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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Personal Development
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BGSU Student-Athlete Services Summer Bridge Program is designed to help new student-athletes transition to college life. The Summer Bridge Program affords freshmen student-athletes the opportunities to build skills related to academic success, familiarity with the university, relationship building, and goal setting. Â
Students in the BGSU Summer Bridge Program meet once a week as a group during a summer session to review topics including but not limited to academic integrity, academic rigors at the college level, professional communication with faculty/staff, financial aid, time management, and goal setting. The freshmen student-athlete are also given the opportunity to hear a panel of upperclassmen student-athletes speak and answer frequently asked questions. This event allows the older students to provide feedback and helpful hints to be successful in college. Â
While participating in the Summer Bridge Program, students are also enrolled in at least one 3-credit course. This enrollment allows students to form relationships with other freshman students on campus, get a feel for how college courses are run and build relationships with professors prior to the start of their fall semester! Â
The Summer Bridge Program is a combined effort of Student-Athlete Services staff members, Faculty Athletics Representatives, professors, and other BGSU staff. Â
WA1T -Team Player Program
The WA1T Team Player Program is a certificate program focused on diversity and inclusion leadership designed specifically for student-athletes. Developed by We Are One Team (WA1T), Student-Athlete Services, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and the Center for Leadership at BGSU, this first-of-its-kind program strives to provide student-athletes with a unique opportunity to become inclusive leaders in their teams and the communities they are a part of.
The program was developed with the understanding that student-athletes lead a busy schedule. The WA1T Team Player Program is a year-long program that began in 2017. Student-athletes accepted to the program are required to attend nine 2-hour sessions throughout the academic year. Sessions are focused on student-athletes' identities, intercultural communication and awareness, microaggressions and social norms, media literacy, social justice, and creating inclusive team environments.
The program provides athletes with a personal and professional development opportunity that will benefit their experience as a student-athlete. It will also allow our athletes to form more meaningful relationships with their teammates and to learn how to be an inclusive leader in their future careers.
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Kerrie Turner, BGSU Gymnastics Head Coach: "As a coach, the WA1T Team Player Program has been a cultural game-changer for our team. Our gymnasts are actively engaged in discussions on diversity and inclusion. I have seen a huge difference in leadership skills of the participants in the program. They are finding a stronger voice yet with greater sensitivity to those around them. I encourage all BGSU student-athletes to apply to this program to learn how to be inclusive leaders and leave their mark on their team and in the BGSU and Bowling Green community!"
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Gabe Skrobot, BGSU Football Student-Athlete, and Team Player Program 2018: "Athletes have a podium, and I want to use this podium to promote equality of every individual in society and to truly show people that we are all in this together as a school, community, and society."
Additional Personal Development Opportunities:
- Guest Speakers/Workshops
- Social Media Training
- Teaching Kitchen Sessions