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OSU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT EVERY DAY CHAMPIONS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Program Director: Sr. Associate Athletic Director: Marianne Vydra
Program Objectives
The objectives of the Oregon State University Athletic Department's Leadership Institute are to provide comprehensive programming aimed at advancing the academic potential of student-athletes, broadening career horizons, and expanding and creating an awareness of the student-athletes' current and potential networks. The students learn about Leadership as a discipline in their daily lives and how that will translate to success as future leaders in the global industrial market and the communities in which they will reside.
Programming:
Current Student-Athlete Programs
FUTURE'S FORUMS: Targeted for specific audiences, these forums allow students to come together across disciplines and interact with current leaders in industry, science, the community, and from all corners of the world. Many of the presenters are members of the Varsity O Alumni group - former student-athletes who have become successful in their own careers. Topics have ranged from: LEADERSHIP COURSEWORK: A succession of varied courses focusing on each student's individual potential to lead and be a change agent in any arena they choose. Current leaders in business, engineering, science, higher education, and the community are invited to share their career paths and their working definitions of "Leadership". Students work on their resumes, interview skill sets and participate in an Etiquette Dinner, hosted by former student-athletes (Varsity O Members). During the Spring Term, Oregon State Head Coaches lead each classroom discussion. ENTREPRENEUR'S CLUB: Student Athletes from the COLLEGE of BUSINESS, ENGINEERING, SCIENCE and DESIGN Majors join together for high energy meetings to discuss inventions or innovative business ideas. The goal of this group will be to provide competitors for the Weatherford Business Competitions and a steady pool of candidates for a Business Plan Competition that Varsity O is providing leadership for in the near future. POWER RESUME 101: An intimate program led by staff members who are responsible for Human Resource Management within the Athletic Department, students get to examine current search processes and gain an understanding of what employers look for from the view of the hiring committee. Students' resumes are evaluated on site and important strategies are presented to assist the students in their quests for jobs and internships. BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS: Current student-athletes meet once per term over breakfast to discuss leadership initiatives on campus and within the department. This gathering also assists this group of students in expanding their networks. This group of student-athletes usually carries a CUM GPA of 3.50 or better. WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE: Current female student-athletes meet once per term to discuss issues pertinent to their upcoming careers. Topics vary term to term and students choose the speaker for each meeting. These include women in business, engineering, and the sciences as well as community leaders. The Executive Council for 2010-2011 includes: Chelsea Buckland (Speech Communication, 2013); Stephanie McGregor (Bioengineering, 2012); Leslie Urban (Geography 2012); and Britney Belshe (Business Administration 2009). BEAVS OVERSEAS: In conjunction with OSU's International Program, the department encourages and assists students in pursuing internships overseas. Nearly thirty student-athletes have taken advantage of various programs on campus, including the IE3 Internship program. STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COUNCIL: As the governance arm for student-athletes, this group meets twice a month to take positions and/or propose Athletic Department Policy, NCAA Legislation, and Student-Athlete Community Service Initiatives. Members of the council also participate on the Varsity O Board, the Student-Athlete Welfare Committee, the ASOSU-SAAC Intermediary Committee, the ASOSU Senate, and the Athletic Advisory Committee to provide a voice for the student-athletes within these various groups. CAPTAIN'S TABLE: Once a term the Athletic Director addresses all the Team Captains over dinner and updates them on current national and local issues pertinent to their experiences as a student-athlete. Students are afforded an intimate question and answer session following the presentation. POST-ELIBILITY LAUNCH: For student-athletes that may be trying out for a professional sports team or are completing their professional sports careers and are close to graduating and for fifth year student-athletes in any sport, this programming combines some of the programming in the LEADERSHIP CLASS and makes it available to any student-athlete that has yet to graduate. Students work in various jobs in the athletic department; expand their networks by attending the Leadership Institute programming BEAVERS WITHOUT BORDERS: Inspired by two former football players: Yvenson Bernard's efforts to help relief efforts in Haiti in 2009 and Taylor Kavanaugh's service projects around the world, Varsity O is teaming up with OSU's International Program to create international service learning projects for former and current student-athletes to work on together. The intent is to create several turnkey operations throughout the world to provide on-going humanitarian aid and to assist others around the world and the United States in the event of a crisis or natural disaster. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT DINNER: An annual celebration Spring Term, this event honors all current student-athletes with an OSU CUM GPA of 3.20 or better. Members of the faculty and community are also invited to join in the recognition of nearly 250 student-athletes each year. SENIOR BRUNCH: Co-Sponsored by Varsity O, this annual event celebrates the graduating class' achievements over a departmental brunch. Student-athletes, parents, friends, and family get to experience some of the most memorable moments for members of the graduating class. Varsity O members provide the Key Note Speaker. During the event, graduation rings, graduation cords, and senior awards are given to the student-athletes. POST GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS: The Leadership Institute prepares students to be competitive in their applications for post graduate scholarship opportunities. The department assists students in applying for the NCAA WALTER BYERS SCHOLARSHIP, NCAA POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS, the PAC 10 POST GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS and other scholarships as well. NCAA LIFESKILLS PROGRAMS: The Department offers regular programming on different topics as they relate to students. These have included: Healthy Relationships, Diversity and Inclusion, Alcohol and Drug Use/Abuse, Facebook Account Management, Fiscal Planning, and a host of other topics. Students may request topics as they become timely as well.
Former Student-Athlete Programs
Varsity O: All former student-athletes that lettered at OSU are members of Varsity O. Graduating student-athletes are offered an immediate professional network due to this organization. The department is working vigorously with the Varsity O Board to create more visibility and awareness for this organization as its potential as a resource are only beginning to get tapped. The group provides tradition and formalization of various rites of passage for current student-athletes to include Letterwinner events, the delivery of the Senior Class Ring, and the Walk of Honor during Homecoming. Varsity O members are very active in the Etiquette Dinners for current student-athletes and will be partnering with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council for local community service projects in the near future. Varsity O LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (PDX): A relatively younger group of former student-athletes have formed a new group to establish programming for current and former student-athletes, as well as providing visibility for Portland Alumni Association and Portland BASF events. The three pillars they are utilizing to develop their work are Networking, Business Development, and Community Service. The goal is to expand the network muscle in the greater Portland area, and eventually develop the same programs in Seattle, the Bay Area and Los Angeles (or any area with a concentration of former student-athletes). Some of the bigger initiatives VOLC/VO are taking on include:
CAREER ATHLETES: Career Athletes was initiated in 2009 to create an additional portal for current student-athletes to search for jobs and connect with alumni as well. Students may create and account at www.careerathletes.com. POST-ELIGIBILITY FINANCIAL AID: If you are a former student-athlete and you have not graduated, please contact Alex Parker, Associate AD for NCAA Compliance regarding the NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship program. The NCAA provides financial assistance to former student-athletes within 45 credits of graduation. Further, due to new NCAA Legislation, the department has been able to create an application process for financial aid through the NCAA Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund. Contact Alex Parker (Alex.Parker@oregonstate.edu) for more information. |
 
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