Johnson and Perez are Selected for NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University softball player Jordyn Johnson (Sr., Pitcher, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) and former WU men's basketball player Joshua Perez ('23, MBA '24, Wing, Los Angeles, CA/John Marshall HS) have been selected to attend the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program. Johnson, Perez, and other student-athletes in the program will attend the 2024 NCAA Convention from Jan. 10-13 in Phoenix, Arizona. A total of 40 student-athletes were selected nationwide.
Ethnic minority students, mostly juniors and seniors, with a strong interest in a career in Division III athletics were encouraged to apply. The selected students are fully funded to attend the Convention, where they will learn about NCAA Division III, including the process of passing new NCAA legislation.
In addition to Division III programming, grant recipients receive DiSC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness) personal assessment training to learn about behavioral differences, and will attend welcome and debrief meetings. Each student-athlete will learn about their own motivations and style of interacting with others. The goal is to build a group of talented ethnic minority candidates, with an interest in Division III coaching or administration, in an effort to ultimately diversify the division.
"I was genuinely honored to be selected," Johnson said. "I think that being part of a Division III athletics program is such a niche and a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I was extremely thankful to be given the opportunity to explore it."
Perez agreed that it was a great situation to be chosen as a participant.
"Being chosen for the NCAA Immersion Program is truly an honor and a significant opportunity for my personal and professional growth," Perez said. "I'm immensely grateful for the continuous support from Leslie Shevlin (Associate Athletics Director/SWA), whose guidance has been invaluable in my journey through these enriching experiences."
Attending the NCAA Convention and the Division III Student Immersion Program will provide Johnson and Perez with many chances to meet other student-athletes as well as coaches and administrators. They will have a busy schedule.
"I am looking forward to getting to participate in all of the networking opportunities so I can start learning from not just the mentors, but also my peers in the program," Johnson said. "I am most excited to be a part of the leadership development workshop because I am always interested in growing my leadership skills, as well as passing on the tips and tricks that I learn."
"I'm excited about connecting with fellow Division III student-athletes from different parts of the country, " Perez commented. "Building networks and forming friendships have been highlights of my previous leadership engagements, and I'm eager to expand those connections further."
With Phoenix as the site of the NCAA Convention, Johnson and Perez will have opportunities to see parts of the community. In Johnson's case, it's a chance to see friends and relatives.
"I am from Arizona and have family in the valley," Johnson noted. "So I am hoping I'll get to see some of my friends and family while I'm there!"
Perez looks forward to going to new places in Phoenix.
"While at the NCAA Convention, I'm keen on exploring Phoenix and making the most of my time outside of the scheduled events. Discovering the city and experiencing its offerings will complement the enriching opportunities provided by the convention," Perez noted.
During their involvement with the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program, Johnson and Perez hope to learn a lot about college athletics, gain support from their mentors, and develop friendships with other student-athletes.
"My goal is to absorb as much knowledge and insight as possible by engaging with diverse perspectives within athletics across the NCAA," Perez said. "The prospect of having a mentor is particularly exciting, and I'm eager to learn from their experiences and expertise."
"I hope that I come back with an even greater appreciation for Division III athletics," Johnson said. "I think that by seeing all of the diverse perspectives and experiences, I'll be able to immerse myself deeper into Division III athletics, all while gaining perspectives on how to better these programs in the future and how I can have a hand in that."