SAN DIEGO-San Diego State University’s Aztecs Going Pro program hosted its 12th annual Dinner with an Aztec event on October 27 at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center, bringing together senior student-athletes and professionals for an evening focused on networking, mentorship and life beyond athletics.
The annual event is exclusively available to student-athletes enrolled in the senior-level Aztecs Going Pro course. This year, 56 professionals—including 33 SDSU alumni—attended the dinner to share their experiences, career advice and personal insight with the next generation of Aztecs.
The evening began with opening remarks from Tim Lanski, deputy athletic director for student-athlete experience, before SDSU football alumnus Chad Woolsey delivered the opening keynote. Woolsey, a real estate advisor with True Local Realty Group, spoke about the importance of networking, persistence and taking initiative.
“Be bold. Don’t be afraid to look stupid. Call someone up. Looking stupid is often the prerequisite for doing anything,” Woolsey told the student-athletes.
He encouraged the room to rely on the relationships they have already built and to be willing to make the first move when pursuing future opportunities. His keynote emphasized how grit and persistence are qualities every student-athlete has developed throughout their athletic careers and are among the most valuable traits they can carry into their personal and professional lives.
Throughout the evening, students participated in small-group discussions and one-on-one conversations with professionals from a variety of industries. This allowed student-athletes to ask questions, explore potential career paths, and learn how the skills they developed through athletics can translate into the workforce.
For Tamara McMillan, a nurse practitioner at UC San Diego Health and SDSU track and field alumna, the event represents the continued growth of resources available to student-athletes.
“I’ve attended AGP events several times, and I love seeing how Aztecs Going Pro continues to evolve,” McMillan said. “Opportunities like this didn’t exist when I was an athlete, which makes them so meaningful for today’s student-athletes. They work incredibly hard and often spend most of their time focused on their sport, so it’s amazing to see the resources and support available to help them prepare for life beyond athletics.”
SDSU softball student-athletes Olivia Gigante and Jazmine Williams said the evening reinforced the importance of building and maintaining meaningful relationships.
“My biggest takeaway from the event was the importance of building relationships, maintaining them and using those connections to help us pursue our career and future goals,” they said.
They also emphasized the value of resilience and taking action, that they learned from both the professionals and keynote speakers.
“Continue building and growing your relationships. Put your foot in the door, and even if you fail, get back up, keep trying and continue moving forward.”
Baseball student-athletes Adam Magpoc and Reeve Boyd appreciated the opportunity to meet professionals from a variety of backgrounds and learn more about life after graduation.
“We met a lot of people and connected with many intelligent and successful professionals,” they said. “We see great things in our futures, and we think this was a valuable opportunity for everyone in the room to learn more about potential career fields after graduation.”
Another highlight of the night was the final keynote speech from Esther Cadua, a San Diego County Public Defender’s Office criminal defense investigator and SDSU women’s tennis alumna. Cadua spoke about the many skills athletes develop through competition and how those abilities can translate into daily life and professional settings.
One of her biggest takeaways from her time as a student-athlete was learning how to fail.
Cadua reminded students that failure is not a final destination, but an important part of growth. Learning how to get back up, adjust and continue trying is a skill that can serve athletes long after their playing careers end.
“So many skills developed through athletics can translate directly into the workforce,” Cadua said, highlighting grit, resilience and the ability to learn from failure as qualities that continue to shape her career.
Danielle Kelly, senior associate athletic director for Student-Athlete Support Services, delivered the evening’s closing remarks. She encouraged student-athletes to continue investing in the relationships they began during the event.
“Continue to invest in those connections,” Kelly said. “Make the call, reconnect, and continue to lean on these mentors throughout your journey. Take action and apply the wisdom you gained tonight as you work toward your goals.”
Dinner with an Aztec allowed student-athletes to connect with SDSU alumni and community members in a personable and meaningful setting. Through shared conversation and personal experiences, students gain insight, encouragement, and mentorship as they prepare for their futures beyond athletics.
Aztecs Going Pro extends its gratitude to the 56 professionals who participated in this year’s event, as well as the generous sponsors who helped make the evening possible: E&J Gallo and Riley Chugg; Correctional Healthcare Partners, Inc. and Tamera McMillan; Grayson Arceo; Rob and Lisa O’Carroll; and Gerry and Jennifer Widmer.