Professional Excellence Program
11/4/2015 12:03:00 PM | General, David G. Kabiller NU for Life Program
On Sunday, Nov. 1, all Northwestern junior student-athletes participated in the fifth annual Wildcat Professional Excellence Program (WPEP) at Hardin Hall and Evanston's Hilton Orrington. WPEP is an event aimed at providing student-athletes in their junior year the chance to meet and learn from preeminent professionals, giving the 'Cats insight into a network of industry leaders to call upon for connections and advice. The event also features a keynote speaker and the presentation of the Irving Kabiller Memorial Awards.
More than 40 professionals attended this year's WPEP, representing diverse backgrounds and positions with organizations in consulting, finance, medicine, journalism, law, and many more. Over the course of five networking sessions of twenty minutes each, all of the approximately 100 Northwestern student-athletes who attended WPEP met in small groups with five different professionals of their choosing.
"We were able to sit down in sessions with these professionals and hear their stories and how they got to be in their current position," said Grant Peikert of the baseball team. "I was able to pick their brains on what they do and recommendations they have as I start my career. Many of them are [Northwestern] alumni, so it is a fantastic network for us [as student-athletes] to have."
"I really took away the concept of networking and building relationships within various industries I am interested in," said women's golfer Kacie Komoto. "We were able to build great connections and it will really help us in the future."
NU For Life began in 2012 following a generous donation to Northwestern Athletics by David Kabiller, a member of the University's Board of Trustees and a former Wildcat tennis player, and is overseen by Julie Hammer, Assistant A.D. for Career Enhancement and Employer Relations. Kabiller continues to have a hands-on role in the program, providing direct support to student-athletes and directing the strategic vision of NU for Life. Hammer and Kabiller have also established an NU for Life Board to provide support and influence the long-term direction of the program. Board members Michael Price of Empyrean Capital Partners and renowned journalist and author Christine Brennan attended WPEP.
"WPEP is a special event for our athletes," Kabiller said. "It opens up new possibilities and insights for these student-athletes to reflect on. Through this process, they are able to develop an answer to what they want to do when they finish their athletic careers."
Kabiller elevated the professional futures and potential of four Wildcats this year, introducing the third class of recipients of the Irving Kabiller Memorial Award for Excellence in Character, Commitment and Community. The award, part of the larger program "A Life Touched, A Generation Changed," is named in honor of Kabiller's father and offers $5,000 per student for use in professional development opportunities. The recipients of this year's awards were men's soccer standout Brandon Medina Ruiz, volleyball player Kayla Morin, swimmer Stephen Shull and football cornerback Matt Harris.
"The Irving Kabiller award identifies outstanding student athletes for the student, athlete and person they are," Kabiller said. "The award recognizes excellence in a multidimensional way and it will identify future leaders. It encourages self-discovery and the continued pursuit of excellence beyond ones sport and the classroom."
Medina Ruiz plans to utilize the Kabiller Award funds to bolster his future in finance, developing his skills in financial valuation, including potentially attending a relevant finance bootcamp in Washington D.C., as well as purchasing formal attire for future jobs and internships. Medina Ruiz is also dedicated to giving back. He is interested in making an impact on Chicago's underprivileged Hispanic youth in the near future and ultimately aims to establish a scholarship fund after a successful career in finance.
Morin is driven to achieve the best possible score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and will use the Kabiller Award to pursue LSAT perfection through a preparation course. She also plans to pursue an internship with a mission-driven politician, agency, or organization in Washington, D.C., for summer 2016 and will use the award to support this goal. Finally, Morin aims to execute an east coast trip to both network with Northwestern alumni and visit potential law schools.
For mechanical engineer Shull, the Kabiller Award will provide an opportunity for him to continue to explore his lifelong fascination with interfacing electronics with mechanical systems (mechatronics). Through a connection with a Northwestern alumnus, Shull plans to use the award funds to travel to Bundibugyo, Uganda, in summer 2016 to assist a team working on a sensor system that will provide the people of Bundibugyo with clean drinking water.
Having overcome numerous challenges in his childhood and adolescence, Harris is passionate about youth development. His ambition with the Kabiller Award is to create a weekend-long all-male conference to empower high school male leaders to return to their communities to make a positive impact on their peers and environments. Harris sees such a conference as a starting point for accomplishing his life goal of impacting impoverished youth.
Furthermore, Kabiller announced plans to purchase a Wall Street Journal subscription for all junior student-athletes at Northwestern, stressing the importance of staying informed and aware of global developments. He cited this awareness as instrumental in his path to success in the finance world.
Attendees also had the chance to learn from the event's guest keynote speaker Amy Van Dyken, a former competitive swimmer, world-record holder and six-time Olympic gold medalist. In June of 2014, Van Dyken was in a severe ATV accident that severed her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. She spoke to the captivated room about her career and her journey after her accident that left her stronger than ever. Van Dyken also met individually with the men's and women's swimming and diving teams.
Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips closed the event, stressing the importance of planning for a future after sport while continuing to pursue athletics excellence at the highest levels. Via the resources of the NU for Life program, Northwestern student-athletes continue to be prepared for successful careers and work to maximize their professional potential through events like Wildcat Professional Excellence Program.
More than 40 professionals attended this year's WPEP, representing diverse backgrounds and positions with organizations in consulting, finance, medicine, journalism, law, and many more. Over the course of five networking sessions of twenty minutes each, all of the approximately 100 Northwestern student-athletes who attended WPEP met in small groups with five different professionals of their choosing.
W Partners CEO Wally Hayward meets with @NUMensBball during the first round of #WPEP2015 pic.twitter.com/6uiUQuecmm
— NU for Life (@NUforLife) November 1, 2015"We were able to sit down in sessions with these professionals and hear their stories and how they got to be in their current position," said Grant Peikert of the baseball team. "I was able to pick their brains on what they do and recommendations they have as I start my career. Many of them are [Northwestern] alumni, so it is a fantastic network for us [as student-athletes] to have."
"I really took away the concept of networking and building relationships within various industries I am interested in," said women's golfer Kacie Komoto. "We were able to build great connections and it will really help us in the future."
NU For Life began in 2012 following a generous donation to Northwestern Athletics by David Kabiller, a member of the University's Board of Trustees and a former Wildcat tennis player, and is overseen by Julie Hammer, Assistant A.D. for Career Enhancement and Employer Relations. Kabiller continues to have a hands-on role in the program, providing direct support to student-athletes and directing the strategic vision of NU for Life. Hammer and Kabiller have also established an NU for Life Board to provide support and influence the long-term direction of the program. Board members Michael Price of Empyrean Capital Partners and renowned journalist and author Christine Brennan attended WPEP.
NU for Life champion and founder David Kabiller engages directly in the professional development of our #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/hQVZiQAhv4
— NU for Life (@NUforLife) November 1, 2015"WPEP is a special event for our athletes," Kabiller said. "It opens up new possibilities and insights for these student-athletes to reflect on. Through this process, they are able to develop an answer to what they want to do when they finish their athletic careers."
Kabiller elevated the professional futures and potential of four Wildcats this year, introducing the third class of recipients of the Irving Kabiller Memorial Award for Excellence in Character, Commitment and Community. The award, part of the larger program "A Life Touched, A Generation Changed," is named in honor of Kabiller's father and offers $5,000 per student for use in professional development opportunities. The recipients of this year's awards were men's soccer standout Brandon Medina Ruiz, volleyball player Kayla Morin, swimmer Stephen Shull and football cornerback Matt Harris.
Your 2015 Kabiller Award winners: Stephen Shull, Matt Harris, Kayla Morin, and Brandon Medina Ruiz! #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/M5Jtp5DgKe
— NU for Life (@NUforLife) November 2, 2015"The Irving Kabiller award identifies outstanding student athletes for the student, athlete and person they are," Kabiller said. "The award recognizes excellence in a multidimensional way and it will identify future leaders. It encourages self-discovery and the continued pursuit of excellence beyond ones sport and the classroom."
Medina Ruiz plans to utilize the Kabiller Award funds to bolster his future in finance, developing his skills in financial valuation, including potentially attending a relevant finance bootcamp in Washington D.C., as well as purchasing formal attire for future jobs and internships. Medina Ruiz is also dedicated to giving back. He is interested in making an impact on Chicago's underprivileged Hispanic youth in the near future and ultimately aims to establish a scholarship fund after a successful career in finance.
Morin is driven to achieve the best possible score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and will use the Kabiller Award to pursue LSAT perfection through a preparation course. She also plans to pursue an internship with a mission-driven politician, agency, or organization in Washington, D.C., for summer 2016 and will use the award to support this goal. Finally, Morin aims to execute an east coast trip to both network with Northwestern alumni and visit potential law schools.
For mechanical engineer Shull, the Kabiller Award will provide an opportunity for him to continue to explore his lifelong fascination with interfacing electronics with mechanical systems (mechatronics). Through a connection with a Northwestern alumnus, Shull plans to use the award funds to travel to Bundibugyo, Uganda, in summer 2016 to assist a team working on a sensor system that will provide the people of Bundibugyo with clean drinking water.
Having overcome numerous challenges in his childhood and adolescence, Harris is passionate about youth development. His ambition with the Kabiller Award is to create a weekend-long all-male conference to empower high school male leaders to return to their communities to make a positive impact on their peers and environments. Harris sees such a conference as a starting point for accomplishing his life goal of impacting impoverished youth.
Furthermore, Kabiller announced plans to purchase a Wall Street Journal subscription for all junior student-athletes at Northwestern, stressing the importance of staying informed and aware of global developments. He cited this awareness as instrumental in his path to success in the finance world.
Attendees also had the chance to learn from the event's guest keynote speaker Amy Van Dyken, a former competitive swimmer, world-record holder and six-time Olympic gold medalist. In June of 2014, Van Dyken was in a severe ATV accident that severed her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. She spoke to the captivated room about her career and her journey after her accident that left her stronger than ever. Van Dyken also met individually with the men's and women's swimming and diving teams.
Honored to have Amy as keynote speaker at tonight's Wildcat Professional Excellence Program! Beyond inspirational. https://t.co/kXd7hNdR1d
— NU for Life (@NUforLife) November 2, 2015Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips closed the event, stressing the importance of planning for a future after sport while continuing to pursue athletics excellence at the highest levels. Via the resources of the NU for Life program, Northwestern student-athletes continue to be prepared for successful careers and work to maximize their professional potential through events like Wildcat Professional Excellence Program.
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