Every week, the Sports Information department will post a "Did You Know?" tidbit to the website.

This week's interesting tidbit is: Did you know that Purchase College current senior and former Men's basketball player Chad Duke, attended the 2025 NCAA Career in Sports Forum in Indianapolis?

The four-day forum, held May 28–31, brought together leaders in higher education and intercollegiate athletics—including student-athletes—for sessions centered on career exploration, personal development, and preparing for life beyond sport. This year's theme, "Campfires to Careers," served as a roadmap to help participants navigate their journey from their current athletic experiences to future professional roles in the sports industry. Inspired by a "survival map," the theme used campfires to symbolize student-athletes' existing personal and athletic foundations, while careers represented their long-term professional paths. Key components of the forum emphasized discovery, particularly "discovering your why," prompting student-athletes to reflect on their passions, values, and purpose as they explored potential career opportunities.

Reflecting on his experience, Duke said: "The 2025 Impact Forum was an amazing opportunity to grow my knowledge and understand how I can use what I've learned through sports to help shape a meaningful career. The value of teamwork, putting in consistent effort, and learning from mistakes all play a major role in both athletics and professional life. This experience reminded me that I've already won in many ways—I've come a long way, and there is strength in recognizing the positives in life. Even the truth lies in our mistakes, and we shouldn't be afraid of them; they're part of what makes us better. One quote that truly captures this journey is by Hunter S. Thompson: 'Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming wow! What a ride!' The forum reinforced how much we can accomplish when we embrace the process, trust our path, and move forward with purpose."

To read more about the event, click here.