Tarrant to speak on challenges of being a student-athlete
Syracuse University will welcome back Brian Tarrant to speak about the challenges of being a student-athlete as part of the 2011-12 Alumni Speaker Series.
Tarrant, a 1996 alumnus, is the 10th speaker in the series sponsored by Career Services and the Office of Alumni Relations. He will speak at 5:30 p.m. in the Tobin Lab in the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center on Wednesday evening.
Tarrant will share stories about his personal career path. He will also give advice to SU students, particularly those who might feel lost or overwhelmed in their college experience, according to a March 30 SU News release.
Space for the event is limited, but seats are still available. All attendees must register via OrangeLink.
Initially, Tarrant did not consider attending SU after almost signing as a recruit with Rutgers University, according to a fall/winter 2011 SU Magazine article. After visiting campus, however, Tarrant simply ‘fell in love with the place,’ he said in the article.
During his time at SU, he was a student-athlete who played defensive end for the football team. He was also a member of the 1993 team that defeated Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl, according to the SU News release.
Tarrant will discuss some of the difficulties and challenges he faced as a student-athlete in school, said Kim Brown, alumni programs coordinator for SU Career Services.
‘He majored in sociology,’ Brown said, ‘but now he has this super successful career in something totally different.’
Tarrant is currently the division vice president of events, exhibits and environments at MC2, a marketing and advertising company based nationwide.
After graduating, Tarrant moved to Las Vegas and contacted the only SU football alumnus in the area, Shawn Garrity, a 1986 alumnus, according to the SU Magazine article. He started at a basic sales job and soon began to make a name for himself in the marketing industry with trade shows, corporate events and other venues, according to the article.
Tarrant and MC2 were the driving force behind the design and creation of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center’s Orange Basketball Hall of Fame.
Tarrant was first approached to speak at SU after Career Services representatives saw his speech at SUccess in the City in Chicago, an initiative that brings accomplished alumni to different places to network with other SU graduates.
‘He was awesome. We thought, ‘We’ve got to bring him back,” Brown said. ‘I wanted him to be able to talk with students since SUccess in the City is mostly with alumni.’
Landing a job through connections with alumni is not a rare occurrence, Brown said. SU provides many different outlets for students to network with alumni, whether it is through ‘CuseConnect, OrangeLink or their new Twitter hashtag, #hireorange, she said.
Having alumni like Tarrant come to campus to offer their own unique experiences and give advice also becomes a great resource for students, Brown said.
Said Brown: ‘Having these speakers are really so that our students can connect with people who also bleed orange.’
Published on April 3, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Contact Jen: jbundy@syr.edu
