Alumnus Lalit Jain hits career bullseye with the National Field Archery Association Easton Yankton Archery Center

Lalit Jain '25 traveled from Moonak, India, to compete with the Mount Marty University archery team and fulfill his dream. Now, he brings his passion to his profession as the National Field Archery Association (NFAA) event and results coordinator.  

Jain was introduced to archery during a physical education class in the sixth grade and has loved it ever since. While attaining his bachelor's degree in India, Jain was recruited to compete for the Mount Marty archery team. By the time Jain arrived in the U.S., he had completed his bachelor's degree. So, he decided to enroll in some undergraduate classes to learn about the U.S. education system, allowing him to compete still. During this time, Deborah McCuin, Ph.D., director of graduate teacher education, reached out to Jain to discuss joining the master's program in coaching and leadership. Jain was excited about the practical and hands-on learning the program provided, and while taking his master's courses, he became the archery team graduate assistant to continue to compete. 

While competing for Mount Marty, Jain competed nationally, won the national championship and received the All-American award. "Archery is, honestly, what brought everything together," said Jain. "It got me recruited, brought me to Mount Marty. Some of the best people I have met are through archery. It's been the constant thread through everything." 

Archery at Mount Marty even led Jain to his postgraduate career. Mount Marty's archery team volunteers to assist with national events hosted at the NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center, and previously, the team held practices at the archery center. So, Jain was already familiar with the largest archery center in the world. In the summer of 2023, Jain began an internship at the archery center as a recreational management intern. In the spring of 2024, he became an event management intern with the NFAA. "When I started the program [at Mount Marty], my initial interest was in coaching," said Jain. "But along the way, I got introduced to event management, and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy the operations of organizing competitions, traveling to new places and meeting all kinds of people in the archery world. It just clicked for me, and I realized that's where I could see myself long-term." After graduation, the archery center offered Jain a full-time job as their event and results coordinator for the NFAA. In his new position, Jain manages the scoring and results of NFAA national and sectional events across the U.S., helps plan large-scale competitions, and supports all technical aspects related to event scoring and logistics. 

"I'm most excited about getting to work right at the center of competitive archery in the U.S. I'm part of the team that organizes major events like the Vegas Shoot — the biggest archery tournament in the world. I get to meet new athletes, travel to different places and be part of something I used to only dream about. Back when I was in India, the Vegas Shoot was a bucket list event that my friends and I talked about competing in one day. Now, I'm helping run it. That feels really special."

Jain is grateful for his supportive professors and athletic staff, especially McCuin, Jason Heron, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology, and Andy Bernatow, athletic director, who "helped me see that I had potential beyond just being an athlete. They encouraged me to grow, showed me that I could keep improving, and gave me confidence in my leadership skills." Jain learned much during his years at Mount Marty, and he plans to take the attributes of hard work, consistency and willingness to learn into his new career. "I believe in doing every task, big or small, with full effort and attention to detail. I've also learned to stay calm under pressure, especially during competitions or events. I always try to be open to learning from others and growing in my role. These values helped me come this far, and I plan to carry them with me into everything I do at work."

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About Mount Marty University

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic, Benedictine institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, recreation management, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.