Lyons, Lankton, Gilbert Chosen for NCAA Forum

Graduated seniors Julie Lyons, Sarah Lankton and Erin Gilbert have been chosen by the NCAA to represent the University of Findlay and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) at the NCAA Career in Sports Forum on June 2-5 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Participants who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in sports, and who were viewed as leaders on their campus, were invited to apply to attend the forum after a nomination by athletics administrators at their respective schools. Many current and past attendees are members of their Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the student-athlete voice within the NCAA governance structure. The selection committee is comprised of administrators and coaches within the NCAA, many former forum participants themselves.

"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 and 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."  

Lyons capped her volleyball career at Findlay by being named a NCAA Division II honorable mention All-American. She was a first team all-region and all-conference selection in 2015 and ended the year with 279 kills and a .412 hitting percentage. Her hitting percentage was the seventh-best in NCAA Division II and established a new single-season school record.

Lankton recently wrapped up her final year for the Oilers lacrosse team. She was recently tabbed first team all-region and was a first team all-conference selection. Lankton was tabbed the GLIAC Midfielder of the Year for the third consecutive season and was a third team All-American during her junior campaign. She finished her career with totals of 262 goals, 79 assists, 299 ground balls, 427 draw controls and 120 caused turnovers, all Findlay records.

Gilbert spent four years on the Oilers volleyball team, appearing in 24 matches. She recorded eight digs and one kill and helped the Oilers achieve an 83-45 during her tenure on the squad.

"We are very proud of these outstanding young women," said University of Findlay athletic director Brandi Laurita. "All three have been highly involved on campus and have a genuine passion for a career in the sports industry. They also exemplify the values and standards of what it means to be an Oiler and we are confident they will become excellent members of the sports community in the future."

One of more than 20 annual programs and resources organized and directed by the NCAA leadership development department, the Career in Sports Forum provides college athletes with a broader scope of the career tracks available within the sports business, with the primary focus on college athletics. The forum, which consists of 200 student-athletes across the nation, provides student-athletes interactive experiences with successful individuals in the sports business and a peek into their day-to-day duties and responsibilities. 

Forum attendees will hear from keynote speakers and panelists, highlighted by LaChina Robinson, former women's basketball player at Georgia Tech and current TV analyst; Stevie Baker-Watson, director of athletics at DePauw University; and Craig McPhail, vice president of athletics and club sports at Lees-McRae College. The participants also learn best practices for gaining employment and gathering a better understanding of what future expectations will be once they get a job in sports at the Next Steps Fair, hosted in the NCAA Hall of Champions.