INDIANAPOLIS - Kwabena Young (Brooklyn, N.Y.), a rising senior DB on the Stony Brook football team, attended the 2018 NCAA Career in Sports Forum held at the NCAA Headquarters in early June.
 
Young graduated from Stony Brook this past May with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management with a specialization in fiance. He completed his degree with a 3.3 grade point average and will pursue his MBA in finance this fall while he completes his eligibility on the field. He also serves as the administration and business operations intern for the Seawolves' Department of Athletics.

"I had an amazing time at the 2018 NCAA Careers in Sports Forum," Young said. "It was an honor connecting and hearing from very profound speakers. I learned the importance of networking, building my personal brand, and planning for the future. My biggest takeaway from this past weekend was to always have a passion for whatever you do in life. I am very thankful for the opportunity to connect with some many intelligent and genuine people from across the country."

Each year, more than 460,000 student-athletes participate in 24 sports at more than 1,100 NCAA member institutions. Regardless of the sport they play, student-athletes all have one thing in common when they graduate: moving into the workforce.
 
The Career in Sports Forum, an annual educational forum hosted by the NCAA, brings together 200 student-athletes to learn and explore potential careers in sports, with the primary focus on college athletics.
 
This unique, four-day forum is designed to assist student-athletes in charting their career paths, as well as provide an opportunity to network and learn from current athletics professionals.
 
The cutting-edge topics covered by industry experts include: how personal values intersect with career opportunities, how behavioral styles impact individual effectiveness, the key professional and career development information to assist with transition from a student-athlete to a professional, and the role of the college coach or athletics administrator. Participants will network with peers, as well as key decision-makers at the campus, conference and national level of college athletics.

One of more than 20 annual programs and resources organized and directed by the NCAA leadership development department, the Career in Sports Forum provides college athletes with a broader scope of the career tracks available within the sports business, with the primary focus on college athletics. The forum provides student-athletes interactive experiences with successful individuals in the sports business and a peek into their day-to-day duties and responsibilities.

The NCAA leadership development department provides professional and personal development for the entire Association, including student-athletes, coaches and administrators, through accessible resources, strategic partnerships and annual customized programming at little or no cost to the membership. For more information, please go to www.NCAA.org/leadershipdevelopment.