INDIANAPOLIS, IN – For the eighth year, the NCAA is inviting more than 230 current student-athletes to the Career in Sports Forum in Indianapolis and three Mount Holyoke student-athletes were selected. Rising seniors Julia Criscione, Sophie Perekslis, and Ishita Tibrewal are among the ten athletes chosen from the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).
Criscione (Bernardsville, N.J./Villa Walsh Academy), a dual sport athlete in cross country and track and field, saw her best performance of the year coming at the Mount Holyoke Spring Fling where she finished 10th in the 800-meter event (2:53.49). Criscione, who is chair of the MHC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is also a three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference selection.
Tibrewal (Kolkata, India/Modern High School For Girls) is a member of the Lyons' tennis team. She finished the 2016-17 season with 9-7 overall record in singles and went 5-4 in doubles play as the Lyons advanced to the NEWMAC semifinals for the third consecutive season. Tibrewal, who serves as vice chair of the MHC SAAC, is also a multiple NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honoree.
Rounding out the group is Perekslis (Millerton, N.Y./Berkshire School (MA)) who is a member of the MHC field hockey team. During the fall, she posted 19 points on six goals and seven assists, helping the Lyons back to the NEWMAC semifinals for the fourth straight year. She was named to the NFHCA National Academic squad, helping MHC post the second highest GPA among all DIII teams.
Also selected from the NEWMAC include Mary Silva (Springfield), Nick Ruiz (Springfield), Ailis Hanley (Wellesley), Ali Rondeau (Wellesley), Olivia Duggan (Wellesley), Patricia Chen (Wellesley), and Kyle Diangkinay (Wheaton).
"Supporting NCAA student-athlete leaders with their education is a key goal for the Association," said Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of education and community engagement and chief inclusion officer. "Our Career in Sports Forum puts student-athletes, postgraduate scholarship recipients in a non-traditional academic setting where they can learn directly from successful leaders, which can have a positive impact on their future after graduation."
Forum attendees, with representation from 73 conferences, will hear from various keynote speakers and panelists, highlighted by Stevie Baker-Watson, associate vice president and director of athletics at DePauw University; Jason Burton, head women's basketball coach at the Texas A&M University-Commerce; Clyde Doughty Jr, director of athletics at Bowie State University; Oliver Luck, NCAA executive vice president of regulatory affairs; Felicia Martin, vice president of the NCAA Eligibility Center; and Craig McPhail, director of athletics at Lees-McRae College. The participants also learn best practices for gaining employment and gathering a better understanding of what future expectations will be once they get a job in sports.
