Nearly 50 student-athletes have now completed year-long program
 
TAMPA, MARCH 15, 2021 – In the year of the pandemic, USF's Student-Athlete Leadership Academy continued to build on its very successful start in 2018-19 by going virtual for the third year of the unique development program for Bulls' student-athletes.
 
On March 10, Bulls from across the spectrum of USF sports programs attended the virtual edition of the Student-Athlete Leadership Summit that served as a culmination of the Leadership Academy's latest efforts, which began back on Sept. 8. 
 
The Academy's goal is to provide year-long programing that teaches and develops important aspects of leadership such as emotional intelligence, communication, conflict management, diversity and inclusion, planning and self-awareness. This year, all sessions were held virtually under the guidance of USF Athletics Student-Athlete Enhancement staff and program director Tayler Onion. The student-athletes participated in 10 sessions – five in the fall and five in the spring – during the course of this year's academy.
 
"We are very proud to continue year three of this unique program, and we are especially grateful that we were able to offer it in a virtual setting," Onion said. "As usual, this year's cohort wrapped up their experience by creating content and facilitating the Leadership Summit for their peers – this year virtually for the first time ever. Despite the challenges of not being able to meet in-person, the student-athletes really took ownership, and did a fantastic job facilitating an impactful and engaging discussion with their peers during the summit."
 
Nearly 50 Bulls have completed the academy in the past three academic years. All were recommended for participation by Student-Athlete Enhancement, head coaches, academic advisors and administrators.
 
"I learned a lot about how we are in control of our emotions and how we can dictate whether we are a good athlete, a good teammate or a good leader," redshirt freshman volleyball player Makayla Washington said. "I learned a lot about how little things can help us grow not only as leaders on the court, but as leaders off the court."
 
The Leadership Academy's most recent participants included NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representatives Brad Cecil (football), Trey Jackson (men's soccer), Beatriz Jordao (women's basketball), Bethaney Keen (softball), Ashley Meade (women's soccer), Vivian Ponn (softball), Makayla Washington (volleyball) and Alex Weir (women's track and field). They were joined by Nicole Capparell (women's track and field), Emily Escamilla (women's track and field), Brittany Hook (softball), Maria Idjilov (volleyball), Madisyn Lyons (volleyball), Danelson Mahautiere (men's track and field), Bethy Mununga (women's basketball), Megan Pierro (softball) and Lucy Roberts (women's soccer).
 
"My experience in the Leadership Academy has been very enlightening," Mahautiere said. "I've always believed that I've been a natural leader, but until I attended the Leadership Academy I realized how much more information there is out there I can learn. We've learned a lot, things like different personality traits, dedication, how to handle different emotional situations and conflict management. Everything just came together and it was like a masterpiece painting, little pieces here and there that all just came together."
 
The most recent class proudly put what they learned over the course of the academic year into practice during the 2021 Leadership Summit, an hour-long virtual event. Volleyball setter Maria Idjilov kicked the Summit off with an example of leadership from the hit film "A Bug's Life" in which the character ants organize and use leadership to overcome a major obstacle in their path. Idjilov culminated her introduction addressing "Herd Mentality" with a quote from Albert Einstein – "If everyone is thinking alike then no one is thinking."
 
"It is always fun to watch the student-athletes participating in the Academy grow as people and leaders," Onion said. "The student-athletes who participate in the Academy not only grow from their experience, but they also provide input that directly impacts how the Academy develops going forward and the type of programming and education future student-athletes receive."