Two out of 100 high school athletes will play collegiate sports at some level and less than one will receive a scholarship to a NCAA Division I college or university. Despite those findings by the Georgia Career Information Center, 59% of high school football and basketball players still believe they will get a college scholarship.

And only one in 16,000 high school student-athletes attains a professional athletic career.

However, there are many opportunities working in sports professionally which may appeal to students and, in January, Salt Lake Bees play-by-play radio broadcaster Tony Parks and Bees community relations director Carra McManamon, who also is a sideline reporter for ESPN, shared insight in their careers to Brighton High students.

“Tony shared his journey in sports broadcasting, emphasizing hard work and passion, while Carra encouraged students to embrace opportunities and turn dreams into reality,” said Eileen Kasteler, Brighton High work-based learning coordinator.

The two speakers were part of the quarterly Meet the Pros series at Brighton High.

Canyons School District Career and Technical Education Director Janet Goble said the Meet the Pros series is designed to give students a chance to widen their perspectives about professions.

“Students are able to ask questions to industry professionals to deepen their understanding of the careers,” she said.

The series is part of the work-based learning program, which gives students the opportunity to see how classroom instruction connects to careers through various career awareness activities. λ