Texas Tech University Athletics
JTMTLA Announces Career Tour Participants
May 22, 2019 | Student-Athlete Development
Eight Texas Tech student-athletes will take a career tour with various professionals this week in Dallas
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - The J.T. and Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy unveiled the inaugural Suited for Success Career Tour, the ultimate career development expedition, that will begin Thursday and run until Saturday in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
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The Career Tour, an extension of the Suited for Success Career Series, is a fully funded, all-inclusive experience designed to give participants an opportunity to apply knowledge gained during the Suited for Success Career Series. The Career Tour will provide professional industry exposure, face time with senior executives, networking opportunities, and applicable resume feedback from various hiring managers.Â
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After completing the rigorous application process, Ardran Carr (Track and Field), Houston Miller (Football), Isaac Shepard (Track and Field), Ivan Santiago Bravo (Track and Field), Kyndal Cowan (Volleyball), Madison Akomnonu (Football), Colin Yang (Football) and Grant LaSelle (Track and Field) were chosen by the academy staff to participate in the all-encompassing career building experience. The selections were based on the outstanding efforts and achievements they displayed during the 2018-19 academic year and 2019 Suited for Success Career Series.
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Over the course of the three-day trip, these student-athletes will be exposed to diverse professional working environments by job shadowing at multiple locations, including the headquarters for the Big 12 Conference, College Football Playoff and the Dallas Cowboys. Each student-athlete will be placed in position to use their newly-learned skills, while gaining a valuable look inside the day-to-day operations of their aspiring career fields.
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In addition to these shadowing opportunities and site visits, each student-athlete will participate in a "networking night" hosted at Learfield IMG College as well as a networking social with Texas Tech alumni. This event will allow student-athletes to engage with professionals within their desired career field and build valuable, lasting connections.
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This year's participants will also have the opportunity to hear from a number of distinguished professionals such as former NFL running back and founder of All Sports Advisory Chris Ogbonnaya, PlainsCapital Bank President J.J. Gomez, Purdy-McGuire Engineering CEO Camille Barton, Chief WFAA Meteorologist Pete Delkus, Texas Health Resources Foundation President Jay McAuley, and WME Entertainment Golf Consultant Laura Moses.
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Each of these speakers are not only distinguished executives in their respective career fields, but former Division-I student-athletes as well. Their experience both on the field and in the workplace is invaluable, as they'll be able to help this year's participants discover how the skills they acquired as student-athletes can directly translate to the workplace and make them valuable employees.
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Ultimately, the goal of the 2019 Suited for Success Career Tour is to provide participants with a transformational experience that will help them perform at a high level post-graduation. These student-athletes will walk away with the ability to network, utilize resources, capitalize on strengths, build upon weaknesses, and make confident, intentional, and effective career decisions for the betterment of themselves and those around them.
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As always, the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy's mission is to equip student-athletes to discover, prepare, implement and empower themselves in the four focus areas of career, character, leadership and wellness, by creating intentional and innovative programs designed to expose them to exclusive resources.
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Texas Tech Athletics and the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy continue to dedicate their efforts to molding Fearless Champions on the field, in the classroom, and in the workplace, and the 2019 Suited for Success Career Tour is just another step to achieving this goal.
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The Career Tour, an extension of the Suited for Success Career Series, is a fully funded, all-inclusive experience designed to give participants an opportunity to apply knowledge gained during the Suited for Success Career Series. The Career Tour will provide professional industry exposure, face time with senior executives, networking opportunities, and applicable resume feedback from various hiring managers.Â
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After completing the rigorous application process, Ardran Carr (Track and Field), Houston Miller (Football), Isaac Shepard (Track and Field), Ivan Santiago Bravo (Track and Field), Kyndal Cowan (Volleyball), Madison Akomnonu (Football), Colin Yang (Football) and Grant LaSelle (Track and Field) were chosen by the academy staff to participate in the all-encompassing career building experience. The selections were based on the outstanding efforts and achievements they displayed during the 2018-19 academic year and 2019 Suited for Success Career Series.
Â
Over the course of the three-day trip, these student-athletes will be exposed to diverse professional working environments by job shadowing at multiple locations, including the headquarters for the Big 12 Conference, College Football Playoff and the Dallas Cowboys. Each student-athlete will be placed in position to use their newly-learned skills, while gaining a valuable look inside the day-to-day operations of their aspiring career fields.
Â
In addition to these shadowing opportunities and site visits, each student-athlete will participate in a "networking night" hosted at Learfield IMG College as well as a networking social with Texas Tech alumni. This event will allow student-athletes to engage with professionals within their desired career field and build valuable, lasting connections.
Â
This year's participants will also have the opportunity to hear from a number of distinguished professionals such as former NFL running back and founder of All Sports Advisory Chris Ogbonnaya, PlainsCapital Bank President J.J. Gomez, Purdy-McGuire Engineering CEO Camille Barton, Chief WFAA Meteorologist Pete Delkus, Texas Health Resources Foundation President Jay McAuley, and WME Entertainment Golf Consultant Laura Moses.
Â
Each of these speakers are not only distinguished executives in their respective career fields, but former Division-I student-athletes as well. Their experience both on the field and in the workplace is invaluable, as they'll be able to help this year's participants discover how the skills they acquired as student-athletes can directly translate to the workplace and make them valuable employees.
Â
Ultimately, the goal of the 2019 Suited for Success Career Tour is to provide participants with a transformational experience that will help them perform at a high level post-graduation. These student-athletes will walk away with the ability to network, utilize resources, capitalize on strengths, build upon weaknesses, and make confident, intentional, and effective career decisions for the betterment of themselves and those around them.
Â
As always, the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy's mission is to equip student-athletes to discover, prepare, implement and empower themselves in the four focus areas of career, character, leadership and wellness, by creating intentional and innovative programs designed to expose them to exclusive resources.
Â
Texas Tech Athletics and the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy continue to dedicate their efforts to molding Fearless Champions on the field, in the classroom, and in the workplace, and the 2019 Suited for Success Career Tour is just another step to achieving this goal.
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We are less than 24 hours away from our Suited For Success Career Tour! 8 student-athletes will be traveling to Dallas, TX for a 3-day trip aimed to provide each the opportunity to explore their specific career industries & prepare them for their next steps. #CareerTour19 pic.twitter.com/JOe23qHExp
— Talkington Leadership Academy (@JTMTalkingtonLA) May 22, 2019
Suited for Success Celebratory Dinner
Friday, April 19
Suited for Success Celebratory Dinner
Thursday, April 19
Career Series: Suited for Success
Thursday, April 19
Captain's Circle
Tuesday, December 06