Secure the Bag

Each year, Maryland Made puts together a “Secure the Bag” Career and NIL Meet-Up day — an event designed to be an informal opportunity for student-athletes to network with professionals from various industries and NIL companies to explore possibilities.

“This was my first experience engaging with companies and sharing a part of who I am, while also learning about who they are,” women’s track and field’s Evelyn VanZwieten said. “It was not merely an opportunity to learn about various organizations and explore potential internship possibilities, but also a valuable chance to receive feedback and guidance for my future. I intentionally spoke with companies outside of my field to gain perspective on the work others are doing, to observe their creativity, and to understand how they are fostering innovation in areas I had never previously considered.”

Several companies with major Maryland ties were in attendance, giving the Terps an opportunity to connect with groups that are already doing a lot for Maryland Athletics.

“This night was a huge success for Under Armour to be at because it was so energizing to be here,” Kelly Welsh, Under Armour Lead, Marketing & Activations - Team Divisions and Grassroots said. “I think what stood out to us the most was how much interest there was in the Rookie Program, the passion and excitement about how much UA has been involved in their student-athlete experience! Maxwell and I encouraged the student-athletes to stay involved even outside of the Rookie Program and really leverage the connection and the accessibility of UA being 45 minutes down the road to highlight and showcase some of the other careers that exist that they might not know existed. We would love to be able to keep providing them these types of experiences to aid in their growth off the field!”

“The Secure the Bag event was an incredible opportunity to connect with companies I’ve been interested in for a long time, such as WesBanco and Under Armour,” wrestler Alex Uryniak said. “Speaking with representatives from each organization gave me valuable insight into the different sectors within finance and helped me understand the range of career paths available. I also enjoyed building personal connections with the recruiters who were present. Both WesBanco and Under Armour opened my eyes to new directions I could take in my career and helped me better understand the kind of work environments and roles that align with my goals.”

One company, Luminary, is built around empowering women and allies throughout their professional journey. Its founder and CEO, Cate Luzio, is a proud Terp alumnus.

“Nothing surprises me when it's the University of Maryland. Go Terps!,” Luzio said. “The student-athletes are not only super polished and ready to go - they prepared and presented themselves professionally as so many had their resume and LinkedIn profiles readily accessible. They were so open to having so many conversations which really shows how much the University of Maryland is investing in their athletes.”

“It helped me grow in my confidence and talking to professionals as I learned how to better self-promote myself more confidently to organizations,” women’s lacrosse senior Mae Marshall said. “Being able to practice this in a smaller environment was really beneficial for me.”

The event was a smashing success and helped some of Maryland’s finest student-athletes get one step closer to understanding their post-graduation path. 

“Engaging in these conversations and learning about the broader professional landscape reminded me to take full advantage of the opportunities that the University of Maryland provides to its student-athletes,” VanZwieten said. “The university not only supports us in our athletic pursuits but also demonstrates a genuine commitment to our future success. I have often worried about what I will do after graduation, but I am realizing that Maryland wholeheartedly cares about our development beyond sports and actively works to create meaningful connections for us as student-athletes. For that, I am truly grateful.”

“The value of events like this is immeasurable,” Catalyst Hotdogs Owner and Operator Chris Van Jura said. “Too often these days, both employers and prospective employees or really, just humans in general, are hidden behind a screen where we have to decide if this person is right by some words on a paper or a picture on the screen. Will we call them? Will we consider them? Will we swipe on them? Events like this allow us to be humans and individuals and have interactions one-on-one with our feet facing each other. These are real life experiences — the kind that build strong professionals who will be an asset to any company where they are employed.”

The event helped student-athletes gain clarity on post-athletics life and helped companies get a feel for some of the young people that could soon be joining the workforce. 

“This event gave us a great chance to connect with UMD student-athletes and share who we are as a company,” Aerothreads Human Resources Director Stephanie Patton said. “Being located just minutes from campus, we want students to know that there are exciting career opportunities in aerospace, no matter their major. It was inspiring to hear about their goals and to show them that their skills and drive can translate into real-world opportunities with us. We’re hopeful this will be the start of bringing some talented UMD students onto our summer internship team!”

The Secure the Bag Career and NIL and Meet Up continues to make crucial connections that will aid Terps and companies associated with Maryland Athletics for years to come.