LOS ANGELES – Three student-athletes from Bethune-Cookman University recently traveled to the west coast to attend the Black Student-Athlete Summit on the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles, California. This was the ninth year for the summit, and the second consecutive in which it was hosted on the USC campus.
 
The four-day event from May 23-26 brought together Black collegiate athletes from across the country to network, attend professional development workshops, and learn from leaders and executives in the sports industry. Representing Bethune-Cookman at the summit were Indya Campbell (Women's Track & Field), Orin Patu (Football) and Simeon Womack (Men's Basketball).
 
"I'm blessed to have crossed paths with such ambitious and passionate individuals at the Black Student-Athlete Summit," commented Campbell, 2023-24 President of the Bethune-Cookman Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. "The organizers of this summit successfully created a space where student-athletes and professionals of color could uplift and support one another and continue this support even after the summit. Every story, workshop, speech and interaction felt genuine and meaningful. It was truly an experience of a lifetime that I hope will continue to reach individuals like me for generations to come."
 
The summit featured a variety of speakers and panel members including Baron Davis – a two-time NBA All-Star; Chiney Ogwumike – ESPN host and former WNBA player; Teahna Daniels – a 2020 Olympic Silver Medalist and community activist, and more. Sessions covered topics like breaking into broadcast media, becoming an agent or executive, entrepreneurship, and personal branding for athletes. There were also workshops on interview skills, CV/résumé building, and networking.
 
"Representation matters, and we need more people of color in decision-making roles across the industry," said Patu, who is of Samoan and Tongan descent. "This summit planted seeds that we hope will cultivate a robust pipeline of talent involving student-athletes of color moving into influential positions."
 
Additionally, the Wildcats in attendance engaged with other like-minded black student-athletes from around the country and engaging in round-table discussions at the Black Table Talks. The summit also allowed them to participate in a number of dynamic career prep opportunities such as the Career Combine, Pro Day and Corporate Recruiting Fair.
 
"The summit was a great experience, and the main thing I learned is that connections are everything," remarked Womack. "Connections are what get you through a lot of doors, and your skill set is what keeps you in them and also opens news doors. The more we connect and help each other and use each other as a reference, then the better and more successful we all will become in the future."
 
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