INDIANAPOLIS – University of Vermont student-athletes Jackie Gillen, Kelly Lennon and Emily Snowden have been invited to attend the NCAA Career in Sports Forum this week from June 1-4 in Indianapolis. The UVM trio was among 10 America East student-athletes selected as well as over 230 student-athletes and NCAA scholarship and grant recipients nationwide.
 
Forum attendees were invited in part based on their interest in pursuing a career in sports. The selection committee is composed of administrators and coaches within the NCAA.
 
"Supporting NCAA student-athlete leaders with their education is a key goal for the Association," said Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of education and community engagement and chief inclusion officer. "Our Career in Sports Forum puts student-athletes, postgraduate scholarship recipients in a non-traditional academic setting where they can learn directly from successful leaders, which can have a positive impact on their future after graduation."
 
Lennon, a swimmer from Methuen, Massachusetts, was selected to lead the UVM Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) as chair in 2017-18. Along with Trae Bell-Haynes of the men's basketball team, the rising senior co-founded UVM's Rally Around Mental Health initiative. She was an America East All-Academic Team selection this past year and earned All-Conference laurels in the 500 freestyle. She will serve as a tri-captain of her team next season.
 
A recent graduate and four-year member of the field hockey team, Snowden closed out her career having served time as SAAC co-chair. During her time in that position, she spearheaded the Catamount Challenge initiative, with a goal to encourage student-athletes to support each other at home competitions and increase community service participation. She also was an advisor for the College For Every Student (CFES) program. Snowden is originally from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and appeared in 18 games during her goalkeeping career.
 
A native of Middletown, Delaware, Gillen is a two-time honoree on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I National Academic Squad and also earned a spot on the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2016. She enters her redshirt junior season in 2017 after missing the 2016 campaign with an injury. As a sophomore in 2015, she earned starts at midfield in all 20 games and dished out two assists.
 
One of more than 45 annual conferences and seminars organized and directed by the NCAA leadership development department, the Career in Sports Forum provides student-athletes interactive experiences with successful individuals in the sports business and a peek into their day-to-day duties and responsibilities.
 
Stony Brook matched UVM with three invitees, while Binghamton (2), Albany and New Hampshire rounded out representation in America East.