One Herd One Day

"Competing for both the Bucknell men's water polo and men's swimming teams in the '80s was a huge contribution to my success as an up and comer and then as an executive in the tech space over a 30+ year career. Balancing the challenges of an engineering academic curriculum and two-a-day workouts and weekly competitions at Bucknell taught us how to be disciplined, set strategic individual and team goals, and yet also be able to problem-solve on the fly. We also learned how to celebrate the wins and learn from the losses, something I applied constantly in my most recent corporate role as Chief Revenue Officer at Diligent Corporation."

Founder and Principal, Gotham Advisors, New York City

"Bucknell helped prepare me to be a confident, focused and team-oriented leader. Bucknell provided a foundation for me to pursue personal and educational goals with access to coaches who encouraged me to be my best. I was recognized as a leader who could positively impact others."

Instructional Supervisor, Elementary Special Education, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland

"Being part of a team sport at Bucknell gave me added tools for success in my future role as an Internal Medicine physician. From developing professional skills, to determination and teamwork in the care of patients, to persistence in the face of challenges; the combined academic and athletic experiences I enjoyed at Bucknell have been instrumental in my personal and professional growth."

Lead Physician, Inova VIP 360

"When I reflect on being a student-athlete at Bucknell, I think of my teammates and coaches, my professors, and the entire Bucknell community. While I was at Bucknell, I truly felt like dreams could come true, and since college that community has supported me in so many ways. Whether it's my family being welcomed back on campus with open arms, meeting with a panel of professors about an educational idea I had in my 30's, or leaning on my teammates throughout the joy and heartache of life. I have been given so many gifts, and made so many memories, all of which will last a lifetime."

Certified School Counselor, East Side High School & mom of 3

"The discipline, dedication and hard work that were required to achieve our team goal of being one of the top 10 cross country teams in the nation has been one of the best life lessons learned at Bucknell that has helped me to achieve career success. My teammates and I pushed each other to strive for greatness and that is the culture I have always tried to build at my company."

Partner and CFO, Westar Associates

"I made the decision to attend Bucknell for the education. Playing on the football team was a unique privilege that afforded me the opportunity to experience people, places, and things that helped shape me as a professional. That exposure gives me the drive and confidence to continue setting a high bar for myself so the path to excellence is a perpetual journey."

Sr. Client Lead Recruiter, Amazon

"My experience as a student-athlete taught me early in adulthood how to balance multiple aspects of life that are important. As a distance runner, I learned the benefit of long-term commitment to a personal goal. As a member of a large cross country and track team, I learned how to support each other in reaching both our individual and team aspirations. Although I was primarily focused on racing on the track or cross-country course at the time, these lessons have threaded themselves through countless elements of my career."

Director, Personalized Care Program (PCARE), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

"Mama always said: life is like a box chocolates, you never know what you are going to get (Forrest Gump). While I am showing my age with this reference, I think it sums up my experience on and off the court which ultimately helped me keep a certain perspective in my professional pursuits. Success can certainly be achieving your predetermined goals but I have found it to also be your openness to endeavors/adventures that weren’t a part of the game plan. Life is like a box of chocolates. Enjoy!"

School Counselor, Washington Latin PCS

"After working in our family business for the past 25 years, I’m reminded of the importance of each teammate’s individual skill set in order to function as a whole and ensure success. My time as a Bison student-athlete allowed me to compete alongside so many talented teammates, who each contributed to our softball program’s accomplishments. As a business leader, I recognize that the root of success is to be surrounded by co-workers with unique talents, all striving for a common goal."

Vice President of Operations, D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc.

"Bucknell allowed me to see the “bigger world” and to find my passion to serve others. As a student, my mind was pushed and challenged in ways that nothing in life had done to that point. Being around other students with so much drive to be successful, it was contagious. As an athlete, I can’t imagine any other program that could have given me such reward for effort, and the family bond that was created with coaches and other players was and is still strong 30 years later."

President/CEO, YMCA of Newark and Vicinity

The Bucknell student-athlete experience instills lessons and values in Bucknellians that they carry with them for a lifetime. Check the updates section throughout the challenge to hear from former Bison athletes who are doing big things in their next chapter, and credit their student-athlete experience as the foundation of their success.