The Athlete’s Journey | Bucknell Hall of Famer on Recruitment, Success & Life After the Game

Bucknell University proves that the student-athlete experience builds more than champions — it builds leaders for life. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron return to Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, sitting down with Todd Newcomb, Sr. Associate Director of Athletics, and Valentina Rozas Moreno, the first women's water polo player inducted into the Bucknell Hall of Fame. From the grueling five-to-six-hour daily practice schedules to balancing rigorous academics at a top-tier institution, they unpack what it really means to be a student-athlete — and how those lessons translate into professional success long after the game ends. Val shares her journey from getting cut from the basketball team to becoming a Division I water polo champion, playing professionally in Greece and Spain, and ultimately building a career in the solar industry. She reveals the culture of excellence that permeated Bucknell's athletic program, why upper-classman leadership set the standard for time management and academic performance, and how the mantra of "just get it done" became her secret weapon in the professional world. Todd breaks down the challenges of recruiting and retaining student-athletes in the NIL era, why the Bucknell alumni network is unmatched, and how Bucknell’s academic-first philosophy creates higher-performing individuals both in the classroom, during the game and beyond. Plus, the emotional moment Val learned she was being inducted into the Hall of Fame, why being a student-athlete at Bucknell feels invincible, and how the connections built during those four years become lifelong bonds that transcend geography and time. Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron Guests: Todd Newcomb, Sr. Associate Director of Athletics, Bucknell University | Valentina Rozas Moreno, Hall of Fame Inductee | Women’s Water Polo Produced by: Grace Media Digital The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Life after the game. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:32 From Chile to California to Bucknell 00:03:51 The Recruiting Process and Building a Culture 00:08:06 Student Athlete Life: Balancing Academics and Athletics 00:16:30 The Power of Team Culture and Upper-Class Leadership 00:20:40 Water Polo: The Most Difficult Sport 00:10:44 Life After the Game: Playing Professionally Abroad 00:13:05 The Bucknell Network and Career Success 00:26:09 Transferable Skills: From Pool to Professional World 00:30:56 Hall of Fame Induction and Defining Success Learn more about Bucknell University Athletics here: https://bucknellbison.com/