WASHINGTON - Wake up, class, watch film, eat, practice, get treatment, class, lift, eat, study, sleep; repeat. This is the daily routine of Division I student-athletes across the country, including those at Georgetown.

Watching these athletes compete in their blue and gray, the assumption we make is that they possess self-confidence and inner strength that helps to carry them through their challenges. The truth is often quite different. The physical and emotional demands placed upon student athletes are significant.

According to the NCAA, the average Division I student-athlete spends nearly 80 hours a week balancing their academic and athletic commitments. This is no different at Georgetown, where the academic rigors and competitive demands are profound. The pressure created by busy schedules and performance expectations weighs heavily on Georgetown's 700+ student-athletes, who collectively average a 3.24 GPA. They are driven to excel in everything they do, and yet the very drive that brings them so much success in the classroom and in competition also exposes them to immense vulnerabilities.

During his time on the Hilltop, former men's lacrosse student-athlete Nic Mahaney experienced first-hand the challenges that come with being a Division I student-athlete. Mahaney arrived at Georgetown aware of the demands placed upon elite student athletes, but at Georgetown this was taken to another level. On the outside Mahaney embraced those challenges, demonstrating leadership skills that would enable him to serve as team captain his senior year. He graduated in 2016 and is now working at a thriving technology startup in New York City.

Beneath the surface, Mahaney, who managed multiple injuries, coaching changes, and rigorous academic requirements, saw the need for himself and his teammates to have access to a mental health and wellness support system that fills the gap that coaches, trainers, teammates, friends and family cannot.

Counselors are available to all Georgetown students through the University's Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), but Mahaney never sought help, not sure if they would understand his unique challenges. "As athletes we're not accustomed to reaching out for help. We've spent a big part of our lives competing at the highest level, and more often than not, succeeding, but the intense demands on our time, our minds and our bodies, not to mention the pressure of living up to the high expectations of our families, friends and coaches is a real challenge", said Mahaney.

Like many other Division I student-athletes, Mahaney not only survived but excelled. And in August of 2016, in a conversation with his mother Sarah Ondaatje, Mahaney reflected back on his time on the Hilltop, sharing how he would like to support something that would have helped him as a student-athlete and would have a lasting impact on Georgetown Athletics.

From this initial conversation, the wheels were set in motion to change the student-athlete experience on the Hilltop.

On Wednesday, November 1st, Georgetown Athletics will welcome it's first-ever counselor dedicated to working with student-athletes. Dr. Brad Foltz comes to Georgetown with more than 10 years of counseling experience. He brings a unique perspective to the department after working specifically with student-athletes at the University of Oklahoma. Foltz received his master's degree in community counseling and PhD from Indiana University.

Shawn Hendi, Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Health & Wellness, is a vocal advocate for student-athlete mental health. In his time on the Hilltop, he has served on many boards and speaks frequently on the ever-rising need for dedicated counseling services for college athletes. "Georgetown Athletics is extremely fortunate to have the leadership and support of Nic Mahaney and Sarah Ondaatje. Without their help and our incredible relationship with Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), who has partnered with us on this project, we would not have been able to make Dr. Foltz's position a reality."

Student-Athlete Health & Wellness has become a focal point nationally in higher education. The NCAA's "Mind, Body, Sport" initiative was created in 2015 with the hope of giving institutions a blueprint for establishing campus and community resources to best care for the needs of student-athletes. Georgetown Athletics looks to both "Mind, Body, Sport" and its own tradition of cura personalis as we embrace the opportunity to better support our student-athletes. In hiring Dr. Foltz, Georgetown Athletics launches its Student-Athlete Health & Wellness Initiative. This program recognizes the unique experience and needs of student-athletes and is dedicated to helping them manage the academic, emotional, and physical pressures they face.

In his 30 years of experience working in college athletics, Athletic Director Lee Reed has witnessed first-hand the pressures faced by student-athletes. Reed noted, "The demands placed on Division I student-athletes are greater now than they have ever been. Combined with the commitment required to excel at an institution of Georgetown's caliber, the result is extraordinary pressure on our student-athletes in every aspect of their lives. The support of a clinical psychologist will be a critical component in providing for the health and wellness of our student-athletes."

In just a little over a year, Mahaney's desire to truly make a difference at his alma mater has turned into a reality.

For Ondaatje and Mahaney, it is exciting to see this vision coming to fruition so quickly and to know that a counselor will be there to help student-athletes just like Nic. "While Nic voiced his struggle, many do not, and research has shown that student-athletes across the country are feeling the same pressures-it's a real problem", said Sarah Ondaatje. "But the promising news is that these issues can be addressed. It is heartening to see how quickly and thoughtfully Georgetown embraced this issue, and took concrete steps to assist Hoya student-athletes. We're thrilled to play a small part in helping launch that effort, and hope that others who care about this initiative will participate as well."

Through the Ondaatje-Mahaney gift, and the department's partnership with CAPS, Georgetown is now at the forefront of student-athlete health & wellness within the BIG EAST Conference. While some larger public universities have sports psychologists on staff, this will be a first within the league. Athletic Director Reed hopes that this is just the start as Georgetown works to equip its student-athletes with the tools to excel in all aspects of their lives.

For their generous contribution to Georgetown Athletics and the program and dialogue it has started, Sarah Ondaatje and Nic Mahaney will receive the 2017 Outstanding Contribution to Athletics Award at the annual Athletic Recognition Event on Friday, November 3, 2017.