July 28, 2010

KANSAS CITY, KS - Florida Atlantic University Athletics recently agreed to a multi-year partnership with Career Athletes. The partnership between Career Athletes and the FAU athletic department provides a national representation of unique networking opportunities and career development resources for current and athletic alumni.

"The partnership between Florida Atlantic University's athletic department and Career Athletes has the opportunity to increase FAU's visibility and creditability in the community through the direct help of alumni," said Michael LaRocco FAU's Coordinator of Administration & Development. "The integrated campaigns developed because of this partnership will allow FAU athletics to reconnect with alumni. We enjoy witnessing the successes achieved through competition but recognize the ultimate success is seeing them thrive once they enter the work force and the knowledge that FAU athletics played a part in that success. Career Athletes' dedication to our student athletes is second to none."

This Online Career Community Network will provide benefits such as mentoring, professional networking, virtual career coaching and 12 years of best practices from the leading and largest career services organization assisting athletes, athletic departments and campus career centers. The Florida Atlantic University "Community Network" consists of current and alumni athletes from the institution as well as local, regional and national employers all managed and monitored by Career Athletes at its home office in the Kansas City area. Individual members of Career Athletes are also able to network with over 65,000 former college athletes from across the nation while having access to over 5,000 career opportunities exclusive to www.careerathletes.com.

DJ Washington at Career Athletes explains that beyond an athletic department's initiative assisting with career opportunities and educational resources; it also helps when there is already a foundation on campus toward academic success.

"We are pleased to assist Florida Atlantic Athletics with its commitment toward career development of athletes, but it is also just as important to recognize the program's culture of achievement in community service, academic performance and athletic success," shared Washington, Vice President, Career Education and Training.

Florida Atlantic is no stranger to success as indicated by additional achievements during the 2009-2010 academic year: • An impressive 213 student-athletes posted a GPA of 3.0 or better in the Fall 2009 semester, while 212 did the same in Spring 2010.
• FAU Baseball finished the regular season as the Sun Belt Champions and Head Coach John McCormack was recognized Sun Belt Coach of The Year. Baseball also boasted two 1st Team and two 2nd Team All-Sun Belt players.
• Men's Basketball earned multiple awards including a Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, a Mid Major Freshman All-American, two 3rd Team All-Sun Belt winners and a Finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award.

• Women's Basketball welcomed two new members of the Career 1,000 point club, one 1st Team District All-Academic and a 3rd Team All-Sun Belt recipient.
• Cheerleading posted a 9th place finish in the Co-ed Nationals and 12th in the All-Girl Nationals.
• Football recognized two 1st Team All-Sun Belt, one 2nd Team All-Sun Belt and a Sun Belt Rushing Title. FAU Football also boasted a 6th round draft pick player, the first FAU player ever drafted by the NFL.
• Men's Soccer finished the season with a NSCAA All-Region player.
• Softball rounded out the season with a 2nd Team Academic All-American, an All-Tournament player and two 2nd Team All-Sun Belt recipients.
• Men's tennis ended the 2010 season with two All-Sun Belt players.
• Cross Country and Track posted one and three All-Sun Belt student-athletes respectively.

FAU student-athletes were also involved in several community services projects the previous school year. These include Habitat for Humanity, a holiday party for under privileged kids and the animal society. FAU softball was recognized by the YMCA and had an adopted little sister this past year. Baseball also worked with the Boca Raton little league. Florida Atlantic and its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee presented deserving student-athletes with end-of-year awards such as Student-Athlete of the Year, Owl'standing Spirit Award, Community Service, The Sportsmanship Award, SAAC Leadership Award, Team Spirit Award and Most Outstanding Athlete.