The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga held its Student-Athlete Networking Event last night in the McKenzie Arena Hospitality Room.  The event was a partnership between the Mocs Club and the UTC Student-Athlete Academic Enhancement Center. 

"Our supporters are made up of some of the most successful business men and women in Chattanooga," stated Dr. Emily Blackman, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Enhancement.  "Any chance we have to get our student-athletes in front of a group like this is an amazing opportunity learn about the steps necessary to head down a successful career path.

A number of local business leaders and entrepreneurs were invited to the event to provide guidance and knowledge from their professional experiences.  Among those in attendance included representatives from 3H Group, BlueCross BlueShield, CHI Memorial, City of Chattanooga, Food City, Fox Moving, Hamilton County Schools, Henderson & Gouger CPA, Mocs Sports Properties, Riverside Development, Southern Heritage Bank, TVA, UBS Financial Services, UTC Athletics, UTC Department of Physical Therapy, UTC Graduate School and UTC Police.



"The turnout for this event was tremendous," stated Lee Roberts, Associate Athletic Director for Development and Director of the Mocs Club.  "Our members enjoy the opportunity to provide mentorship to our student-athletes as they prepare for their professional careers.  We also have some of the top students at UTC, so it is a chance for them to interact with some outstanding talent that is about to enter the workforce."

As noted in the list of attendees above, there were a variety of companies and organizations represented.  This gave the student-athletes a variety of areas and experiences to draw from.  The interaction with student-athletes was also a big hit among the mentors who participated.

"Being a former athlete, I was truly able to relate to the current student-athletes," stated Nick Pollard.  Pollard was an All-Southern Conference kicker for the Mocs football team from 2010-14.  "It's always a great opportunity to give advice to these soon-to-be young professionals, especially when you've been in their shoes. I think it also encourages them to want to do more and keep their competitiveness going forward into their careers. It also provides them with guidance from another vantage point."  

Pollard is currently a Financial Advisor with UBS Financial Services in Chattanooga.  He was a three-time member of the Academic All-SoCon team, earning a B.S. Criminal Justice/Political Science and an M.B.A. from UTC. 

"It's critical for them to meet working professionals," added Pollard. "Often times in today's world, we lose that personal human interaction. The event allowed them to open their minds and practice asking the right questions and engage meaningful conversations.

"You won't find the answer on how to interact with people in a textbook. These student-athletes already have an advantage on their resumé. By meeting people in the business world, it will only expand their horizons and build on their personal life story."