Will Bergin C’25 Leaves a Legacy of Leadership and Community

Leadership, service, and connection are on the coronary heart of the student-athlete expertise for Will Bergin, who just lately accomplished his eligibility in soccer. Will made an influence each on and off the sector by means of his involvement with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy (PAWLA), and Young Quakers Community Athletics (YQ).

For Will, management begins with belief.

“Leadership is mostly about being someone people can trust,” he shared. “On my team, that means showing up consistently, holding myself accountable, and supporting my teammates both on and off the field. In student groups, it’s about listening and helping create an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up and being themselves.”

Through main by instance, Bergin strives to make these round him really feel supported and valued. As a SAAC member, one among his main objectives is strengthening the connection between the members of SAAC and the on a regular basis student-athlete expertise.

“I want to improve communication between SAAC and individual teams,” he mentioned, “so athletes feel like their voices are being heard.”

Outside of supporting the voice of all Penn student-athletes, Will devoted 4 years as an lively member of PAWLA, growing his personal management expertise earlier than bolstering the management growth of the incoming courses.

Amy Coffey, Director of PAWLA, has had the pleasure of working with Will throughout his whole tenure as a Quaker.

“Will is a clear example of the transformation that can happen when a student-athlete chooses to invest in their leadership growth through PAWLA,” she mentioned. “Will has become an influential leader both on the football team and for Penn Athletics because of the work he has put in to develop greater self-awareness and find his voice as a leader.”

Beyond being a pacesetter within the Penn Athletics neighborhood, Will mentioned, “I’m also really interested in providing more activities and engagements within the community of Philadelphia.” His actions communicate louder than his phrases in the case of engagements inside the broader neighborhood. Since his sophomore 12 months, Will has been an lively member of the Young Quakers, and it is clear that he has gained as a lot as he is given.

“Being part of YQ means using your platform as a student-athlete for a greater cause and being able to create lasting relationships with kids that come from a different background than myself,” he mentioned. “I was grateful for the opportunity to make lasting connections and hopefully encourage people to become a part of YQ.”

He did not cease right here.

“Will has been an invaluable member of Young Quakers Community Athletics,” mentioned Emma Springer, Assistant Director within the Pottruck Center for Student-Athlete Success. “His contributions have grown significantly each year. From working as a coach during summer programming to supporting the work of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, each aspect has elevated the program and the students’ experience significantly. His absence will be felt but the impact he’s made will long remain.”

Bergin’s journey as a student-athlete has ready him nicely for the long run. Through balancing lecturers, athletics, and management roles, he has developed robust time-management expertise, self-discipline below strain, and confidence as each a teammate and chief. These experiences, he says, have helped him really feel able to step into life after sports activities.

As Bergin seems to be forward, he’s drawn to fast-paced, people-focused careers that emphasize teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving. Whether in enterprise, sports activities, or one other subject, his objective is to proceed studying, tackle challenges, and make a significant influence.

Will Bergin is a main instance that once you put money into your self and your neighborhood throughout your time as a Penn Quaker, you allow an enduring legacy in your program, the division, and the neighborhood as an entire.

 

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