Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook student-athletes took part in the first Student-Athlete Business Etiquette Dinner last week, hosted by the athletic department’s Life Skills Office and the Stony Brook University Career Center.

Approximately 50 student-athletes attended the event, as a contingent made up of seniors along with underclassmen from three athletics leadership groups – SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee), the Academy of Leaders, and the PACK peer mentors – took part in the dinner in the Goldstein Center’s Nasti Hall.

"The Business Etiquette Dinner was the first major event hosted by the newly created Life Skills office,” said Courtney Rickard, Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Development and Life Skills. “Our Director of Athletics, Shawn Heilbron, saw the need for staff and resources dedicated to educating, assisting, and developing our student-athletes in areas such as career development, financial planning, mental health and wellness, leadership, community service, and nutrition. With his leadership, we now have a Life Skills office dedicated to these efforts, as well as a Coordinator of Life Skills, Greta Strenger, who works tirelessly to organize and implement the Life Skills curriculum. We are fortunate to have an amazing Career Center on campus who was happy to partner with us and organize the Business Etiquette Dinner, and I was so delighted at the turn out. Our student-athletes in attendance gained such valuable life lessons, and heard some great career advice from the employers."

Representatives from Target, GEICO, Enterprise Rent-a-Car (represented by football alum David Bamiro), Northwestern Mutual, Softheon, Travelers, and Options for Community Living Inc. were in attendance for the event, which included a “mocktail” networking hour, dining etiquette presentation from the Career Center, “Building Your Personal Brand” presentation from Northwestern Mutual, buffet dinner, and an opening networking session for the student-athletes and employers.

"The Business Etiquette Dinner not only gave me the chance to network with a variety of employers, but it also gave me the opportunity to learn valuable information for success in the future,” said cross country/track & field sophomore Mike Watts (Islip, N.Y.) “This event taught me how to properly eat, communicate, carry myself & everything in-between in order to successfully impress employers & bosses in a business environment. I hope everyone gets the chance to attend an event like this, as I made a variety of connections during the course of the night and am currently in contact with possible internships. I owe a special thanks to the athletic department, career center and the various employers that where able attend the event, as this was a great experience!"

For a full photo gallery of the event, click HERE.