Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech softball student-athlete and 2017 graduate Vanessa Gonzalez has been chosen to attend this year’s NCAA Career in Sports Forum, the organization announced Monday. Gonzalez is one of just seven student-athletes from the ACC that were invited to the event held in Indianapolis from June 1-4.
Now in its eighth year, the Career in Sports Forum provides college athletes with a broader scope of the career tracks available within the sports business, with a primary focus on college athletics.
"I'm so excited for this opportunity. Being selected to attend the Career in Sports Forum is a tremendous honor and I'm very grateful to participate in this unique learning experience,” Gonzalez said. “I'm looking forward to not only being able to meet other student-athletes, but also having the chance to meet and network with current professionals in athletics. Pursuing a career in intercollegiate athletics is something I'm very passionate about and I can't wait to absorb as much information as possible."
In her senior campaign, Gonzalez hit 10 home runs, a career-high that tied for ninth in the ACC, with 26 RBI and 29 runs scored. She was named ACC Player of the Week on March 7 after hitting .667 with two home runs, three doubles and six RBI in a series victory over Virginia.
The Torrance, California native was a two-time All-ACC Academic team honoree who graduated this month with a degree in human development.
Participants who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in sports, and who were viewed as leaders on their campus, were invited to apply to attend the forum after a nomination by athletics administrators at their respective schools. The selection committee is comprised of administrators and coaches within the NCAA, many former forum participants themselves.
“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.”