By Austin Moss
NFL Player Engagement
Catherine Cropp is a senior at Central Bucks High School East in Doylestown, PA. Involved in numerous clubs in her school and her community, Catherine enjoys the challenges and rewards of her extracurricular activities. She is in her third season playing golf for CB East, and she has her sights set on having a successful postseason in October. In addition to sports, Catherine’s passion for film and photography has played a significant role in her college search to pursue a major in Film and Television Production. One day she hopes to work for NFL Films. Over the summer, Catherine participated in the NFL-Wharton PREP Leadership Program and has capitalized on the lessons learned from her outstanding experience.
PE: Why did you decide to apply to the 2013 NFL-Wharton PREP Leadership Program?
CC:Having had prior opportunities to attend leadership programs that concentrated on community service, I was intrigued by the idea of participating in a seminar that would focus on both sports and business. Furthermore, spending a few days at the distinguished University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business sounded exciting.
PE: Describe your thoughts and expectations going into the PREP Leadership Program.
CC:I was thrilled to learn that I had been accepted into 2013 NFL-Wharton PREP Leadership Program. Going into the program, I did not have many expectations but had decided to keep an open mind about the experience. My main objective was to embellish my skills so I could be a better leader on and off the golf course.
PE: What was the most valuable portion of the PREP Leadership curriculum?
CC:Being able to interact with the guest speakers in a small group setting was fantastic. As a high school student, I have had limited opportunities to talk directly with business representatives and sports professionals. Over the course of the three days, I spoke to several of the program leaders and benefited from their insights.
PE: What was your favorite part about the PREP Leadership program as a whole?
CC: I really enjoyed being part of a diverse group of high school student-athletes who came together over the love of sports. The program provided a unique experience for the various boys and girls from across the country to join together to learn how to be better leaders as well as individuals.
PE: If you could make any changes to the PREP Leadership program, what would it be?
CC: I would recommend making the program longer. It would be awesome to add a few more days to make it a full week. In such a short time, I made great friends and learned many life lessons. I can only imagine how much stronger the friendships would have become and how we could have grown as a group with even more leadership building activities.
PE: What skills did you gain from the PREP Leadership program that you are utilizing during your senior year?
CC: Golf is typically an individual sport, but when I am playing for my high school, I am part of a unique team. The skills I learned from the PREP Leadership Program have improved my personal outlook and have given me more confidence. Knowing that my attitude and reaction to situations directly impacts my leadership abilities, I try to stay positive and encourage others both on and off the course.
PE: Would you recommend this program to your peers?
CC:Absolutely! I have already talked to my golf coach about my experience and recommended that he encourage the current juniors on my team to apply next year. Attending the NFL-Wharton PREP Leadership Program was the highlight of my summer.