March 9, 2013

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – During the month of February, the Notre Dame football program recently completed a three-phase career preparation & professional development series. In this multi-department effort, which was coordinated primarily by Notre Dame’s Office of Student-Welfare and Development and the Career Center, student-athletes were encouraged to carefully consider their career goals and were resourced with tools and experiences to help facilitate their professional development.

The initial phase of the program featured Monogram winners Jason Beckstrom (football ’03) and Brian Mattes (football ’06) as panelists. Alongside the pair were Miami Dolphins Director of Player Engagement, Kaleb Thornhill and Student Welfare & Development Program Director and Former NFL Lineman, Duke Preston.

The Monogram Club was well represented throughout with a presentation given by Monogram Club executive director, Beth Hunter and Monogram Club President, Dick Nussbaum as a featured guest at multiple phases of the program. The football student-athletes were made aware of the various opportunities that the Monogram Club provides including the Mentorship Program and the Monogram Club Post-Graduate Scholarship.

The final phase of the program provided another opportunity for the football team to hear from a panel consisting of nine-year NFL veteran, David Thornton (currently the Director of Player Engagement with the Indianapolis Colts) and sixteen-year NFL veteran and future Hall of Famer, Kevin Mawae. The evening concluded with a networking opportunity that featured 31 recruiters from 19 companies who interviewed football student-athletes and discussed intern/externship possibilities, job shadows, and employment opportunities.

–ND–