Where Are They Now: Agnieszka Pregowska, Women's Volleyball
Name: Agnieszka Pregowska
Sport: Women's Volleyball
Graduation Year: 2010, 2012
Degree (Undergrad/Postgrad): BS of Architecture/Master's of Science in Infrastructure Planning
Where are you now? Hermosa Beach, California
Current Career/Position: This is a two-part answer! I work as a Builders Sales Manager in Los Angeles for Capo Fireside working with builders and investors specifying our product portfolio on mostly new custom residential homes along with some commercial buildings. I also play professional beach volleyball. Unfortunately beach volleyball does not pay a salary, only winnings, so it cannot be a full time job!ar-old son and a second child due in April
What have you been up to since graduating NJIT? Since NJIT, I took a job at Citelum, a lighting infrastructure company in DC for two years then moved to California and have been here for the last 5 years. I have played for my country of Poland on the National Team since 2012 and have pursued the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Circuit in the US. I train 6 out of 7 days both on the beach and cross-training. Hermosa Beach is the birthplace of beach volleyball so I am surrounded by the greatest beach volleyball athletes in the world! It has been a very rewarding career and I plan on continuing to play for a few more years professionally or until my body tells me to stop! (haha)
Any recent life events you'd like to share?
I got married on October 5, 2019 in Oahu, Hawaii to my husband Brian Fung! We met playing indoor volleyball against each other in Northern Virginina although he grew up playing beach volleyball at Outrigger Canoe Club in Hawaii. I could not be happier!
What is your best memory about NJIT?
My best memory has to be the friendships that I cultivated throughout those years playing WVB. Not only my friendships with the volleyball girls but also with the other teams at NJIT. That community impacted my life the most and helped me become the person that I am today. A few of the volleyball girls even came to my wedding, that's how important it is to develop the right relationships while in college. I even saw Lenny the AD last year when he came to visit California for the Men's Volleyball NCAA Championships!
If you could give advice to a current NJIT player, what would it be? Sky's the Limit. It might be cliche but I have learned that we as humans are capable of so much. If you believe in something bad enough and work for it, grind, you can achieve anything. So my advice is for each and every one of those players to believe in themselves and believe in the community around them. Everyday won't be easy. The early morning practices, long days of classes, long road trips to games…take advantage of each moment.
How did your time at NJIT prepare you for life after graduation?
NJIT taught me to be independent. Athletics taught me to be disciplined and competitive and school gave me the foundation to the career I have now, and the one that I am working towards.
Who has had the most impact in your life? I can think of a thousand people who have crossed my path and taught me something very important. Often times you meet people for maybe one specific reason but the lesson they teach you could stick with you for the rest of your life. But if I had to choose just one, it would be my dad. He encouraged me to play sports and was my number one supporter. I remember when I was about to play in a International FIVB Five Star Grand Slam Tour in Poland I Skyped my dad from Warsaw and told him the news. This was a huge deal because this tournament is the best of the best in the World. My dad cried. That was a powerful moment for me and it proved that he was always behind me since I started playing at age 6. The lessons that I learned playing sports are ultimately what shaped me to who I am today.
I am very grateful for the NJIT community, the lessons I learned there, and the opportunities that it has given me.