Pride Athletes Broaden Perspectives at NCAA Learning Experiences

Widener’s student athletes are known for excellence in their sports and in the classroom. Now, a growing number of Pride athletes are adding leadership and professional development opportunities to their resumes, by attending national conferences and learning experiences hosted by the NCAA. 

For the 2024-25 academic year, three students were chosen to represent Widener at two highly selective NCAA events – Myles Bright ’26, Kristen Vacca ’26 and Justin Mack ’25. 

“It’s important for student athletes to participate in these types of conference opportunities because they offer personal and professional development that extends beyond the playing field,” shared Associate Athletic Director Larissa Gillespie. “These experiences expose student-athletes to leadership training, career preparation, and networking with peers from diverse institutions and backgrounds. They help student-athletes build confidence, improve communication skills, and explore career paths aligned with their academic interests—all while reinforcing the core values of teamwork, discipline, and responsibility that they already practice in athletics. Opportunities like this also help them see themselves as leaders not only on their teams but in their future workplaces and communities.”

Experiencing Common Ground

Bright and Vacca attended the NCAA Common Ground experience in Indianapolis in April 2025. Joined by Gillespie, Head Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach Mark Yankovich, and Ariana Padilla-Rogers, program coordinator for the Office of Student Inclusion and Belonging, the Widener team took part in an immersive experience designed to promote inclusivity in college athletics.
     
Widener was one of only 15 institutions selected to attend out of over 40 applicants spanning Divisions I, II and III. 

Bright, a men’s basketball player and double major in business management and business analytics, chose Widener because of the community and the opportunity to build close relationships with his peers, faculty and staff. These close relationships have paid off as this was Bright’s second time attending an NCAA event. 
Opportunities like this also help them see themselves as leaders not only on their teams but in their future workplaces and communities.

Having attended the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership experience in 2024, Gillespie asked Bright if he would be interested in joining the group for the Common Ground experience as well. Having had a great experience before, he jumped on the chance to attend and was not disappointed.

“[The Common Ground] experience was eye opening. I was able to connect with individuals who shared different and similar intersections,” he said. “I was able to engage with student athletes, administrators, and facilitators from completely diverse backgrounds and yet we shared many values. We were able to have dialogue about different topics and find common ground. I liked how everyone was so open to listening to understand.”

Vacca, a volleyball player and psychology major, transferred to Widener in 2023. An international student from Canada, Vacca found Widener to be the perfect fit for her. 

“I ended up picking Widener because it just felt like home,” she said. “It was such a welcoming environment, and I was drawn to everything the campus had to offer.” 

Unlike Bright, Vacca had not attended a conference like this before and was excited to step out of her comfort zone when Gillespie extended the offer. 

“It was an amazing experience! We learned some lessons as well as participated in activities that surrounded inclusivity and diversity. Most of the topics surrounded LGBTQ+ groups and faith, and ways that we, as common ground members, can foster safe and inclusive environments on our campuses. It was very empowering seeing people speak from personal experience,” said Vacca. 

As a psychology major, Vacca recognizes the importance of creating a safe environment for anyone who may cross her path. 

As someone pursuing a career in counseling, this experience was incredibly valuable. It deepened my ability to hold space for people with different beliefs, identities, and life experiences - something that’s absolutely essential in this field,” she said. “Counseling isn’t about taking sides; it’s about creating a safe, nonjudgmental environment where people feel heard and respected. Common Ground gave me firsthand experience doing exactly that. It helped me grow my empathy, sharpen my listening skills, and reinforced my commitment to being a counselor who brings people together, even when the topics are tough.”

Like Vacca, Bright also walked away from the experience with improved skills he will take with him into his life after Widener.

“Common Ground gave me a stronger foundation in empathy, leadership, and inclusivity which are skills that translate into any professional or leadership role I may have in the future,” he said. 

Advocating everywhere

Earlier in the academic year, Pride football player Justin Mack ‘25 attended the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program, and annual event for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. 
Mack, who graduated in May with a degree in sport and event management, is a staunch mental health advocate. After overcoming mental health challenges himself early in his college career, he became a sounding board for the importance of taking care of yourself and each other. 
 

“I want to be the football player who says mental health is serious. Particularly in my community- the Black male community- it’s hard to get that voice out there so I’m always pushing my efforts to say it’s okay to go to therapy, it’s okay to feel vulnerable,” he said. “And sometimes it’s hard to practice what you preach but it’s something I’m always looking to do to improve myself and grow my mental health as well.”

Out of over 400 applicants, Mack was one of 36 students from Division III schools across the country to be selected to attend the experience in Nashville, Tennessee. Justin says being around his peers and learning through engaging sessions together was a special experience. 

“My favorite part was getting to talk to other D-III athletes who go through the same stuff as me and have the same struggles as me. We all came to D-III for a reason, and we all want to come out of D-III successful,” he said.

Leading with confidence

Bright, Vacca, and Mack all walked away from the experiences having learned lessons they will carry into their futures. 

“As a student athlete you are a leader on your team and on campus. Teams represent unity and by taking part in something like Common Ground student athletes can become better leaders. We can support our teammates and classmates better and build a stronger and more inclusive campus,” said Bright. 

“We represent our schools, our teams, and often our communities. If we’re not equipped to lead with empathy and understanding, then we’re not truly leading,” said Vacca. “Events like Common Ground help us develop those skills in a real, tangible way. They challenge us to think bigger than the scoreboard and push us to be better teammates—not just on the field, but in life.”