TACOMA, Wash. - From January 22nd to 25th, Pacific Lutheran University senior football student-athlete and coach Curtis Garner participated in the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program in Anaheim, California, making history as the first Lute to participate in the prestigious program.

At the convention, Garner was surprised by how helpful the coaches, athletic directors, and collegiate presidents were in giving advice. Garner engaged in conversations with current professionals in the athletic field and learned from their experiences. His biggest takeaway from the weekend was, "no matter the career path you take it's all about the relationships you make along the way."

Garner was able to personally connect with an assigned mentor in his aspiring field, sports psychology, who he plans to keep in touch with throughout the year. He also interacted closely with the other Division III student-athletes at the conference, and recognizes the value of having a new, widespread network. 

"I had no idea how special being apart of this program was going to be," Garner said. "I now have 39 peers to connect with and support each other, as well countless current professionals willing to assist me throughout my career."

Prior to the convention, Garner was particularly excited about the panels regarding mental health in athletes. The panels didn't disappoint, boasting presenters from all NCAA divisions, and highlighting a variety of programs meant to improve the mental well-being of student-athletes. Garner hopes to implement some of these programs at PLU, including the Student-Athlete Well-Being Scale (SAWS) which provides a system to screen and track the progress of student-athletes' mental health. 

Garner's experience at the convention created an open-minded outlook about his future in athletics. As he looks towards graduation in the spring, he reminds himself to be, "willing to embrace wearing many hats." Garner will graduate PLU with a Kinesiology degree and hopes to attend a master's program for Sports Psychology to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

In addition to NCAA Immersion Program, Garner was also invited to attend the Division III Next Steps Program, in conjunction with the Career in Sports Forum which is held at the end of May.