INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – For the second time since the inception of the award, Missouri S&T will be receiving the Joseph J. McGowan Visionary Award from the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the 2022-23 academic year.

S&T was selected by the GLVC's Awards Committee and will be formally recognized at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car GLVC Spring Awards Reception in St. Charles, Mo., on Tuesday, May 23.

Named after Dr. Joseph J. McGowan, President at Bellarmine University for 26 years who passed away on March 1, 2016, this award is presented annually to the GLVC institution that displays vision and exemplary programming to promote and advance the student-athlete experience.

Missouri S&T was selected for its Professional Life Skills Development Program that is presented by the Academy of Miner Athletics, an event which is presented annually to its student-athletes.

The purpose of the Academy of Miner Athletics is to recognize outstanding alumni who bring honor to the athletic department with their accomplishments on the field, in their careers and as leaders in their communities; and, to provide support to the department through coordinated gifts of time, experience, and financial contributions.

The Professional Life Skills Development Program was envisioned as a way for AMA members to mentor S&T student-athletes by giving their time, sharing professional experiences and encouraging them as they graduate and transition into their future endeavors.

Chaired by Diane Butrus, a 1985 computer science graduate and softball student-athlete, the initiative began in 2013. Each spring, a select group of AMA members return to campus to meet with 40-50 student-athletes. The meeting begins with each member sharing a unique experience or providing expertise on a particular topic.

Topics include job interviews; evaluating and negotiating employment offers; preparing for the first day on the job, enrolling in employer sponsored benefits and retirement plans; personal financial planning; the importance of maintaining health and well-being; identifying mentors, networking, and building key relationships for professional growth and career advancement; and strategies for starting a business, and earning advanced degrees and certifications.

After sharing their information, the panelists and student-athletes divide into small groups and have interactive and informal discussions centered around the topics previously shared. Panelists will rotate regularly throughout the room to engage with all attendees. Following the small group discussions, participants enjoy a catered meal and continue to fellowship with the AMA members. As a final activity, AMA members provide hot tips or words of wisdom, regarding current or relevant issues common in the workforce today.

Overall, the event is highly regarded among the student-athletes. To maintain the informal and intimate format, only a selective group of student-athletes can attend each year. Administrators regularly see relationships develop between the student-athletes and the AMA members, and it is common for student-athletes to engage in one-on-one conversations with alumni after the event.

"The transformation that visually occurs with the S&T student-athletes through their interactions with alumni brings a euphoric feeling to the room. Student-athletes leave the event with a new perspective, increased enthusiasm, and 'wanting more,'" said Missouri S&T Director of Athletics Melissa Ringhausen.

Jack Krisanic, a spring 2023 mechanical engineering graduate and student-athlete on the S&T football team, said this of his involvement: "It was a great experience to meet former athletes that have found success. I learned a lot about how to approach the job search process. I am prepared for my first day on the job with Burns & McDonnell and am better equipped for how to manage and grow my professional career."

The student-athletes selected to attend are high-achieving individuals with the intellect and determination to perform in an academically rigorous curriculum. Not only do the AMA members reinforce the lessons they learned from being a student, but they stress the unique adeptness gained from being an athlete. Athletes have the unique opportunity for individual growth that is not always provided in the classroom.

These include, but are not limited to, being a member and working on a team; striving to achieve individual and team goals; understanding one's role in the impact it has on a group; learning time management; and being accountable to others. These are transformational skills that can be leveraged as an asset when interviewing for a job or advancing in one's career.

This year's event took place on April 5, 2023, and incorporated five alumni, including Butrus, Bryan Hogan (track & field, 2012), Joshua Sales (cross country/track & field, 2000), Scott Stephens (football, 1989) and David Vonarx (cross country/track & field, 1989).

Missouri S&T also won the Joseph J. McGowan Visionary Award in 2018 for its Pioneers of Women's Athletics event.   Other past recipients of the award include Lewis University's "Spread Your Wings" program (2017) and the University of Southern Indiana's "Networking Night at Victoria National (2019). No awards were presented in 2020-22 due to COVID-19.