Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute has Record-Setting Year
7/24/2023 10:20:00 AM | General
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute (EDSLI) is excited to announce a new record, with 95 percent of student-athlete graduates accepting a job, being accepted into graduate school, or signing a professional contract prior to graduation.
The mission of EDSLI is to provide leadership, character and career development for all Ohio State student-athletes in order to best prepare them for life after graduation. A primary goal is to ensure that student-athletes have a post-graduation plan; the percentage of student-athletes that have secured a job, been accepted into 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 a job will also be starting at a record average salary of $70,827.
"We are incredibly proud of our graduates, and we know they will go on to do amazing things in their respective careers," said Makena Lynch, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Operational Strategy. "The Leadership Institute is unique in its approach to programming, as it keeps student-athletes at the core of every decision and continually evolves to meet their needs. The support of companies throughout Columbus has been instrumental to the success of the Institute; 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 an immediate value-add from interns.
"We were so impressed with the pool of Bucks Go Pro 2.0 candidates we expanded our offers to eight student-athletes from an anticipated two or three, and they've delivered," said Jeff Lyttle, Executive Director and Program Manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co. "They're managing their workloads with excellence while balancing their commitments to their sports and their summer studies."
A key tool student-athletes utilize to prepare for interviews includes an innovative program called Dress to Impress. Through this program, student-athletes complete a resume review and a mock interview with an EDSLI staff member to earn free professional attire. The program not only teaches student-athletes to prepare for and succeed in an interview setting, but it also provides them with the tools to look the part, so they are confident in any professional environment.
One of the ways EDSLI has evolved includes providing opportunities to student-athletes who are not able to invest a full summer into an internship. The micro-internship program allows student-athletes to spend a week working with various companies to gain a greater understanding of different career fields. For two consecutive years, NetJets has hosted a group of student-athletes for a week to experience what it is like to work in private aviation. New this year, other student-athletes had the opportunity to work at the Big Ten Lacrosse Championship and the NCAA Tennis Championships to gain a further understanding of the sport industry.
To meet 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 a micro-internship at the Adobe headquarters in New York City.
"The Adobe Creator Challenge program has helped me grow as a graphic designer and given me an outlet to use my creativity for something that I'm passionate about," said Blake Skilken, a member of the women's swimming and diving team. "It has given me an opportunity that will set me up for my future and I am already using the skills I learned through the program in my Bucks Go Pro 2.0 internship with Rite Rug. I am grateful for opportunities like the Creator Challenge, Bucks Go Pro, and Dress to Impress that position me for future success."
In addition to education on personal branding, student-athletes also received education on how to read and negotiate contracts, as well as foundational tax education, during the 2022-23 academic year. These skills are essential in both the NIL landscape and in life after sport, and the education has had a tremendous 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 NIL. "The corporate market in Columbus along with the incredibly supportive fan base in Buckeye Nation has made Ohio State the most attractive destination for any student-athlete in the country. The platform of Ohio State's brand paired with compelling student-athlete stories and internationally known organizations has allowed us to put some of the best content into the NIL market."
EDSLI has provided resources in every facet for student-athletes to maximize their earning potential during their tenure at Ohio State. This includes partnerships with INFLCR and Opendorse for compliance monitoring and marketplace capabilities, 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 education. This holistic approach provides student-athletes with the most comprehensive support system for any endeavor outside of competition.
The mission of EDSLI is to provide leadership, character and career development for all Ohio State student-athletes in order to best prepare them for life after graduation. A primary goal is to ensure that student-athletes have a post-graduation plan; the percentage of student-athletes that have secured a job, been accepted into 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 a job will also be starting at a record average salary of $70,827.
"We are incredibly proud of our graduates, and we know they will go on to do amazing things in their respective careers," said Makena Lynch, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Operational Strategy. "The Leadership Institute is unique in its approach to programming, as it keeps student-athletes at the core of every decision and continually evolves to meet their needs. The support of companies throughout Columbus has been instrumental to the success of the Institute; 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 an immediate value-add from interns.
"We were so impressed with the pool of Bucks Go Pro 2.0 candidates we expanded our offers to eight student-athletes from an anticipated two or three, and they've delivered," said Jeff Lyttle, Executive Director and Program Manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co. "They're managing their workloads with excellence while balancing their commitments to their sports and their summer studies."
A key tool student-athletes utilize to prepare for interviews includes an innovative program called Dress to Impress. Through this program, student-athletes complete a resume review and a mock interview with an EDSLI staff member to earn free professional attire. The program not only teaches student-athletes to prepare for and succeed in an interview setting, but it also provides them with the tools to look the part, so they are confident in any professional environment.
One of the ways EDSLI has evolved includes providing opportunities to student-athletes who are not able to invest a full summer into an internship. The micro-internship program allows student-athletes to spend a week working with various companies to gain a greater understanding of different career fields. For two consecutive years, NetJets has hosted a group of student-athletes for a week to experience what it is like to work in private aviation. New this year, other student-athletes had the opportunity to work at the Big Ten Lacrosse Championship and the NCAA Tennis Championships to gain a further understanding of the sport industry.
To meet 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 a micro-internship at the Adobe headquarters in New York City.
"The Adobe Creator Challenge program has helped me grow as a graphic designer and given me an outlet to use my creativity for something that I'm passionate about," said Blake Skilken, a member of the women's swimming and diving team. "It has given me an opportunity that will set me up for my future and I am already using the skills I learned through the program in my Bucks Go Pro 2.0 internship with Rite Rug. I am grateful for opportunities like the Creator Challenge, Bucks Go Pro, and Dress to Impress that position me for future success."
In addition to education on personal branding, student-athletes also received education on how to read and negotiate contracts, as well as foundational tax education, during the 2022-23 academic year. These skills are essential in both the NIL landscape and in life after sport, and the education has had a tremendous 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 NIL. "The corporate market in Columbus along with the incredibly supportive fan base in Buckeye Nation has made Ohio State the most attractive destination for any student-athlete in the country. The platform of Ohio State's brand paired with compelling student-athlete stories and internationally known organizations has allowed us to put some of the best content into the NIL market."
EDSLI has provided resources in every facet for student-athletes to maximize their earning potential during their tenure at Ohio State. This includes partnerships with INFLCR and Opendorse for compliance monitoring and marketplace capabilities, 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 education. This holistic approach provides student-athletes with the most comprehensive support system for any endeavor outside of competition.
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