A Summer Well-Spent: Illini Student-Athletes Build Skills, Connections, Confidence
August 21, 2026 | Baseball, Football, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Women's Gymnastics, Soccer, Volleyball, Women's Track & Field, Academic Services
NEWS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – This summer, 10 Fighting Illini student-athletes represented the University of Illinois at three prestigious national leadership and career development programs, gaining valuable experience, expanding professional networks, and preparing for success beyond competition.
From leadership development and corporate immersion experiences to career exploration and executive networking, Illinois student-athletes continued to embody the Illini Way by investing in their growth as leaders, professionals, and community impact makers.
Big Ten Student-Athlete Leadership Retreat
Six Illinois student-athletes participated in the 2026 Big Ten Student-Athlete Leadership Retreat at the Big Ten Conference headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois. The second annual conference brought together representatives from each Big Ten institution for programming centered on leadership, personal branding, networking, student-athlete engagement, and community impact.
Representing Illinois at this year's retreat were football student-athletes Collin Dixon and Mac Resetich, along with women's gymnast Eden King, women's basketball student-athlete Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Vivian Campbell from volleyball, and men's basketball student-athlete Jason Jakstys.
Assistant athletics director for student-athlete engagement Shanika Mungin also served as a cohort leader, facilitating leadership discussions, networking opportunities, and collaborative programming with student-athletes from across the conference.
Throughout the three-day experience, the Illini engaged in leadership workshops, alumni networking events, community service, and conversations focused on identity beyond sport and becoming impactful leaders on their campuses and in their communities.
Women's gymnastics student-athlete Eden King described the experience as "insightful, impactful, and motivating."
"It gave me a lot of motivation to come back to campus and continue connecting with the community and other student-athletes to make a positive difference," King shared.
King added one of her biggest takeaways was realizing that student-athletes have the ability to create meaningful change: "We have the power to make changes on our campuses and get our peers involved."
She hopes to bring several ideas back to Illinois, including expanding youth engagement opportunities and continuing to strengthen SAAC's impact across campus.
Deloitte Student-Athlete Leadership Experience
Illinois was also represented at the Deloitte Student-Athlete Leadership Experience by Ava Arengo from soccer and Mercy Honesty from women's track & field.
The selective program connected Arengo and Honesty with Deloitte professionals and industry leaders through interactive workshops, executive panels, networking opportunities, and career readiness programming designed to help them translate the skills developed through athletics into professional success.
For Honesty, the experience reinforced the tremendous value student-athletes already possess.
"As a student-athlete, I realized I have been structuring my life and time in a way that would survive any work condition. It boosted my confidence," Honesty said. "These conversations connect us with like-minded individuals who motivate and mentor us as we prepare for life after athletics."
Arengo echoed a similar sentiment.
"During my time at Deloitte, I realized that my experiences as a student-athlete are very similar to those in a career," Arengo said. "The discipline, organization, resilience, and teamwork we develop through athletics are the same qualities that drive success in the workplace."
Stryker Student-Athlete Immersion Program
Senior student-athletes Sam Reed from baseball and Cailynn Junk of soccer participated in the Stryker Student-Athlete Immersion Program, a competitive three-day corporate experience introducing them to careers in sales, marketing, and medical technology through executive presentations, hands-on projects, case studies, and networking with company leaders.
Reed appreciated the opportunity to work through real-world business scenarios while learning how his experiences as a student-athlete translate to the workplace.
"They don't expect you to know everything," Reed said. "They are looking for the right traits and talents and a willingness to learn."
He also credited the experience with strengthening his confidence in interviewing, storytelling, and leadership while deepening his understanding of how his CliftonStrengths can influence the way he leads others.
For Junk, the experience provided reassurance that career success isn't defined by one's major.
"It helped me realize my degree doesn't define me," Junk said. "Your strengths are a huge part of being successful. Do something you love doing."
She also emphasized learning the importance of building authentic professional relationships.
"It's better to have meaningful relationships than millions of mini connections," Junk added.
Building Leaders Beyond the Game
These national opportunities reflect the Illini Way Student-Athlete Development program's commitment to preparing student-athletes for leadership and lifelong success.
Whether learning from Fortune 500 executives, collaborating with peers from across the Big Ten Conference, or discovering new career pathways, Fighting Illini student-athletes continue to demonstrate that excellence extends well beyond athletic competition.
As these Illini return to campus, they bring with them new perspectives, expanded professional networks, and innovative ideas that will continue strengthening the Fighting Illini community while preparing themselves and their teammates for success well beyond graduation.
