HARTFORD, Conn. – Trinity College women's basketball student-athlete Maya Carnes '26 was one of 175 student-athletes selected from across NCAA Division I, II and III institutions to attend the 2026 NCAA Career in Sports Forum, held May 27-30 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Student-athletes selected for the forum participate in a four-day educational program designed to introduce participants to careers in intercollegiate athletics and the sports industry. Attendees have the opportunity to network with peers and athletics professionals while exploring career pathways, professional development strategies, personal branding, and leadership skills.

The forum featured presentations and discussions led by athletics administrators, industry professionals, and NCAA staff members, including Lacee' Carmon-Johnson, director of basketball advancement for the Toronto Raptors; keynote speakers Justin Patton and Jonathan Sprinkles; and Felicia Martin, NCAA senior vice president of inclusion, education and community engagement. Ahmad Boyd, assistant athletics director of student-athlete success at The Pingry School, served as the event's emcee.

Student-athletes are nominated by their athletics director, senior woman administrator, or student-athlete affairs administrator before completing a competitive application process.

"Each year we have an opportunity to nominate student-athletes who may want to explore career opportunities in intercollegiate athletics and/or the sports industry in general.  I was delighted to learn that Maya Carnes was interested in attending the Career in Sports Forum." said Kristen Noone, Trinity College's Deputy Athletic Director, Senior Woman Administrator and Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Director (ADID). 

Noone continued, "Maya has been a model student-athlete in her various roles and numerous activities while she was a student at Trinity.  Maya's level of engagement in every facet of student life on campus is stellar, and with her interest in a career in the sports industry, we couldn't have asked for a better representative to attend the Forum."

Following the forum, Carnes reflected on her experience and the impact the program had on her personal and professional development.

Athlete Reflection (Q&A Format)

1. What were your expectations going into the program, and how did the experience compare?

Going into the program, I expected to absorb as much information as possible and be a sponge day in and day out. I anticipated gaining valuable skills related to my career, networking, goal setting, and professional development in general. While I did gain all of those things and was definitely a sponge, I did not expect to do as much introspection and reflection as I did.
 
Every activity, speaker, and workshop that I attended pushed me to search within myself and ask deeper questions, which ended up being one of the most valuable parts of the experience. I expected to leave the program as the same person with a few more skills under my belt, but that wasn't the case. I experienced a tremendous amount of genuine growth throughout the program. Thanks to all my camp counselors, mentors, and peers, it was almost impossible not to change. I could tell that the goal of the program was to challenge us to grow beyond our comfort zones, and it certainly did that for me  

2. Which session, speaker, or activity had the biggest impact on you and why?

The speaker who had the biggest impact on me was Jonathan Sprinkles, founder of The Connection Lab. His presentation was truly eye-opening and deeply moving. He spoke to us about imposter syndrome and challenged us to re-evaluate not only how we see ourselves and the value that we bring into the spaces that we enter.
 
His advice on "identity reconstruction" encouraged me to rethink the limiting beliefs I may have held about myself and to focus on who I want to become rather than who I have been. This message has stayed with me ever since, and it is something that I will carry forward into the next phase of my career and life.

3. What advice did you receive that resonated most with you?

One piece of advice that resonated deeply with me came from Felicia Martin (Senior VP of IECE for the NCAA): "The more you sing, the more your voice becomes your own. Sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself." This was a powerful reminder to me that confidence and self-discovery are forever ongoing processes and there is value in trusting those processes.

4. How valuable was the networking component of the experience, and networking lessons would you share with other student-athletes?

I think the networking component was one of, if not the most valuable, aspects of the experience. There is so much value in meeting people face-to-face, something I think my generation can overlook at times. Meeting new people, especially professionals, can be intimidating, but learning how to genuinely connect, relate, and build relationships in real time is just as important as LinkedIn connections, business cards, and emails.
 
One lesson I would share with student athletes is to practice putting yourself out there and take the time to get to know people on a personal level, beyond just shared career interests. Something I learned was the importance of networking "horizontally"; not just with high-level professionals, but with your peers as well. You never know who may be able to help you in the future, or what you may be able to learn from others who are in a similar phase of life.
 

5. Where do you see yourself in the sports industry five years from now?

In five years, I hope to be successful and continuing to grow within the sports industry. Ideally, I see myself working in basketball, a sport that has played such a significant role in my life and one that I will always be passionate about. More than any specific title, I hope to be doing work that I genuinely care about, surrounded by people who share similar values and a commitment to making a positive impact. I also hope to be in a position where I can serve others, whether that's through mentoring, leadership, or helping create opportunities for the next generation.

6. Why would you encourage other student athletes to apply for this opportunity?

I would encourage other student-athletes to apply because, for those who are recently graduated or entering their senior year, it is extremely reassuring and motivating to be surrounded by hundreds of other young adults experiencing many of the same emotions and uncertainties about the future.
This program pushed me out of a comfort zone that I didn't even realize I was in. It challenged me to grow both personally and professionally while allowing me to build meaningful relationships and connections that will continue long after the program ends. The experience gave me confidence, perspective, and a network of people I know I can learn from and stay connected with in the future. 
 
"Maya has a growth mindset in everything she does and attending this incredible forum only opened that more." shared Maria Williams, Bantams Women's Basketball head coach. "She is a versatile leader in so many capacities, so to be able to explore that more here was so powerful. We are so proud of Maya's growth and commitment to a career in sports and know she will continue to do amazing things."