Story by Zach Giroux

BENNINGTON, Vt. — Former Southern Vermont College men’s soccer player Tommy Youngblood (Leonardtown, Md.) has been selected to participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) 2015 Career in Sports Form, a program designed to help young men and women develop careers in sports networking after athletics.

The Career in Sports Forum, an annual educational event hosted by the NCAA, brings together 200 selected student-athletes to learn and explore potential careers in sports with the primary focus being on intercollegiate athletics.

“What I want to get out of [attending] is learning about what the NCAA is and what it has to offer,” Youngblood said. “If I can make connections with people out there, that would be awesome.”

The 2015 NCAA Career in Sports Forum will take place June 4-7 in Indianapolis, Ind. at the NCAA national office.

Youngblood, who recently received his bachelor’s degree in sports management, was among over 1,000 student-athletes around the country who applied to be selected for this year’s Forum.

“It means a lot to be selected out of a group that size. I didn't think I was actually going to get it because of the amount of people who applied,” Youngblood commented.

Individuals who receive this award are recognized for their hard work and dedication both on and off the field. Regardless of the sport they play or how well they perform, student-athletes all have one thing in common when they graduate: learning the best ways to find a job.

Each year, more than 460,000 student-athletes participate in 23 sports at more than 1,100 NCAA member institutions, according to the Association. Student-athletes are selected to represent their school in this leadership development program.

The four-day event is designed to assist student-athletes in charting their career paths, as well as provide an opportunity to network and learn from current athletics professionals.

Student-athletes from all collegiate divisions will engage with peers in small-group classroom discussions called “Color Teams.”

The forum topics include: how personal values intersect with career opportunities, how behavioral styles impact individual effectiveness, the key professional and career development information that assists with transition from a student-athlete to a professional, and the role of the intercollegiate coach or athletic administrator.