.png&width=16&type=webp)
University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Elizabeth Conte to Live Out Passion Working at NCAA Office as Part of Postgraduate Internship
12.13.2018 | Women's Swimming & Diving
When she started at UNC Asheville, it was never something that she imagined, but now she cannot imagine having a better opportunity.
A senior swimming and diving student-athlete, Elizabeth Conte will get to live out her passion with her new opportunity as one of just 30 to receive a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Internship. Â
The Chapel Hill, N.C. native will be working in NCAA Division I governance as part of her postgraduate internship.Â
The process to obtaining the tremendous opportunity with the NCAA started for Conte this past summer.
"It was kind of a long process," Conte stated. "It started over the summer when the original application was due. People sent in applications for the various different positions and only a few were selected for phone interviews after that. After the phone interviews those that were selected went to Indianapolis for an in-person interview. It was a really cool experience, but also a little intimidating."
When she originally applied she obviously wanted the opportunity, but as she went through the process even further she realized just how much getting the chance would mean for her, UNC Asheville, the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association and the Big South Conference.
"Going through the process, I don't think I realized how much it meant to me until I had received an in-person interview offer," Conte said. "It means a great deal to me to be one of the first student-athletes from our conference to ever receive a position with this internship. I wanted the opportunity for me, but also for our conference. It's just surreal and super-exciting."
The current UNC Asheville Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President and Big South Conference SAAC representative to the NCAA has done a little bit of everything to prepare her for this internship since her arrival on the Asheville campus.
In addition to being a swimming student-athlete and heavily involved in SAAC, Conte has also worked with UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone on numerous projects and she has also helped the athletics External Relations office as a gameday employee.
Cone is thankful Conte has been afforded this opportunity because it is one she has definitely earned.
"Elizabeth has become a true Bulldog Champion and Leader during her time at UNC Asheville," Cone said. "Our entire staff thought she would be a perfect candidate for this opportunity and are thrilled to cheer her on as she begins her career in collegiate athletics. We are confident that she will make a positive impact at the NCAA and make all of us proud."
Conte is truly incredibly thankful to the athletics staff and her swimming coaches that have given her chances to see the inner workings of an athletics department and much more.
"It's been an interesting road in my almost four years here at UNC Asheville," Conte said. "I didn't come into college at all thinking about working in athletic administration, but a year ago when I started talking with Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone and getting more involved with SAAC on campus, I realized that was my passion. When you find that out, you just know that you have found it, and that was what was really cool for me going through all of the things that I have put my hand in during my time at UNC Asheville. It just validates all of my hard work."
An Economics major at UNC Asheville, Conte officially reports and starts her job at the NCAA offices in Indianapolis, Ind. roughly one month after graduation on June 17, 2019.
"This internship is going to set me up really well," Conte noted. "It opens up a lot of doors for a lot of different opportunities that I could take advantage of in the future. With the goal of being an athletic director one day, this is definitely going to be a good start."
A senior swimming and diving student-athlete, Elizabeth Conte will get to live out her passion with her new opportunity as one of just 30 to receive a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Internship. Â
The Chapel Hill, N.C. native will be working in NCAA Division I governance as part of her postgraduate internship.Â
The process to obtaining the tremendous opportunity with the NCAA started for Conte this past summer.
"It was kind of a long process," Conte stated. "It started over the summer when the original application was due. People sent in applications for the various different positions and only a few were selected for phone interviews after that. After the phone interviews those that were selected went to Indianapolis for an in-person interview. It was a really cool experience, but also a little intimidating."
When she originally applied she obviously wanted the opportunity, but as she went through the process even further she realized just how much getting the chance would mean for her, UNC Asheville, the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association and the Big South Conference.
"Going through the process, I don't think I realized how much it meant to me until I had received an in-person interview offer," Conte said. "It means a great deal to me to be one of the first student-athletes from our conference to ever receive a position with this internship. I wanted the opportunity for me, but also for our conference. It's just surreal and super-exciting."
The current UNC Asheville Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President and Big South Conference SAAC representative to the NCAA has done a little bit of everything to prepare her for this internship since her arrival on the Asheville campus.
In addition to being a swimming student-athlete and heavily involved in SAAC, Conte has also worked with UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone on numerous projects and she has also helped the athletics External Relations office as a gameday employee.
Cone is thankful Conte has been afforded this opportunity because it is one she has definitely earned.
"Elizabeth has become a true Bulldog Champion and Leader during her time at UNC Asheville," Cone said. "Our entire staff thought she would be a perfect candidate for this opportunity and are thrilled to cheer her on as she begins her career in collegiate athletics. We are confident that she will make a positive impact at the NCAA and make all of us proud."
Conte is truly incredibly thankful to the athletics staff and her swimming coaches that have given her chances to see the inner workings of an athletics department and much more.
"It's been an interesting road in my almost four years here at UNC Asheville," Conte said. "I didn't come into college at all thinking about working in athletic administration, but a year ago when I started talking with Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone and getting more involved with SAAC on campus, I realized that was my passion. When you find that out, you just know that you have found it, and that was what was really cool for me going through all of the things that I have put my hand in during my time at UNC Asheville. It just validates all of my hard work."
An Economics major at UNC Asheville, Conte officially reports and starts her job at the NCAA offices in Indianapolis, Ind. roughly one month after graduation on June 17, 2019.
"This internship is going to set me up really well," Conte noted. "It opens up a lot of doors for a lot of different opportunities that I could take advantage of in the future. With the goal of being an athletic director one day, this is definitely going to be a good start."
Players Mentioned
Sprint Free
/ Women's Swimming & DivingHighlights || Swim & Dive || UNC Asheville vs UNC Pembroke
Monday, January 29
Highlights || Swim & Dive || UNC Asheville vs Georgia Southern
Monday, December 18
Highlights || Swim & Dive || UNC Asheville vs Liberty
Monday, October 30