DEKALB, Ill. – Members of the Northern Illinois Softball team spent the week of October 26 interacting with NIU softball alumnae as part NIU's Jobs PLUS event, culminating with a full team meeting with all the alumnae that participated in the event to connect all the dots.
 
Each current student-athlete was assigned one alumna who is working in the players' desired career field. The alumna started the conversation with an introductory video, followed by an introductory video from the current player. Alumnae were prompted with a specific question that they answered in a video, and current players watched the video, and responded with follow-up questions. The pattern went back and forth throughout the week.
 
"Our program values supporting NIU's JobsPLUS events as they prepare us for our future endeavors," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "This particular week-long event with our alumnae was extra special. Having 25 of our past players spanning over the last four decades provide professional advice was special.
 
"Connecting our past players with our current roster will ultimately prepare each player for one's career aspirations. I cannot thank our alumnae enough for their time, words of wisdom, and willingness to pay it forward."  
 
All totaled, the student-athletes and alumnae posted over 370 videos and engaged in over 730 hours of asynchronous conversation to discuss their career paths and how NIU Softball impacted their lives.
 
"I wanted to extend a special thanks to Chad Glover and Liz McKee of NIU's JobsPLUS," Sutcliffe said. "They put in countless hours setting up this event and having it run so smoothly."
 
-NIU-