BALTIMORE, Md. – Two Southern Vermont College team captains were recently afforded the opportunity to better themselves and-- in return-- their programs and campus community by attending the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s 2016-17 Student-athlete Leadership Forum.
SVC senior Joshua Hay (South Glens Falls, N.Y.), a two-year captain for the Mountaineer baseball team, and junior Natalie Rose Canterbury (West Hartford, Conn.), a captain for the women’s soccer program and member of Southern Vermont’s women’s lacrosse squad, both ventured to Baltimore for the annual event-- along with hundreds of other Division III student-athletes and administrators.
The two Mountaineers were accompanied by Ashley Hodges, SVC’s assistant director of athletics and head athletics trainer. This year’s DIII Forum was for participants representing institutions from around New England, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington D.C.
“Going to this forum was an amazing experience,” Canterbury said. “One of the biggest things I took away from it was the understanding of my core values and beliefs which I obtained. I learned that you really need to understand yourself before you can understand others.”
The Leadership Forum was created in 1997 and has since given nearly 5,000 student-athletes the chance to grow personally and professionally. It is an opportunity for the participants to build a new network of friends and peers while also instilling upon them the importance of community service.
“I was honored to have been chosen to represent not only my institution, but my conference as well,” Hay commented. “It was truly an incredible experience that I'll cherish for a lifetime. I would highly recommend future leaders that are given this opportunity to take it.”
Those in attendance had the chance to listen to guest speakers and take part in structured conversation on leadership and the intangibles that go with it.
“At first, I was a bit overwhelmed and even a little intimidated,” Hay noted. “Going in, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. But when it came down to it and we were able to get familiar with each other, I began to realize I wasn't the only one feeling that way. We were constantly challenged to open our minds and bounce ideologies off of each other. What I enjoyed the most were the one-on-one conversations within these groups. That's where you were able to really become personable with each team member while still talking about leadership.”
Both Mountaineers claimed that the Forum was a tremendous chance to learn and improve their leadership abilities alongside other DIII student-athletes.
“I decided to accept the opportunity to attend the Forum because I wanted to be the best that I could be for my teammates,” Canterbury added, “and I knew that learning more about leadership would be just what I needed. My experience at this event was life-changing, and the relationships I have formed with other athletes, administrators, coaches and facilitators are priceless.”
Speakers for the group included Ryan Gilliam, a former collegiate athlete who started his own business at just 25 years old, and Samantha Peszek, an Olympic medalist in gymnastics and two-time NCAA individual champion.
Hay recounted some of the words by each presenter that particularly resonated with him. “Gilliam said, ‘Don't be a situational leader,’ and Peszek said, ‘Be a 24-hour leader.’ Those are the two statements that really stuck out to me, and I think they go hand-in-hand. We call ourselves ‘leaders’ sometimes, but when you really look at yourself-- are you leading at all times? Most of us would say ‘no,’ and I can't say I do. Nobody is perfect; everybody has room for improvement. When it comes to what I will keep with me from the Forum, I think that's just it; I want to vow to become a 24-hour leader.”
2016 marked the second time in four years that Southern Vermont was able to send its young leaders to the Association’s occasion. In 2013, Christopher Nicastro Jr. ’15 (baseball) and Amber Flagg ’16 (women’s basketball) joined head coach Dave Gage ’10 in traveling to Providence, R.I. for the regional meeting.
– #LetsGoSVC –