Women's Track and Field's Sophia Slovenski  Will Join Women's Basketball's Victoria Harris Representing USM at NCAA Career In Sports Forum

GORHAM, Maine – University of Southern Maine junior Sophia Slovenski (Cape Neddick, Maine/Phillips Academy), a member of the Huskies' women's indoor and outdoor track & field teams, is one of a few hundred current and former student-athletes selected to participate in the NCAA Career in Sports Forum that will be held virtually May 26-28. 

In its 12th year, the NCAA Career in Sports Forum is a three-day event that welcomes student-athletes from across the NCAA Divisions and is designed with the primary focus of aiding student-athletes in their career pursuits after exhausting their athletic eligibility and earning their undergraduate degrees. Emphasizing careers in collegiate sports, this unique virtual programming experience will help student-athletes chart their career paths, while presenting a variety of opportunities for attendees to learn from leaders in the field.

Using an interactive and engaging virtual setting, participants in the 2021 NCAA Career in Sports Forum will have options to connects with each other, including small group breakout rooms, networking hubs and an exhibit hall where participants can speak with industry professionals and other attendees.  It is the goal of the NCAA Career in Sports Forum to educate participants on how personal strengths intersect with career opportunities, provide participants with tangible experiences that will push them forward in their career aspirations, explore professional and career development strategies to help the transition to a career in sports, and to learn about the varied roles of college coach or athletics administrators.  

"I'm absolutely thrilled to take part in the NCAA Career in Sport Forum," said Slovenski.  "I transferred to the University of Southern Maine to study Exercise Science while continuing my intercollegiate track & field career in a highly competitive environment.  And, although I've known that I want a career in sport when I begin the next phase of my life, I am uncertain what that may look like.  I am excited to gain insight into the various career pathways available to me, and to learn from some of the best in the industry."

Actively involved in the USM community and beyond,  Slovenski recently served as a panelist for The Maine Girls & Women in Sports Committee virtual event: Voices of Women in Sport: Empowering Girls for Life – A Toolbox for Middle School Athletes and Beyond as part of a National Girls and Women In Sports celebration. Slovenski shared her insights alongside of panelists Lani Silversides, Founder of Strong Girls United Foundation; Clara Brown, Paracyclist, Team USA and Ashley Potvin-Fulford, Head Women's Rugby Coach at University of New England.  An Exercise Science major, Slovenski earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors during the 2019-2020 season. She is also a LEC All-Academic team and William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete.
"Sophia has immediately made herself standout as a leader among our student-athlete body," said Kim Turner, Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator.  "Not only is she an outstanding competitor and an accomplished student, Sophia has shown herself to be eager to take a greater role in service to the community."

A 2020 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)  All-American, Slovenski has been one of the top pole vault athletes in NCAA Division III, qualifying for the 2020 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships last year before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the championship prematurely.  Slovenski helped lead Southern Maine to the 2020 Little East Conference Indoor title in 2020, winning the pole vault competition clearing 10-8, and earned a fourth place finish in the triple jump (10.42).  It was the program's 20^th championship title. Slovenski also earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in 2020, finishing as one of the top-5 individuals in their event in their respective region on the TFRRS Descending Order List.

Recently named the LEC Field Athlete of the Week, Slovenski presently ranks first in the conference and the New England region in the javelin, and first in the conference and sixth in New England in the pole vault. Slovenski and the rest of the Huskies' women's outdoor track & field travels this weekend to compete in the 2021 LEC Championship.  USM has captured 18 titles, most recently in 2017.