University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Highlighting inaugural Janice Brumit Rising Star Award Winner and Alumni: Elizabeth Conte
04.11.2022 | Athletics News
Story written by Courtney O’Malley
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - With the Our Turn To Play Scholarship Dinner approaching quickly on Tuesday, April 26th, UNC Asheville looks to highlight Swim and Dive Alumni and inaugural Janice Brumit Rising Star Award Winner, Elizabeth Conte. Conte, who graduated with a major in Economics and a double minor in Spanish and Legal Studies, competed for the Bulldogs from 2015 to 2019, served as the UNC Asheville Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President, and represented the Big South Conference at the national level as the Big South SAAC Chair.
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Last week, UNC Asheville announced the eight nominees for this year's Janice Brumit Rising Star Award. This award is presented annually to one female student-athlete to honor and recognize her excellence in leadership, within her sport as well as within the UNCA community, and Elizabeth was the first student-athlete to earn this recognition at the 2019 Our Turn To Play event.
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During her time at UNC Asheville, Conte took on leadership positions on her team, within the UNC Asheville athletic department, and at the Big South conference level, where she discovered her passion for working in higher education. Following graduation from UNC Asheville, Conte was selected for the prestigious NCAA postgraduate internship, where only 30 applicants out of thousands are offered a spot.
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On Her Experience as a Bulldog
"To this day, being a Student-Athlete at UNC Asheville was the most influential and impactful experience of my personal and professional life. UNC Asheville's liberal arts curriculum paired with being a member of the swim and dive team equipped me with critical thinking, time management, leadership, and communications skills that are necessary for my current profession. In addition to acquiring these essential skills, I had the opportunity to apply what I was learning in the classroom and in the pool, to hands-on learning experiences such as attending the 2018 NCAA Convention and serving as the student-athlete voice for the Big South Conference. I can confidently say that without these acquired skills and the support of UNC Asheville, I would not have been able to take part in the various learning experiences that now enrich the work I am doing today."
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On a Time When Competing Supported Growth
Conte described how in the 2019 CCSA conference championship, she was not chosen to swim in the final relay of the meet.
"Ultimately, despite being in the running for one of these relay spots, I was not the swimmer chosen that night. As a senior at the end of my career, I could have completely unraveled in emotion at the meet, however, deep down I knew that I had a responsibility to my team to be the best teammate I could be even in the face of disappointment. As a result, the positive mindset change that occurred was the decision to put my team first and cheer on that final relay team with as much pride as if I was the one swimming. Since that moment, I have faced a series of disappointments in my life and this story always reminds me that if you get knocked down, you have to get back up in order to keep chasing your dreams."
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On Advice She Would Give To Her Young Self
"Stay true to your goals - with time you will always end up where you belong. As cliché as this might sound, I have utilized this advice more now than I ever had in the past. In 2020, one year after my graduation from UNC Asheville, my career was just beginning but due to the pandemic, job opportunities in higher education became virtually non-existent. At times I felt defeated, unworthy, questioned my career choice, and flat out felt like the world was working against me. However, it was during this time where through self-reflection and more time to expand my professional network, I was slowly reassured that even if I didn't understand the world's timing, I was going to end up where I belonged."
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Today, Conte has come full circle, now working for UNC Asheville as a Major Gifts Officer. Conte refers to this role as her "dream position" and explains how in this position she is able to "give back to the University that has given her so much to be thankful for and appreciate."
As the first-ever recipient of the Janice Brumit Rising Star Award, Elizabeth Conte has certainly lived up to the potential her coaches and administrators saw in her as a student-athlete.
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If you would like to attend this year's Our Turn To Play event and support our female student-athletes and other Rising Stars, visit the Our Turn To Play website or contact Betsy Blose at bblose@unca.edu. Secure your tickets today as they are going to sell out soon!
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Last week, UNC Asheville announced the eight nominees for this year's Janice Brumit Rising Star Award. This award is presented annually to one female student-athlete to honor and recognize her excellence in leadership, within her sport as well as within the UNCA community, and Elizabeth was the first student-athlete to earn this recognition at the 2019 Our Turn To Play event.
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During her time at UNC Asheville, Conte took on leadership positions on her team, within the UNC Asheville athletic department, and at the Big South conference level, where she discovered her passion for working in higher education. Following graduation from UNC Asheville, Conte was selected for the prestigious NCAA postgraduate internship, where only 30 applicants out of thousands are offered a spot.
Â
On Her Experience as a Bulldog
"To this day, being a Student-Athlete at UNC Asheville was the most influential and impactful experience of my personal and professional life. UNC Asheville's liberal arts curriculum paired with being a member of the swim and dive team equipped me with critical thinking, time management, leadership, and communications skills that are necessary for my current profession. In addition to acquiring these essential skills, I had the opportunity to apply what I was learning in the classroom and in the pool, to hands-on learning experiences such as attending the 2018 NCAA Convention and serving as the student-athlete voice for the Big South Conference. I can confidently say that without these acquired skills and the support of UNC Asheville, I would not have been able to take part in the various learning experiences that now enrich the work I am doing today."
Â
On a Time When Competing Supported Growth
Conte described how in the 2019 CCSA conference championship, she was not chosen to swim in the final relay of the meet.
"Ultimately, despite being in the running for one of these relay spots, I was not the swimmer chosen that night. As a senior at the end of my career, I could have completely unraveled in emotion at the meet, however, deep down I knew that I had a responsibility to my team to be the best teammate I could be even in the face of disappointment. As a result, the positive mindset change that occurred was the decision to put my team first and cheer on that final relay team with as much pride as if I was the one swimming. Since that moment, I have faced a series of disappointments in my life and this story always reminds me that if you get knocked down, you have to get back up in order to keep chasing your dreams."
Â
On Advice She Would Give To Her Young Self
"Stay true to your goals - with time you will always end up where you belong. As cliché as this might sound, I have utilized this advice more now than I ever had in the past. In 2020, one year after my graduation from UNC Asheville, my career was just beginning but due to the pandemic, job opportunities in higher education became virtually non-existent. At times I felt defeated, unworthy, questioned my career choice, and flat out felt like the world was working against me. However, it was during this time where through self-reflection and more time to expand my professional network, I was slowly reassured that even if I didn't understand the world's timing, I was going to end up where I belonged."
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Today, Conte has come full circle, now working for UNC Asheville as a Major Gifts Officer. Conte refers to this role as her "dream position" and explains how in this position she is able to "give back to the University that has given her so much to be thankful for and appreciate."
As the first-ever recipient of the Janice Brumit Rising Star Award, Elizabeth Conte has certainly lived up to the potential her coaches and administrators saw in her as a student-athlete.
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If you would like to attend this year's Our Turn To Play event and support our female student-athletes and other Rising Stars, visit the Our Turn To Play website or contact Betsy Blose at bblose@unca.edu. Secure your tickets today as they are going to sell out soon!
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