Student-Athlete Mentoring Program Kicks Off
2/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Pirate Blue
Feb. 22, 2014
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall University Athletic Department embarked on the second year of its Student Athlete Mentoring Program with an introductory dinner Thursday at the Prudential Center prior to the men's basketball contest with Georgetown. 27 student-athletes representing all 14 varsity athletic teams joined dedicated Seton Hall alumni and friends of the program who will serve as mentors to the group of upperclassmen as they prepare to begin their professional careers.
The mentorship program was launched last spring through an effort spearheaded by loyal Pirate Blue member Jim DiPietropolo, Class of '96, with the vision of leveraging the expertise of successful alumni and foster new relationships with Seton Hall's graduating student-athletes. Through the support of Bryan Felt, Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, the program came to fruition and now serves as a key component to the Athletic Department's newly formed initiative The H.A.L.L. Program (Helping Athletes Learn to be Leaders), which is guided by Roberto Sasso, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Leadership.
"The mentoring program is a wonderful opportunity for our student-athletes and we are thankful to Jim DiPietropolo for his efforts in establishing this networking platform," said Sasso. "In addition to the guidance we provide to all of our student-athletes through The H.A.L.L. Program, the mentoring program is a great benefit to our graduating seniors as it allows them the opportunity to connect accomplished alumni who are established in a variety of professional fields. Our mentors have gone above and beyond to serve as a resource to Seton Hall student-athletes further contributing to the family atmosphere within the Athletic Department and campus community."
The program will consist of meetings between the mentors and mentees, initial career advice, resume review, interview preparation and overall communication about life aspirations.
"It's very exciting to have this opportunity to network with alumni who have been extremely successful in their fields," said men's soccer junior Mateusz Brela. The mentors have done things the right way and I'm anxious to learn the skills that are essential to be successful professionally. The responsibility is on us, the student-athletes, to seek the knowledge and apply it professionally."
The development of the program will include valuable feedback, advice, and input from the mentors, the student-athletes, the coaching staff and athletic department. If you have any questions or would like to become a part of our Student-Athlete Mentoring Program, please contact Roberto Sasso, Assistant Athletics Director, Student-Athlete Development and Leadership via email at .
