When Raven Football plays its first game in the 2024 NAIA national tournament playoffs this weekend, defensive end Tai Rutledge will be there.
But you can just as easily find him at his internship in support of his finance major.
Rutledge is a senior at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, from Los Angeles, majoring in finance and economics.
“Playing football here has taught me what it takes to be successful on and off the field by emphasizing values like hard work, accountability, and perseverance,” he said. “These lessons have translated extremely well for me in my on-campus roles and during my internship.”
Rutledge is a procurement analyst intern for C.H Robinson and serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the Student International Business Council (SIBC) at Benedictine College. In addition to playing varsity football, he works on campus as a peer mentor for freshman football players in their first semester of college.
“I transferred to Benedictine at the beginning of my sophomore year,” he says. “It was a bit of an adjustment at first, but I tell everyone that the second I stepped foot on this campus, I knew Benedictine was home.”
He has been an important component of the Raven Football team, helping younger players adjust like he did.
“Being a mentor to the freshman has been awesome. It has allowed me to relive some of the trials and tribulations associated with being far from home and embracing a new environment,” he said, “I see myself within each of them and enjoy watching the progress they make as they navigate through their first semester.”
Rutledge knows the importance of a good mentor. While he is not a member of the Freedom Fellows, he says the program’s director, Tyler Shephard, has been the biggest mentor to him on campus.
“I didn’t necessarily grow up in the best area or circumstances, and he has helped me embrace adversity and use it as a strength to achieve my goals,” he said. “Tyler has also taught me the importance of building a strong foundation for myself and taking the necessary steps to ensure its stability.”
College has made a huge impact on Rutledge’s life.
“From starting at Benedictine to now, I feel like I’m two completely different people. Before I came to Benedictine, I was a bit lost and had not quite discovered what I truly wanted out of my college experience,” he said.
The college’s mission of community, faith and scholarship has made all the difference, he said.
“The people here are exceptional and knowledgeable in a wide variety of disciplines,” he said. “Benedictine has showed me what it looks like to have these strong values and carry them out on a daily basis. I feel like life is a never-ending process of development and it is important to embrace the journey rather than just looking at the destination.”
Brooklynne Wozny contributed an interview and photos to this article.
