University of Minnesota Athletics
Chris Hawthorne (Football), Class of `14
4/1/2014 12:00:00 AM | Gopher Connect
April 1, 2014
While Chris Hawthorne spent his Saturday’s kicking for the Golden Gopher football team, he spent much of his time away from the field working to excel academically and serve his fellow student-athletes and the local community. Hawthorne graduated in January 2014 with a degree in Business and Marketing and hopes to work in athletic administration. While he eyes the opportunity to complete Master’s work, Hawthorne is working as a development assistant intern in the Golden Gopher Fund where he supports work for the annual fund and some of the major development projects in the athletics department.
“It’s been a really good educational experience. I’ve learned a lot. The people we get to work with are really great,” said Hawthorne.
While Hawthorne values many of his experiences at the U of M, the opportunities to serve others stand out.
“[Gopher Connect staff] are the best hires and the best resources that we have here on campus. The work that they have done with me, for me, the opportunities that they’ve enabled me to pursue have been invaluable,” said Hawthorne. “They’re the ones that got me really involved with volunteering and service. They’re the ones that instilled in me the feeling and the mentality that as a student-athlete you have a privileged platform and from that platform you’re called to serve.”
Hawthorne has worked from that platform to become highly engaged in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Hawthorne rose to be the organization’s president at the University of Minnesota before becoming the first Gopher to serve as the Big Ten Conference representative for SAAC at the Division 1 level. He also led an effort to integrate student-athletes into Minnesota’s Unlimited Dance Marathon, a year-round fundraising initiative benefitting Amplatz Children’s Hospital.
“I’m 100 percent certain had we not had those resources in place, I would not be where I’m at and the student-athletes who have graduated and gone on to do great things would not be where they’re at currently,” said Hawthorne.
He advises future Gopher student-athletes to “Make the most of every opportunity. Exhaust every resource at your disposal because, at a place like this, with all the incredible things that are going on, it’s impossible for you to not become the best leader possible.”
