With support from Personal Advising Teams and Guided Pathways, the Gettysburg Approach provides students opportunities to excel in and out of the classroom, including student-athletes.
Competing in collegiate athletics is a unique and well-earned opportunity. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), about 7% of high school athletes go on to play at the collegiate level. It requires passion and dedication not only to athletics, but also to the pursuit of academic knowledge and personal development.
The Gettysburg Approach provides students with mentorship and guidance from Personal Advising Teams and offers an organized and intentional approach to learning through the Guided Pathways. Combined with the broad knowledge and enduring skills that are anchors of our liberal arts and sciences curriculum, they are preparing for a lifetime of success beyond Gettysburg—and for student-athletes, beyond their time on the field as well.
Discover some of the ways the Gettysburg Approach supports our student-athletes, shared by Guided Pathways participants Shane Donoghue ’27 (football), James Higinbotham ’27 (cross country, track and field), Maya Viscardi-Carelse ’27 (field hockey), and Payton Waller ’27 (women’s soccer).
No. 1: Well-rounded education
Through classwork and co-curricular programming, student-athletes gain invaluable knowledge and transferable skills to apply to their development in the classroom, on the field, and in their professional pursuits. The interdisciplinary nature of the liberal arts and sciences education at Gettysburg College invites discovery through new and challenging opportunities.
“The aspects of the Gettysburg Approach that have been most impactful to my education have been getting an all-around education and learning about different topics in the arts or sciences,” said Waller, an economics and environmental studies major from Holly Springs, North Carolina. “Taking these different classes that I would probably not take at another school has been very helpful in my college career because I have found new interests and developed new career ideas and opportunities.”
A wide receiver and economics major from Hillsborough, New Jersey, Donoghue added, “Gettysburg takes a unique approach that builds skills inside and outside the classroom. By cultivating a variety of skills, it has allowed me to deepen my understanding in multiple topics and become a more well-rounded person.”
No. 2: Skill-building for long-term success
In response to the preparedness gap, the Gettysburg Approach ensures our graduates have the enduring skills most desired by employers today, leading to promotions and long-term career growth. For Higinbotham, a chemistry and history double major on the cross country and track and field teams, his leadership and communication skills have flourished at Gettysburg, empowering him in his athletic, career, and social endeavors. Outside of athletic commitments, he works at the front desk in the John F. Jaeger Center for Athletics, Recreation, and Fitness and engages with the campus community through the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
“The skills the Gettysburg Approach emphasizes can help push you out of your comfort zone,” said Higinbotham, a Frederick, Maryland, native. “They aren't just skills for your time at Gettysburg, but skills that will be with you and benefit you long after you graduate. Having experiences and places to develop and apply these skills are really important and practical.”
“Through the opportunities given to me by this institution, my transcendent skills have evolved and grown,” added Viscardi-Carelse, a field hockey defender and business major from Scotch Plains, New Jersey. “Teamwork and communication are two of the enduring skills that have helped me work with teammates to achieve our goals.”
No. 3: Personalized mentorship
To develop and refine these enduring skills, each student who has opted into the Guided Pathways receives a Personal Advising Team before Orientation. Personal Advising Teams—made up of a faculty advisor, co-curricular advisor, and a career advisor—provide guidance and mentorship to students as they progress through their learning experiences on campus. At the end of their sophomore year, students can also add an alumni mentor to their Personal Advising Team. Some athletic programs, such as men’s soccer and football, have strong alumni groups to help advise student-athletes as well. For student-athletes, Personal Advising Teams offer another sounding board in addition to their coaches and team staff.
“Meetings with my faculty advisor and my co-curricular adviser have aided me in making my aspirations become a reality,” said Viscardi-Carlese. “I always know there is someone willing to answer any question I have.”
“The Personal Advising Team has helped me tremendously in making sure that I am getting the most out of my college experience,” added Waller. “They provide me with the information I need for opportunities around campus as well as resources for career exploration.”
No. 4: Complementary experiences
Participating in college athletics is one of the many introductory experiences included within the Guided Pathways, which are designed to lead students through their Gettysburg education in an intentional way, connecting their experiences with their goals.
Students can choose to participate in four thematic Guided Pathways focused on creativity, global citizenship, community change, and leadership. Each Guided Pathway also intersects with a four-year Career Pathway that provides direct career-related experiences and guidance. After participating in a Guided Pathways activity, students complete a reflection that they can reference later while crafting resumes or interviewing for jobs. These reflections allow them to discover who they are and who they want to become.
“These elements have helped me develop a strong sense of self,” said Donoghue, who is pursuing the Leadership, Teamwork, & Collaboration Pathway. “The Pathways have reinforced the idea of teamwork and leadership in my community and have helped me develop different skills to support my teammates.”
“The Pathways have helped me become a better teammate because it makes me reflect on how I have been a leader,” said Waller. “Writing these reflections has helped me realize and see what types of things I could make better about my leadership on the field.”
No. 5: Lifetime connections and support
Participating in the Guided Pathways has provided additional avenues for building strong connections across the Gettysburg Network, featuring more than 32,000 alumni around the world. For Donoghue, those connections start on the football field with nearly 100 teammates, including fellow Guided Pathways participants.
“There exists a huge sense of community within the team as if it was one big family,” said Donoghue. “At the same time, with so many people, it is harder to see what each person is going through. The Personal Advising Teams and Guided Pathways have taught me different skills to connect and support teammates, especially new members.”
Between studying, attending practices and games, working on campus, and engaging in community activities, there can be little time left over for student-athletes to take on added responsibilities. The Gettysburg Approach and Guided Pathways aim to ease those demands by interweaving athletic activities within its programming and goals to create an open environment of support. Coaches work with staff and faculty to ensure student-athletes have every opportunity to succeed on the field and in the classroom.
“I have found it incredibly doable to complete the different Pathways activities and my team activities,” said Viscardi-Carelse. “This past fall, I was an Orientation leader while being in preseason with field hockey. The school does its best to make sure student-athletes can participate in all opportunities.
“Overall, I have found that being on a varsity athletic team has only aided with the completion of Pathways activities and opens me up to more experiences,” added Viscardi-Carelse.
Open yourself to the many opportunities to be found through the Gettysburg Approach.
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By Corey Jewart
Photos by David Sinclair Photography, Jason Minick, Marc Belli, Abbey Frisco
Posted: 10/28/24
