Photo by: GoDucks.com
Networking Trip Takes Student-Athletes to Chicago
07/15/26 | Student-Athlete Development
Women's basketball student-athlete Sofia Bell documents a summer student-athlete development experience enjoyed by herself and other Ducks.
From June 16-19, 14 Oregon student-athletes representing seven teams traveled to Chicago for the annual Student-Athlete Development Career Networking Trip.
Over the course of four days, we visited nine companies, had dinner with the Chicago Duck Alumni group, volunteered at Off the Street Club, and explored all that the city of Chicago had to offer.
On day one, immediately after landing at O'Hare, we went to the Big Ten Network, where we toured the production studios and got a behind-the-scenes look at the operation.
"One of the highlights of our Chicago career networking experience was visiting the Big Ten Network," shared football student-athlete Ziyare Addison. "Seeing firsthand how one of the nation's premier collegiate sports networks operates gave us a new appreciation for the teamwork and preparation behind every broadcast. Connecting with professionals across the organization showed us that there are countless opportunities to stay involved in sports beyond playing the game."
On day two, the group visited Razorfish, PepsiCo, Northern Trust Bank, and the Chicago Cubs, eventually capping off the evening with a Cubs game.
At PepsiCo, the group got a firsthand look at a global powerhouse. "Our visit to PepsiCo and Gatorade gave us an inside look at how innovation, nutrition, and performance come together to support athletes at the highest level," Ziyare noted. "It was inspiring to see the work behind one of the world's most recognizable brands."
The diversity of the companies visited on day two offered something for everyone. As student-athlete Kylee Manser reflected, "Whether we were learning about marketing and creative strategy at Razorfish, business and finance at Northern Trust and the Federal Reserve, sports and partnerships at the Chicago Cubs, or athlete representation at Priority Sports, each visit provided a unique perspective."
On day three, we visited Zeno Group, Motion Agency, Priority Sports, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and had dinner with the local Chicago Alumni group.
Connecting directly with industry leaders was a major theme of the day. "We had the opportunity to connect with Nicole and Maya at Zeno Group, who demonstrated the power of communication, authentic relationships, and professional networking," said Ziyare. "Later, at Motion Agency, CEO Kimberly Eberl shared valuable lessons on leadership, creativity, and building meaningful relationships. Her insights challenged us to think bigger about our careers and the impact we want to make."
On our final day, we spent the morning volunteering with Off the Street Club.
"One of the most memorable moments of the trip came at the Off the Street Club," Ziyare shared. "Spending time playing basketball, laughing, and connecting with the kids reminded us that leadership is about serving others. Being able to pour into the next generation was a powerful reminder that the greatest impact we can make often happens off the field."
Ultimately, the trip was about expanding horizons. Kylee summarized the collective experience of the group perfectly:
"The trip gave us the opportunity to step outside of our everyday athletic routines and explore different career paths while connecting with professionals who were willing to share their experiences, advice, and insights. At each organization, we had the chance to network with employees from different backgrounds, learn about their career journeys, and ask questions about their industries. These conversations allowed us to better understand the variety of opportunities available beyond sports while also learning how our experiences as athletes can be valuable in the workplace."
We left Chicago with new connections, valuable advice, and a greater appreciation for how the leadership, teamwork, and determination we develop through athletics will continue to serve us in our future careers.
Over the course of four days, we visited nine companies, had dinner with the Chicago Duck Alumni group, volunteered at Off the Street Club, and explored all that the city of Chicago had to offer.
On day one, immediately after landing at O'Hare, we went to the Big Ten Network, where we toured the production studios and got a behind-the-scenes look at the operation.
"One of the highlights of our Chicago career networking experience was visiting the Big Ten Network," shared football student-athlete Ziyare Addison. "Seeing firsthand how one of the nation's premier collegiate sports networks operates gave us a new appreciation for the teamwork and preparation behind every broadcast. Connecting with professionals across the organization showed us that there are countless opportunities to stay involved in sports beyond playing the game."
On day two, the group visited Razorfish, PepsiCo, Northern Trust Bank, and the Chicago Cubs, eventually capping off the evening with a Cubs game.
At PepsiCo, the group got a firsthand look at a global powerhouse. "Our visit to PepsiCo and Gatorade gave us an inside look at how innovation, nutrition, and performance come together to support athletes at the highest level," Ziyare noted. "It was inspiring to see the work behind one of the world's most recognizable brands."
The diversity of the companies visited on day two offered something for everyone. As student-athlete Kylee Manser reflected, "Whether we were learning about marketing and creative strategy at Razorfish, business and finance at Northern Trust and the Federal Reserve, sports and partnerships at the Chicago Cubs, or athlete representation at Priority Sports, each visit provided a unique perspective."
On day three, we visited Zeno Group, Motion Agency, Priority Sports, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and had dinner with the local Chicago Alumni group.
Connecting directly with industry leaders was a major theme of the day. "We had the opportunity to connect with Nicole and Maya at Zeno Group, who demonstrated the power of communication, authentic relationships, and professional networking," said Ziyare. "Later, at Motion Agency, CEO Kimberly Eberl shared valuable lessons on leadership, creativity, and building meaningful relationships. Her insights challenged us to think bigger about our careers and the impact we want to make."
On our final day, we spent the morning volunteering with Off the Street Club.
"One of the most memorable moments of the trip came at the Off the Street Club," Ziyare shared. "Spending time playing basketball, laughing, and connecting with the kids reminded us that leadership is about serving others. Being able to pour into the next generation was a powerful reminder that the greatest impact we can make often happens off the field."
Ultimately, the trip was about expanding horizons. Kylee summarized the collective experience of the group perfectly:
"The trip gave us the opportunity to step outside of our everyday athletic routines and explore different career paths while connecting with professionals who were willing to share their experiences, advice, and insights. At each organization, we had the chance to network with employees from different backgrounds, learn about their career journeys, and ask questions about their industries. These conversations allowed us to better understand the variety of opportunities available beyond sports while also learning how our experiences as athletes can be valuable in the workplace."
We left Chicago with new connections, valuable advice, and a greater appreciation for how the leadership, teamwork, and determination we develop through athletics will continue to serve us in our future careers.
Wednesday, July 15
Friday, June 26
Friday, June 26
Thursday, June 25
