Garden City, N.Y. - After five years as a member of the softball team, Adelphi University graduate student Courtney Wengryn will be pursuing work with the National Collegiate Athletic Association following her graduation next week as a postgraduate intern. 

In some aspects, this is a long time coming for the Division II veteran. 

"Working with the athletic media department here on campus, I started to grow an appreciation for graphic design and photography," said Wengryn. 

Earning the role of Division II Governance, the Hillsborough, N.J. native will have duties related to marketing and graphic design for all of NCAA Division II social media pages. This affords opportunities such as traveling to a certain number of championships, as well as serving as an advisor to the DII Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

To say this wasn't on her radar is an understatement, as it wasn't until Associate Athletic Director for External Relations/SWA Emily Dorko sent her the position posting when those aspirations began to formulate. 

"After Dorko sent me the internship, her and my mom convinced me to give it a shot. When I saw this was exactly what I wanted to do especially after all of my D2 experience, that's when I gave in," she continued. 

Hearing back shortly afterwards with an interview request over Zoom, the otherwise-occupied Wengryn didn't think much of it. She was even told on that very interview that over 1,000 people apply for a position with two spots. After that though, she was contacted once more.

"They wanted me to come to Indianapolis to do a full day in-person interview. Set me up with flight information and an itinerary for a 24 hour round trip," she added. 

Two weeks later, the less than 1% chance had become reality, immediately accepting the year-long position in the Hoosier State. 

"I'm really excited to see the other end of sports and see all of these new roles, I've only seen what it's like to compete." 

"I want to thank [Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Administriation] Jess Roque and Dorko for helping me both on and off the field. I'd also like to thank my old head coach Carla [Campagna], who spent nearly every day with me from the time I was 18 to graduating college the first time. I've been taught a lot of lessons along the way and I promise to keep passing them onto the future generations behind me," she continued.

Looking towards the future, Wengryn has no desires to end her affiliation with the NCAA, seeking even greater roles beyond this one. 

"I'd like to continue working in college sports even when I look 365 days from now, some day I'd even like to work at a Division I level. Really, I just want to end up somewhere where I'm still doing this kind of work," she concluded. 

Wengryn will graduate alongside over 1,000 of her classmates at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday, May 20.