Senior Forester Game Plan

On Thursday, April 30, Forester students attended the Senior Forester Game Plan event, the capstone of a four-year career preparation program. The event, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was held virtually via Zoom.

The Forester Game Plan is a unique partnership between the Department of Athletics, the Career Advancement Center, and an expansive network of faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the College. The focus – much like a pre-season and/or pre-game plan for any sports team – is on preparing our students for success in the workforce, graduate school, and ultimately, in life. 

“I truly wish the Forester Game Plan (FGP) was around when I was a student-athlete. The Senior FGP event provides student-athletes early access to a piece of LFC’s diverse network, while aiding them in their approach as they transition into the workforce,” Hannah Michal, ’09, Softball and Handball.

As the program’s signature event, athletic alumni and professionals from various fields of study and career paths returned to share their own personal insights about career success. Danielle Canulli ’15 generously agreed to serve as the presenter for the first part of our program. She took her experiences working at LinkedIn and shared with the athletes ways to strengthen their brand in the virtual job market that they are entering. Ben Rhode, Associate Director for Pathway and Employer Strategy, also spoke briefly about the Career Advancement Center and how the CAC can help with virtual hiring.

“I really enjoyed how we were able to use our athletic experiences to enhance ourselves in a professional setting. The time management skills, collaboration, leadership, and competitive nature that we developed, clearly stems from our background in sports. The senior Forester Game Plan event emphasized that athletics will continue to help us stand out where our paths take.” – SJ Hornewer, ’20, Women’s Soccer 

In lieu of the typical networking that takes place during the events, students were placed into Zoom breakrooms for brief sessions with their respective sports’ alumni. Coaches lead the breakout room discussions and provided structure for the seniors and alumni to have a roundtable discussion. Alumni provided tips on how to job search, shared examples of how the Lake Forest Network has benefitted them personally or professionally, and talked about lessons they’ve learned since leaving Lake Forest. The seniors were able to ask questions and talk about challenges they are facing or concerns they have about graduating and entering the workforce. 

“The importance of networking is about creating a meaningful connection with someone who is willing to push you towards your goals. The Forester Game Plan is a great platform that connected me to my mentor, who encouraged me in taking my first step towards my career as a lawyer. I truly enjoy coming back and helping athletes in that same manner.” ­– Vic Gabuardi, ’14, Football 

The evening concluded with everyone returning to one big zoom call and then virtually toasting the class of 2020. We want to thank the following alumni listed below for making the career networking event terrific!