Bethany, W.Va. (Dec. 12, 2024) – Three members of the Bethany College athletics community recently attended the 2024 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, returning with transformative experiences.
Senior men’s soccer player Santiago Bruni and senior track & field athlete Alexis Mahaffey, along with Interim Director of Athletics Jen Windmiller, attended the forum in Charlotte, N.C. With only 0.03 percent of NCAA student-athletes selected to participate, having two representatives from Bethany is a significant achievement for the institution.
“The forum was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and exceeded any expectations I had,” said Windmiller. “I am beyond grateful to have experienced it with two of Bethany’s finest student-athletes. Santi and Alexis showed courage and strength in diving deep into self-reflection on their leadership and demonstrated a commitment to what the program offered. I am proud of their ability to be vulnerable, stay in a growth mindset, and develop skills that will take them far beyond their athletic and academic careers.”
The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, created in 1997, has impacted more than 5,000 student-athletes, helping them grow both personally and professionally. Participants return to campus equipped with essential leadership skills, a deeper understanding of how personal values align with core beliefs and behaviors, and a strong network of peers for ongoing support and collaboration. This best-in-class programming experience serves as a transformational opportunity for student-athletes and administrators to build a leadership toolkit and develop vital self-awareness that allows them to realize their potential.
“The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum was an experience that changed my life by teaching me what true leadership means: embracing self, forging meaningful connections, and growing both individually and as a part of a team,” said Bruni. “It wasn’t just about building leadership skills; rather it was about creating lifelong relationships and learning how to lead with empathy, authenticity, and purpose.”
Mahaffey added, “The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum was an amazing opportunity that allowed me to reinforce my purpose as a leader while learning from fellow student-athletes and administrators. We discussed the concepts of growth mindset, self-awareness, inclusivity, and so much more that positively contribute to our roles as leaders. I am immensely grateful for the experience and connections it brought me.”
During the program, attendees were divided into “color teams” of approximately 30 other members. In these groups, they engaged in dynamic discussions on various aspects of leadership, guided by trained facilitators in a collaborative and supportive environment. They built a family of team members that encouraged vulnerability and brought together diverse perspectives that enriched the learning process.
Active learning was a priority for all facilitators and speakers at Student-Athlete Leadership Forum. One of the most rewarding aspects of the program is the participants’ ability to learn and grow alongside newly forged connections who often remain valuable for decades to come.
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