{"id":7648,"date":"2017-05-30T17:40:21","date_gmt":"2017-05-30T17:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/?p=7648"},"modified":"2017-05-30T17:40:21","modified_gmt":"2017-05-30T17:40:21","slug":"winning-long-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/2017\/05\/30\/winning-long-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Winning the long game"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Augsburg
Student-athletes kicked off evening workshops by dining together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

S<\/span>tudent-athletes file past tables,\u00a0stacking breadsticks on mounds of\u00a0pasta, but this crew isn\u2019t carb-loading\u00a0for the next matchup. The nearly 550\u00a0students from Augsburg\u2019s 19 sports teams\u00a0are preparing to tackle Auggie Compass\u2014a\u00a0series of workshops and team-building\u00a0exercises designed to inspire personal and\u00a0professional success. After piloting the\u00a0program in 2014-15, Augsburg Athletics\u00a0recruited this year\u2019s lineup of on- and\u00a0off-campus partners to engage each class\u00a0in issues relevant to each stage of their\u00a0undergraduate lives.<\/p>\n

Associate Athletic Director Kelly\u00a0Anderson Diercks<\/strong> said the biannual\u00a0series starts a conversation with student-athletes,\u00a0then builds upon those\u00a0themes each year as Auggies develop\u00a0the confidence, expertise, and support\u00a0networks they need to navigate known and\u00a0unknown challenges during college and\u00a0after graduation. For instance, first-year\u00a0students discussed study skills, time\u00a0management, and wellness, while seniors\u00a0learned about financial planning, living\u00a0their values, and networking techniques.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I moved into my first house,\u00a0I didn\u2019t know furnaces had filters, and\u00a0that\u2019s just one example of the many things\u00a0I should\u2019ve known\u2014but didn\u2019t\u2014before\u00a0graduation,\u201d said Anderson Diercks, who\u00a0spearheaded the program. \u201cWe developed\u00a0Auggie Compass from the best aspects of\u00a0similar programs and from conversations\u00a0with our coaches, student-athletes, and\u00a0alumni. Our students seem more aware\u00a0of campus and community resources and\u00a0better prepared to excel in the real world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Panel of alumni shares lessons\u00a0from \u2018professional lumps\u2019<\/h4>\n

Among the spring event\u2019s most popular\u00a0sessions was a student-athlete alumni panel,\u00a0\u201cNot Where They Thought They\u2019d Be,\u201d\u00a0which\u2014as the title suggests\u2014invited alumni\u00a0to share lessons from their not-so-straight-or-smooth\u00a0paths to personal and professional\u00a0fulfillment. Mike Gallagher \u201912<\/strong> was among\u00a0the four panelists asked \u201cnot to sugar coat\u201d\u00a0their transitions to the workforce.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first paid job out of college lasted\u00a021 months before I was laid off with 25\u00a0percent of the company\u2019s workforce,\u00a0and that\u2019s just one example of the\u00a0professional lumps we shared,\u201d said\u00a0Gallagher, an academic advisor at\u00a0Walden University and the on-air host\/producer of Gopher Sports Update and\u00a0MIAC Weekly. \u201cOur stories reinforced\u00a0that new graduates likely will have\u00a0to do things they don\u2019t enjoy as they\u00a0work toward goals. But we encouraged\u00a0them to channel the persistence and\u00a0dedication they gained as athletes\u00a0toward new challenges and to say \u2018yes\u2019\u00a0to any opportunity to better themselves\u00a0or gain new skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gallagher, also a freelance sports\u00a0broadcaster and emcee, talked openly\u00a0about his path, which is a fairly common\u00a0one: going to college with hopes of\u00a0playing professional baseball, then\u00a0realizing he wasn\u2019t any better than his\u00a0teammates. Then, struggling to find\u00a0balance within the fun, demanding\u00a0routine of workouts, competitions,\u00a0classes, and life until he walked across\u00a0the commencement stage and into a\u00a09-to-5 job without the sport, the people,\u00a0and the routine he\u2019d always known. \u201cIt\u00a0is, indeed, a huge wakeup call,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Augsburg
The Auggie Compass program encourages students to engage in conversation with their peers and community experts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Women\u2019s golfer Wendy Anderson \u201917<\/strong>\u00a0was among the seniors who rotated\u00a0through the panel discussion. The double\u00a0major in music business and accounting\u00a0said she valued sessions about financial\u00a0planning and interviews, but the alumni\u00a0panel resonated with her the most.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a type-A, perfectionist planner.\u00a0Hearing their stories reassured\u00a0me that I may not end up where I\u00a0thought I might, but because of these\u00a0types of sessions and my Augsburg\u00a0experience, I\u2019ll survive and hopefully\u00a0have a fulfilling career,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0glad I attended sessions about fiscal\u00a0responsibility, but workshops that\u00a0encouraged us to consider our values\u00a0and worth and to step outside our\u00a0comfort zones were the most rewarding.\u00a0Guidance from Auggie Compass\u00a0sessions paired with the entirety of our\u00a0experiences prepares us to achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Athletic Director Jeff Swenson \u201979<\/strong> is\u00a0glad to hear student-athletes position\u00a0Auggie Compass within the greater\u00a0framework of their Augsburg education\u00a0and athletic experience. The lessons\u00a0and skills are interconnected, he said,\u00a0strengthening one another.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur athletes learn to win and lose\u00a0with class, to embrace leadership, and\u00a0to play their role\u2014whatever that may\u00a0be\u2014to achieve a shared goal,\u201d said\u00a0Swenson, who has been a member\u00a0of the Augsburg community for more\u00a0than 30 years as a student, coach,\u00a0and administrator. \u201cThese are all great\u00a0lessons for life after sports, and Auggie\u00a0Compass builds upon what teams and\u00a0coaches are already instilling. At our\u00a0core, we are about community and\u00a0supporting these fine student-athletes\u00a0on their journey. Auggie Compass\u00a0prepares them to carry that legacy out\u00a0to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Augsburg
Auggie Compass workshops target needs and issues specific to the phases in student-athletes\u2019 academic and personal journeys. Each session builds upon the previous event, equipping Auggies with a deeper understanding of their values, career preparation, and wellness practices.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Building skills to navigate a\u00a0complex environment<\/h4>\n

Mike Matson \u201907<\/strong> knows all about\u00a0Augsburg\u2019s core principles. They guided\u00a0him through his time as one of the\u00a0College\u2019s top linebackers, then through\u00a0seminary, and now in his role as an\u00a0assistant director of leadership gifts at\u00a0the College. Matson said Augsburg\u2019s\u00a0commitment to diversity, inclusion, and\u00a0community outfits students with empathy\u00a0and poise to respectfully engage in\u00a0meaningful conversations and authentic\u00a0relationships. He talked with juniors\u00a0about how to lead difficult conversations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe live in a complicated world\u00a0with complex people and issues, and\u00a0those who are able to have difficult\u00a0conversations in a respectful manner\u00a0advance progress and understanding,\u201d\u00a0said Matson, who also serves in the\u00a0Navy Reserves and as chaplain for\u00a0the Minneapolis Police Department.\u00a0\u201cInstead of talking at<\/em> the students,\u00a0we challenged them to work through\u00a0case studies. I can\u2019t say I was all that\u00a0surprised at how well they handled\u00a0themselves, but I was impressed\u00a0with how willing they were to share\u00a0vulnerabilities, speak about biases,\u00a0and view situations through alternate\u00a0perspectives. It was amazing to watch\u00a0\u2018community\u2019 happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unified tournament puts\u00a0principles to practice<\/h4>\n
\"Augsburg
This spring, members of the junior class headed to the gym for basketball and bean bag competitions with Special Olympics athletes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Student-athletes didn\u2019t only talk about\u00a0ideals, they practiced them. Juniors\u00a0headed to the Si Melby gymnasium to\u00a0compete alongside 40 Special Olympics\u00a0athletes in basketball and bean bag\u00a0toss competitions. Jennifer Jacobs<\/strong>, who\u00a0organized the volunteer effort, said the\u00a0tournament underscored Augsburg\u2019s\u00a0commitment to service and inclusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe added [the unified competition]\u00a0because civic engagement is one of the\u00a0college\u2019s co-curricular learning outcomes,\u201d\u00a0said Jacobs, then-assistant athletic director\u00a0and assistant volleyball coach. \u201cWe decided\u00a0to collaborate with Special Olympics\u00a0because of an NCAA Division III partnership\u00a0with the organization and because our\u00a0ongoing involvement with the area chapter\u00a0continually inspires our students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Student-athlete Cody Pirkl \u201918<\/strong> had never\u00a0interacted with Special Olympics athletes\u00a0before the Auggie Compass event this\u00a0spring. Initially, the baseball player had\u00a0not been excited about the obligation on\u00a0what otherwise would have been a free\u00a0night. But as he said goodbye to Special\u00a0Olympics teammates, the social work major\u00a0said it felt like parting with dear friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, as college athletes, become so\u00a0focused on our own goals and everyday\u00a0lives that we forget how rewarding it\u00a0is to give back to others,\u201d Pirkl said.\u00a0\u201cOur involvement with Special Olympics\u00a0shines Augsburg\u2019s positive light on our\u00a0broader community, but it also gives us\u00a0meaningful perspective. Watching the\u00a0Special Olympics athletes\u2019 pure love of\u00a0the game reminded me how lucky I am\u00a0and how much I love to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pirkl said he and his teammates took\u00a0a lot away from the mix of formats and\u00a0engaging activities. That active structure\u00a0was intentional, Anderson Diercks\u00a0explained, as presenters played to\u00a0student-athletes\u2019 competitive nature.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor years, we had brought wonderful,\u00a0inspiring speakers to campus once\u00a0or twice a year to talk with students\u00a0about hot topics or enduring life-after-college\u00a0lessons,\u201d Anderson Diercks said.\u00a0\u201cAlthough these experts offered great\u00a0perspective and information, the format\u00a0was a challenge, and we were never\u00a0able to cover as many of the topics as\u00a0we would have liked. The new Auggie\u00a0Compass format allows us to engage each\u00a0class in specific topics to prepare them for\u00a0the next year and beyond. We can more\u00a0easily adjust based on student feedback,\u00a0and it\u2019s a nice way to highlight our alumni\u00a0and campus experts as well as celebrate\u00a0community partnerships and resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"First-year
In September, first-year students learned techniques to manage stress and practice mindfulness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrating mindfulness and\u00a0meditation<\/h4>\n

One such resource is Jermaine Nelson<\/strong>, a\u00a0meditation and mindfulness coach and\u00a0yoga instructor. The former athlete urged\u00a0students to seek mind-body connections\u00a0as they strive to be more present. He also\u00a0reminded them to give themselves grace\u00a0during transitions and various phases of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so easy for student-athletes to\u00a0continue to eat and sleep how they did\u00a0in college without the same level of\u00a0activity, and then they look up one day\u00a0and realize they are out of shape and out\u00a0of sync,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cIt\u2019s important\u00a0to anticipate, on the field and in life, so\u00a0that you avoid injury and prepare for the\u00a0next phase of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nelson wasn\u2019t expecting to, but looking\u00a0out at the dozens of student-athletes\u00a0reminded him of his nephew, and\u00a0Nelson got personal. His nephew was a\u00a0promising college recruit, with plans to\u00a0play in the NBA, but he broke down from\u00a0all the pressure.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI wish he would have had a program like\u00a0this when he was in school,\u201d Nelson said.\u00a0\u201cImagine all the heartache and recovery he\u00a0would have avoided had he been offered the\u00a0tools to cope and achieve without grinding\u00a0himself into the ground. I worked with\u00a0him, and he\u2019s on a good path now, but it\u00a0took a while. If Auggies can practice these\u00a0techniques now, they\u2019ll succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Nelson\u2019s talk reinforced some of the themes presented by\u00a0Augsburg\u2019s Center for Wellness and Counseling.<\/p>\n

For example, counselor Jon Vaughan-Fier<\/strong> and Beth Carlson<\/strong>, the\u00a0center\u2019s assistant director, co-facilitated \u201cBecoming Resilient\u00a0to Stress,\u201d which challenged student-athletes to assess what\u00a0drains them and to identify ways to recharge. In addition to\u00a0discussing the importance of sleep, nutrition, and meaningful\u00a0relationships\u2014among other topics\u2014students engaged in yoga,\u00a0mindful breathing, and relaxation strategies.<\/p>\n

During the Compass program\u2019s pilot year, the entire CWC\u00a0staff also presented on a range of topics related to wellbeing,\u00a0including body image, depression, healthy choices, and stress\u00a0management, which Vaughan-Fier said is critically important for\u00a0today\u2019s overly busy student-athletes.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo emphasize the connection to sports and improved\u00a0performance, we showed testimonials from Seattle Seahawks\u00a0quarterback Russel Wilson about his \u2018one play at a time\u2019 mindset\u00a0and New York Knicks President Phil Jackson\u2019s philosophy of\u00a0\u2018one breath, one mind,\u2019\u201d Vaughan-Fier said. \u201cWe hope these\u00a0tools help student-athletes as they strive to incorporate self-care\u00a0practices into daily life.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to a 2015 health survey, the top stressors among\u00a0Augsburg students are: a death or serious illness of someone\u00a0close, conflicts with roommates, parental conflict, and the end of\u00a0a personal relationship. Director of the counseling center, Nancy\u00a0Guilbeault<\/strong>, said the opportunity to interact with student-athletes\u00a0about these and other topics is a proactive way to introduce the\u00a0center\u2019s role and resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cMental health and GPA are linked, and they affect your\u00a0performance,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want to make sure these student-athletes\u00a0are working on their physical, mental, and spiritual\u00a0health and wellbeing. These sessions provide an overview and\u00a0tips, but we also encourage them to follow up with one-on-one\u00a0or group support.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Chuckie
As a senior, Chuckie Smith \u201917 took part in Auggie Compass workshops on financial planning, job search strategies, living authentically, and a variety of other topics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Financial stressors, professional\u00a0communications among top concerns<\/h4>\n

A key barrier to wellness, Guilbeault said, is stress related to\u00a0finances\u2014a worry that plagues many students, particularly student-athletes\u00a0who might not have the time to hold a job or internship.\u00a0To build upon the counseling center\u2019s session, Auggie Compass\u00a0introduced a practical question-and-answer session with Tommy\u00a0<\/strong>Redae \u201909 MBA<\/strong>, a treasury management sales consultant and vice\u00a0president of Middle Market Banking for Wells Fargo in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n

\u201cTalking with upper-class students, I focused on the importance\u00a0of budgeting and managing credit for a healthy financial future,\u201d\u00a0Redae said. \u201cI shared several of the many online tools and apps to\u00a0help them stick to a budget and monitor credit for suspicious or\u00a0fraudulent activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also in the category of practical and purposeful guidance, Auggie\u00a0Compass enlisted faculty mentors Carol Enke<\/strong> and Shana Watters<\/strong> to\u00a0offer best practices for professional communications. The pair broke\u00a0student-athletes into groups to review and assess emails students\u00a0sent professors, many of them lacking clarity, starting with an\u00a0informal \u201chey,\u201d or displaying accusatory language.<\/p>\n

\u201cResearch shows that people read emails more negatively than\u00a0intended, and therefore, communicating effectively in this medium\u00a0reduces ambiguity and negative perceptions,\u201d Watters said. \u201cThe\u00a0students did a great job of improving the emails, and we hope\u00a0they will apply the guidance we shared to communicate with\u00a0professionals now and in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Program reinforces Augsburg\u2019s mission,\u00a0commitment to students<\/h4>\n

The blend of practical knowledge and conceptual, creative\u00a0exploration reflects Augsburg\u2019s care for and commitment to\u00a0student-athletes, and it supports community-building across teams\u00a0and among coaches, said Swenson. This year, the program added\u00a0a track for coaches that focused on situational leadership, social\u00a0media training, and a DiSC\u00ae <\/span>behavioral assessment inventory.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not offering Auggie Compass to check off the \u2018personal\u00a0development box,\u2019\u201d Swenson said. \u201cThe program was developed\u00a0by former collegiate players, thinking about what they wished\u00a0they would have known, so that our student-athletes can have\u00a0more tools to reach for as they strive for success.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The creation and evolution of Auggie Compass embodies some\u00a0of the innovation, self-reflection, and grit the program aims\u00a0to instill. Anderson Diercks said organizers continue to have\u00a0conversations with student-athletes, alumni, and experts to align\u00a0sessions with players\u2019 needs and to reflect the latest trends and\u00a0topics. As a former athlete turned furnace-filter-changing adult,\u00a0she knows greatness doesn\u2019t come from perfection but from the\u00a0drive to keep playing until you get it right.<\/p>\n

\n

Top image [L to R]:<\/strong> At an Auggie Compass event, panelists Mike Gallagher \u201912<\/strong>, Katie Jacobson \u201911<\/strong>, and Dan Brandt \u201911<\/strong> spoke to students about the journey from college to their careers.<\/em><\/p>\n

Photos by\u00a0Courtney Perry <\/strong>and <\/em>Don Stoner<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Student-athletes file past tables,\u00a0stacking breadsticks on mounds of\u00a0pasta, but this crew isn\u2019t carb-loading\u00a0for the next matchup. The nearly 550\u00a0students from Augsburg\u2019s 19 sports teams\u00a0are preparing to tackle Auggie Compass\u2014a\u00a0series of workshops and team-building\u00a0exercises designed to inspire personal and\u00a0professional success. After piloting the\u00a0program in 2014-15, Augsburg Athletics\u00a0recruited this year\u2019s lineup of on- and\u00a0off-campus partners to engage <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":278,"featured_media":8043,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,7],"tags":[83],"class_list":["post-7648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-athletics","category-featured-stories","tag-spring-summer-2017"],"wps_subtitle":"Meaningful, relevant workshops equip students to excel in the classroom, competition, and their careers","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/278"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7648"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7648\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8044,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7648\/revisions\/8044"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}