Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

ORLANDO, Fla. – University of Delaware senior placekicker Jon Striefsky (at right), a 2007 All-American and one of the top kicking specialists in the country, is taking part in the annual NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference this weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Striefsky (pronounced “stri-eff-ski”), a finance major from Lansdale, Pa. (North Penn High School), will be one of nearly 600 student-athlete leaders who will gather together to discuss topics that affect them on their campuses and in their communities. The conference, which also enhance leadership skills, will continue through Wednesday.

The conference is structured to enhance the skill set and knowledge base of student-athletes. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear from key figures in government and sports. A video presentation will feature U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, (R-OH); Reggie Love, personal aide to President Obama and a former student-athlete; former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater; and Angela Taylor, vice president and general manager for the Washington Mystics on the WNBA.

Representatives from U.S. Army also will present on energy management and attention control, and National City Bank personnel will conduct a session on financial responsibility, including credit card debt, investing and money management.

Student-athletes also will discuss topics such as diversity, student-athlete well-being, substance abuse, personal branding and sportsmanship. They will work in teams on projects throughout the conference. Participants will also take part in initiative activities at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

Coaches, athletics administrators and program facilitators also will attend, along with members from each division’s national SAAC.

Participating student-athletes were selected from more than 2,000 nominations from college and university officials who represent Divisions I, II and III, and fall, winter and spring sports.

Striefsky was selected to attend by the NCAA from a list of four UD nominees that also included men’s lacrosse player Andrew Unthank, women’s lacrosse player Courtney Aburn, and women’s track and field runner Cristine Marquez.

A two-year letterwinner for the Blue Hen football team, Striefsky earned first team All-Colonial Athletic Association and first team All-American honors by The Sports Network and Associated Press in 2007 when he led the Blue Hens to a berth in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. He enjoyed a record-breaking season that year, scoring 127 points as he converted 21 of 24 field goals and 64 of 67 extra points. He tied for the NCAA leading in points by kicking and was No. 2 in the nation in field goals.

He had another solid season in 2008 when he hit on all 26 extra point attempts and was 7 of 13 on field goals. He is on track to set numerous UD career records this coming fall.