COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute (EDSLI) is excited to announce a new record, with 95 percent of graduating student-athletes accepting employment, being accepted to graduate school or signing a professional contract prior to graduation.
EDSLI’s mission is to provide leadership, character and career development for all Ohio State student-athletes to best prepare them for life after graduation. The primary goal is to ensure that student-athletes have a plan after graduation; the percentage of student-athletes who have secured employment, been accepted to graduate school or signed a professional contract has increased each year since EDSLI’s inception in 2018-19. This year, student-athletes who have accepted employment will also start with a record average salary of $70,827.
“We are incredibly proud of our graduates and know they will go on to do incredible things in their respective careers,” said Makena Lynch, assistant athletic director for student-athlete development and operations strategy. “The Leadership Institute is unique in its approach to programming in that it keeps student-athletes at the heart of every decision and continually evolves to meet their needs. Support from Columbus companies is instrumental to the Institute’s success; their partnership makes our programming possible. This holistic programming – including internships, site visits, networking events, mock interviews and more – uniquely positions student-athletes to reach and achieve their goals.”
This summer, nearly 100 student-athletes are interning through EDSLI’s Bucks Go Pro 1.0 and 2.0 programs. These internships provide flexible opportunities that allow student-athletes to build their resumes and gain tangible work experience while still having the flexibility to attend classes and practice their sport. JPMorgan Chase is a first-year participant in the Bucks Go Pro 2.0 program and has experienced immediate added value from interns.
“We were so impressed with the pool of Bucks Go Pro 2.0 applicants that we expanded our pitches to eight student-athletes from the expected two or three, and they submitted,” said Jeff Little, executive director and program manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co. “They manage their workloads with excellence while balancing their athletic commitments and their summer studies.”
A key tool student-athletes use to prepare for interviews includes an innovative program called Dress to Impress. Through this program, student-athletes complete a resume review and mock interview with an EDSLI staff member to earn free professional apparel. The program not only teaches student-athletes to prepare and succeed in an interview environment, but also provides them with the tools to look the part so they are confident in any professional setting.
One of the ways EDSLI has evolved involves providing opportunities to student-athletes who cannot invest an entire summer in an internship. The micro-internship program allows student-athletes to spend a week working with different companies to gain a better understanding of different career fields. For two consecutive years, NetJets has hosted a group of student-athletes for a week to experience what it’s like to work in private aviation. New this year, other student-athletes had the opportunity to work the Big Ten Lacrosse Championship and NCAA Tennis Championships to gain a better understanding of the sports industry.
To address the needs of student-athletes at the intersection of career and NIL, EDSLI launched the Adobe Creator Challenge this spring. Student-athletes completed a personal branding series and presented a portfolio to Adobe executives. Six student-athletes went on to earn micro-internships at Adobe headquarters in New York.
“The Adobe Creator Challenge program helped me grow as a graphic designer and gave me the opportunity to use my creativity for something I’m passionate about,” said Blake Skilken, a member of the women’s swimming and diving team. “It gave me an opportunity that will prepare me for my future and I’m already using the skills I learned during the program in my Bucks Go Pro 2.0 internship with Rite Rug. I’m grateful for opportunities like the Creator Challenge, Bucks Go Pro, and Dress to Impress that position me for future success.”
In addition to personal branding training, student-athletes also received training on how to read and negotiate contracts, as well as basic tax training during the 2022-23 academic year. These skills are essential in both the NIL landscape and life after sports, and education has a huge impact. More than 400 Ohio State student-athletes across all 36 sports have secured over 2,000 NIL deals since July 1, 2021. “Our student-athletes have embraced what it takes to be successful in the NIL era,” said Logan Hittle, assistant athletic director for the NIL. “The corporate market in Columbus along with an incredibly supportive fan base in Buckeye Nation has made Ohio State the most attractive destination for any student-athlete in the country. Ohio State’s brand platform, combined with compelling stories about student-athletes and internationally renowned organizations, has allowed us to bring some of the best content to market on the NIL.”
EDSLI has provided resources in all aspects of student-athletes to maximize their earning potential during their tenure at Ohio State. This includes partnerships with INFLCR and Opendorse for compliance monitoring and market opportunities, The BrandR Group for group licensing and nation-leading merchandise sales, ADVANCE NIL for NIL consulting and education, and The Moritz College of Law for contract training. This holistic approach provides student-athletes with the most comprehensive support system for any endeavor outside of competition.
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