Clemson’s Student-Athlete Development department celebrated its 20 UPIC Interns from the 2021 Spring Semester earlier this month as the semester came to a close. Clemson University’s University Professional Internship and Co-op Program (UPIC) has become a pillar of development for students to utilize during their time as a Tiger.
Clemson’s student-athletes can transition into careers after sport thanks to ONE Clemson, an organization with the Clemson Alumni Association that serves as a donor to help fund the department’s student-athlete UPIC opportunities. Due to the unique nature of the 2021 Spring Semester, student-athletes had the chance to experience an in-person, virtual, or hybrid internship during the semester.
This semester’s cohort was spread across 17 departments and featured members from seven of Clemson’s athletic teams. Ten of the 20 interns participated in the program for the first time in their collegiate careers, while two student-athletes were full-time interns throughout the spring. Clemson’s rowing team led the way by having ten members of their program serve as interns, while five members of the Tigers’ men’s and women’s track and field program comprised the second-largest group. Six members of the spring cohort will have graduated by the end of the 2021 Summer Semester.
In April, nine of the ten first-time interns presented their final projects to an audience that included peers, coaches, ONE Clemson board members, athletic department staff, and UPIC Office, staff. These presentations served as an opportunity for the interns to share their experiences, showcase notable projects, and speak on what they learned from the internship opportunity.
“It has been a pleasure getting to work with these student-athletes and helping them grow in their career journeys,” remarked Robin Bradley, a Graduate Assistant within the Student-Athlete Development staff. “I am thankful for the UPIC staff who makes this a seamless process for us to collaborate and provide the internships. I am also thankful to ONE Clemson for their desire to help the student-athletes learn and grow their abilities.”
