Maryland Made: Inaugural Mentor Mixer Launches with Impact and Excitement

Hear from those involved in a special night at one Maryland women’s lacrosse game.

By Brady Ruth, Staff Writer

4/14/2026 5:00:00 AM

Maryland Made: Inaugural Mentor Mixer Launches with Impact and Excitement

Maryland Made officially launched its first-ever Mentor Mixer on Thursday, April 9, during a top-five women’s lacrosse matchup between Maryland and Northwestern in the Terps’ home finale. The event brought together 12 dedicated mentors and 15 student-athletes for an evening centered on connection, growth, and opportunity.

Throughout the game, participants had the chance to engage in meaningful conversations, explore career interests, and build relationships that extend beyond athletics. The relaxed, game-day atmosphere created the perfect setting for authentic networking, allowing student-athletes to gain valuable insight while mentors shared their experiences and guidance.

With great food, high-level competition on the field, and impactful connections in the suite, the inaugural Mentor Mixer marked a successful start to what promises to be a strong event moving forward. Maryland Made looks forward to continuing to grow the program and create even more opportunities for student-athletes and mentors to connect in the future. Colby Wilson, Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development, was excited to see the team's ideation come to life at the event.

“We were thrilled to officially launch the Maryland Made Mentor Mixer and see this vision come to life,” Wilson said. “It was rewarding to watch our student-athletes and mentors connect in such an authentic and informal way, and this event set a strong foundation for what’s ahead. We’re excited to build on this momentum and continue growing the program to create even more impactful opportunities in the future!”

Hear from some of the mentors and mentees below:

The Mentor Mixer was exactly the kind of room I've been looking for: open, casual, and full of people who genuinely cared about my direction and story. One mentor put me on to the idea of applying to graduate assistant roles to get my master's paid for while I work, which gave me some ideas for a different post-grad plan. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Samuel Adu, Football

I really enjoyed getting to meet with so many impressive student-athletes at the Maryland Made Mixer. I was able to have conversations with students not only about their sport, but also about their academic and professional interests, community causes and organizations they are contributing to, their hometowns and families, and all while cheering on the women's lacrosse team. The student-athletes did a fantastic job at working the room and putting themselves out there as they mingled with mentors, fellow student-athletes, and athletics staff. I look forward to following up with several mentees and mentors that I made connections with at the event.

Courtney Holder, Assistant Director and Leadership & Community Service-Learning, Adele H. STAMP Student Union

I truly enjoyed my time at the Maryland Made Mentor Mixer. As a former student-athlete, it meant a lot to return home and reconnect with current staff and student-athletes. Opportunities like this reinforce how valuable networking is in building meaningful relationships and opening doors. I’m excited about continuing to support and engage in initiatives that help bridge the gap as athletes transition into life after sports. I’m looking forward to many more events like this!

John Davenport, Former Maryland track & field athlete and private banker with Morgan Stanley

The Mentor Mixer was a great opportunity for me to network with people who are in fields that are relevant to my career path. I had so much fun learning from them and building connections I will tap into moving forward.

Madi Trout, Track & Field

I always appreciate the intentionally created spaces the Maryland Made Mentor program holds for current Maryland student-athletes to be introduced early to their career fields and gain early professional development resources. Working with two mentees this school year was a great way for me to give back to my alma mater. Both are interested in journalism, and with the industry changing so rapidly, I appreciate the real conversations we can have to help properly prepare them for the media industry they will hopefully soon enter!

Kelsey Nelson. Public Speaker and Media Personality

I really enjoyed the Mentor Mixer on Thursday. Being at the women’s lacrosse game made for a really fun and unique setting to meet and talk with professionals from different industries. I learned a lot just from hearing about their career paths and advice, and it was a great opportunity to get more comfortable networking and exploring different career interests.

Alice Kredell, Track & Field

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