Kyndall Ragins felt an overwhelming sense of inspiration during a session at the 2024 Black Student-Athlete Summit as she listened to former student-athletes talk about their pathway into the legal field.
It was a lightbulb moment of sorts of how her experience as a women's tennis player at Johnson C. Smith can pay lifelong dividends.
"Hearing from former student-athletes who have successfully transitioned into the legal field provided valuable insights into how the skills developed through sports, such as discipline, teamwork and leadership, are crucial in their legal careers," she said.
More broadly, Ragins was appreciative of the opportunity to attend the four-day event in Los Angeles last week. She was one of six Historically Black College and University Student-Athlete Fellows the NCAA funded to attend the annual event, which started in 2015 and brings together hundreds of Black student-athletes. The HBCU Fellows, selected by their conference offices, were able to immerse themselves in an experience that connected them with a wide range of professionals in the world of college sports, engaged them in vigorous discussions and prepared them for long-term success beyond their athletic careers.
The five other HBCU Student-Athlete Fellows were Charles Brown Jr. (football, Delaware State), Carrington Hayward (bowling, Livingstone), Jamison Lindsey (football, Mississippi Valley), Indya Richards (women's track and field, Norfolk State) and La'Jai Wilson (women's volleyball, Benedict).
"Being at the summit was incredibly meaningful to me," Ragins said. "Every chance I get to attend conferences and expand my network is invaluable to me. I am committed to creating more opportunities for student-athletes at my university so that we can continue to represent our HBCUs proudly."
The NCAA also served as a sponsor of the event, attended by hundreds of Black student-athletes across the country.
"It is important for the NCAA to support the Black Student-Athlete Summit, as it is an opportunity to connect with Black student-athletes, engage in timely discussions and sessions, and learn about issues that affect Black student-athletes and professionals who support them," said Niya Blair Hackworth, director of inclusion at the NCAA who spoke on a panel at the summit focused on the state of diversity, equity and inclusion.
The summit provided an invaluable platform for attendees to connect with professionals who could aid in their career opportunities and personal development. For Richards, connecting with so many current and former Black student-athletes with a passion for working in sports left an impression on her.
"From talking about real estate, sports marketing and being an agent all the way to content creation, how to market yourself better … so many student-athletes really have an aspiration to even work in sports," she said. "I didn't know so many people had the same career aspirations as I did, so to see that was definitely a comforting feeling."
The summit facilitated meaningful networking opportunities, allowing student-athletes to meet like-minded peers from across the country who are engaged in dynamic work. Key themes included athlete activism, mental health, leadership development, perseverance and overcoming obstacles.
"I grew a lot mentally and learned more about life outside of ball," Lindsey said of the summit's impact.
Additionally, the summit aimed to leave participants with actionable strategies to impact their campuses for social good. Wilson was among its successes in this goal, as she felt empowered with new insights and connections that will help her advocate for change.
"The Black Student-Athlete Summit was an invaluable opportunity to discuss and address important issues facing Black student-athletes and their progression in success," Wilson said. "Being there was meaningful, as it provided a platform to contribute to the dialogue and be part of the solution."
