Rice University SOAR Office Hosts Successful "Beyond the Hedges" Event
3/8/2024 7:43:00 PM | R Association
Houston, TX – On Thursday, Feb. 29th, the Rice Athletics SOAR Office of Student-Athlete Development & Letterwinner Engagement hosted a transformative event, "Beyond the Hedges," at the Rice University Cohen House in collaboration with the Center for Career Development. This initiative aimed to provide Rice student-athletes with a safe space to hone their interview skills while fostering meaningful connections with Rice alumni, letterwinners, and professionals from diverse industries across Houston.
The event kicked off with a welcome from VP & Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland followed by a dynamic speed mock interview session, where each student-athlete had the opportunity to engage in group interviews with three seasoned professionals. With three rounds of interviews lasting eight minutes each, participants gained hands-on experience and valuable feedback in a practical and supportive environment.
"Our annual Beyond the Hedges event is both a mock interview practice arena for student-athletes and a bridge connecting them with the great professionals of Houston," assistant athletic director of SOAR and director of the R Association Brian McDevitt said. "Each year I am shocked and impressed by the composure, ambition, and performance of our Rice Owls, and this year is no exception."
Following the stimulating speed interviews, student-athletes had the chance to network with the professionals in attendance. This open networking session allowed Rice student-athletes to explore potential career paths and gain insights into a variety of different fields. Companies represented at this event included event sponsors, BELFOR and Northwestern Mutual, along with Accenture, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Carnite Ventures, Deloitte, FEC Real Estate, Fort Bend ISD, GSI Environmental, Harris County Houston Sports Authority, Harris County Public Health, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo, Houston ISD, Houston Methodist, Houston Texans, Higginbotham, Norton Rose Fullbright US LLP, Pyrophyte Acquisition Corp, Salesforce, Shell Oil, Silk Road Medical, Texas Aromatics, Treadstone Energy Partners, and Wellby Financial.
As part of the event experience, Podcast Architects founder and former Rice football letterwinner Ben Wiggins hosted a live podcast capturing the perspectives of both students and professionals in attendance. In addition, student-athletes received professional headshots, equipped themselves with personalized padfolios, and were provided with business cards to enhance their professional profiles.
"Beyond the Hedges is just another example of our office's commitment to ensuring our Rice Owls not only get the life skills they need through education but also hands-on experiences," assistant director of student-athlete development & letterwinner engagement Alexis Garrett said. "We understand the Rice degree will set them apart but practical events like this ensure they are prepared when career opportunities come their way."
The Beyond the Hedges event exemplifies Rice University's commitment to holistic student development, equipping student-athletes with the skills, resources, and networks necessary for success both on and off the field.
For more information about the Rice University SOAR Office of Student-Athlete Development and upcoming events, please visit the SOAR page.
The event kicked off with a welcome from VP & Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland followed by a dynamic speed mock interview session, where each student-athlete had the opportunity to engage in group interviews with three seasoned professionals. With three rounds of interviews lasting eight minutes each, participants gained hands-on experience and valuable feedback in a practical and supportive environment.
"Our annual Beyond the Hedges event is both a mock interview practice arena for student-athletes and a bridge connecting them with the great professionals of Houston," assistant athletic director of SOAR and director of the R Association Brian McDevitt said. "Each year I am shocked and impressed by the composure, ambition, and performance of our Rice Owls, and this year is no exception."
Following the stimulating speed interviews, student-athletes had the chance to network with the professionals in attendance. This open networking session allowed Rice student-athletes to explore potential career paths and gain insights into a variety of different fields. Companies represented at this event included event sponsors, BELFOR and Northwestern Mutual, along with Accenture, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Carnite Ventures, Deloitte, FEC Real Estate, Fort Bend ISD, GSI Environmental, Harris County Houston Sports Authority, Harris County Public Health, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo, Houston ISD, Houston Methodist, Houston Texans, Higginbotham, Norton Rose Fullbright US LLP, Pyrophyte Acquisition Corp, Salesforce, Shell Oil, Silk Road Medical, Texas Aromatics, Treadstone Energy Partners, and Wellby Financial.
As part of the event experience, Podcast Architects founder and former Rice football letterwinner Ben Wiggins hosted a live podcast capturing the perspectives of both students and professionals in attendance. In addition, student-athletes received professional headshots, equipped themselves with personalized padfolios, and were provided with business cards to enhance their professional profiles.
"Beyond the Hedges is just another example of our office's commitment to ensuring our Rice Owls not only get the life skills they need through education but also hands-on experiences," assistant director of student-athlete development & letterwinner engagement Alexis Garrett said. "We understand the Rice degree will set them apart but practical events like this ensure they are prepared when career opportunities come their way."
The Beyond the Hedges event exemplifies Rice University's commitment to holistic student development, equipping student-athletes with the skills, resources, and networks necessary for success both on and off the field.
For more information about the Rice University SOAR Office of Student-Athlete Development and upcoming events, please visit the SOAR page.
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