Clemson’s Student-Athlete Enrichment Program Holds Dress for Success Workshop

You’ve heard it a thousand times, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” And for the most part, that’s true in the business world. In an effort to better prepare the Clemson student-athletes, the Student-Athlete Enrichment Program (SAEP) held a Dress for Success Workshop on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 in the McFadden Team Room.

SAEP partnered with Belk, Inc., who facilitated the workshop and provided wardrobes for the student-athletes to model. Seven athletes (Hannah Brenner – volleyball, Stephanie Buffo -women’s track and field/cross country, Brandon Clear -football, Claudio Delli Carpini – men’s track and field, Taylor Hoynacki – rowing, Martin Jenkins – football and Briana Johnson – women’s track and field) served as models.

Tica Tallent, personal shopper for Belk, Inc., provided the student-athletes with invaluable tips on how to dress for various occasions. Mrs. Tallent focused on showing the student-athletes how to maximize wardrobe potential on a limited budget. She also placed emphasis on purchasing simple items and adding accessories to enhance an outfit. Karen Higgins, Senior Stylist at Belk of Anderson Salon and Spa, provided styling tips, and Janet Cantrell, Belk Area Sales Manager, assisted in the coordination of the event.

The models and student-athletes in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. To add some flavor to the event, the audience was allowed to vote for a male and female “Vickery Hall Top Model.” Claudio Delli Carpini and Brianna Johnson, both members of the track and field team, won the Top Model honors this semester.

The Dress for Success Workshop is just a small taste of the Career Enhancement Workshop Series that SAEP puts on each semester. Monster.com will be hosting an Ultimate Money Skills workshop in March which will provide student-athletes with an understanding of appropriate credit card use, how to develop and follow a budget, banking options, how to protect their identity and the importance of saving.

Also in March, a Senior Transition Workshop will be held that will bring all senior student-athletes together to discuss how to cope when they no longer have their athletic support system. This is a great workshop that touches on some good topics for seniors to think about before leaving Clemson.

In April, SAEP will have an Alumni Career Panel, which will bring back some of Clemson’s former athletes to share stories about what the current student-athletes should be doing to prepare for life after college. The Student- Athlete Enrichment Program focuses on student-athletes being successful while they are at Clemson University, but also offers programs and services that will ensure that they are prepared for life after Clemson as well.