Albany, Ga. — Albany State University student-athletes
Sagine Atis and Mimi Harris recently showcased their talents on a national platform during the renowned Scholar-AthELITE Career Discovery Week, which took place from March 8 to 11 in Washington, D.C. Both stood out among the nation's top student leaders during this esteemed event.
Hosted by the Scholar-AthELITE organization, Career Discovery Week brought together 40 elite students and student-athletes from across the country for an engaging recruiting and professional development experience designed to replicate a championship-level visit. Throughout the week, participants had the opportunity to interact with industry leaders from major global technology companies, including Cisco and World Wide Technology.
This hands-on experience challenged participants through individual and team-based activities, allowing executives to assess talent in real time through real-world business scenarios, as well as product and problem-solving exercises. Similar to an athletic combine, Career Discovery Week showcased both hard skills and interpersonal strengths, enabling students to demonstrate their leadership, innovation, communication, and adaptability.
Among the 40 participants, Atis and Harris quickly stood out.
Atis achieved one of the most significant outcomes of the program by securing a summer internship with World Wide Technology in its Global Solutions & Architecture division, a highly competitive career pathway within the company. This opportunity arose after a week filled with professional development sessions, networking opportunities, and innovation-based presentations to executives.
During the experience, Atis advanced to the final round of presentations, becoming one of only eight student-athletes selected to pitch innovative ideas directly to company leadership.
"This opportunity is closely tied to my experience during Career Discovery Week with Scholar-AthELITE, where I participated in professional development sessions and presented my personal innovation pitch to executives from Cisco and World Wide Technology," Atis shared. "Out of a cohort of 40 student-athletes, I was fortunate to be selected as one of the final eight presenters. This experience significantly boosted my confidence, communication skills, and leadership abilities. It was instrumental in preparing me for this internship and has greatly shaped my professional development journey."
Harris also performed impressively throughout the week, consistently advancing through multiple competitive rounds and earning recognition as a finalist in the innovation pitch competition.
Selected as one of only 40 scholars nationwide, Harris embraced the challenge of stepping into an unfamiliar industry environment and emerged with renewed confidence and professional growth.
"We traveled to Washington, D.C., to visit the Cisco and World Wide Technology offices, where we received tours before participating in mini pitch competitions," Harris explained. "The pitches allowed professionals to learn about our backgrounds and hear creative ideas that connect our passions to technology."
"Sagine and I both won our initial round of pitches. I made it to the final round, and Sagine was among the overall pitch competition winners. Going in, I felt nervous initially because I didn't have as much technical knowledge as some of the others. But by the end of the week, I proved to myself that sometimes you just have to walk into a space confidently, even when you're scared, and show up as the person you know you are capable of being."
The performances of both Albany State representatives did not go unnoticed by Scholar-AthELITE leadership.
Rashard Hall, CEO and Founder of Scholar-AthELITE, praised Atis and Harris for their exceptional impact throughout the experience.
"Milian and Sagine exemplify what it means to be scholar-athletes," Hall said. "They didn't come just to explore career pathways; they came to secure opportunities and lead from the front. Both consistently performed at the top in our professional competitions, distinguishing themselves through their work ethic, presence, and ability to think critically and solve real problems."
"They represent humble excellence, and their capacity to present innovative ideas and solutions truly sets them apart."
The Career Discovery Week experience provided more than just exposure to major companies; it created meaningful pathways for career advancement while highlighting the strength of Albany State student-athletes beyond athletics.
Atis and Harris demonstrated that excellence extends beyond sports, showcasing the intelligence, professionalism, and leadership that continue to define Albany State University on a national level.
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.
