By Fox23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — Union Athletics is launching a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) education program created to help student-athletes and families understand the opportunities, responsibilities and potential risk associated with NIL.
Union Public Schools said as the landscape of high school athletics continues to evolve, the district is taking a proactive approach to preparing student-athletes and their families for one of the biggest changes facing young athletes today.
S.O.A.R. NIL – Safety, Opportunity, Awareness, Responsibility, is a comprehensive NIL education program. The district said the program carries a message that reflects its purpose:
Fly Right. Know Your Value. Protect Your Future.
The district said S.O.A.R. is not designed to simply teach student-athletes how to pursue NIL opportunities. Its purpose is bigger: educate students so they are prepared to make smart decisions when opportunities come their way.
“Our responsibility goes beyond preparing student-athletes to compete,” said Union Director of Athletics Emily Barkley. “We want to prepare them for everything that comes with being a student-athlete today. NIL creates exciting opportunities, but it also creates responsibilities and risks. S.O.A.R. is about education first, helping our students know the rules, understand their value, protect themselves and make decisions that will positively impact their future.”
Built on Education. Designed to Protect.
S.O.A.R., developed in partnership with Dr. Scott Grant of Triple Threat Leadership, LLC., was built around one central idea: get the education right, and everything else about NIL gets safer, the district said.
The district said its forward-thinking, proactive focus aligns with Union Public Schools’ belief that preparing students starts before an opportunity ever arrives. Rather than beginning with deals, dollars or endorsements, S.O.A.R. begins with education, giving students and families a foundation in policy, compliance, safety and responsible decision making.
“Union has always been a leader in doing things the right way, not the easy way. That’s exactly why S.O.A.R. starts with policy, compliance and safety instead of chasing opportunity,” said Grant. “Our goal was to build something rooted in real policy and compliance, so students and families understand more than just the headlines and are more prepared for whatever opportunities may come their way. Emily and the Union team don’t just build champions on the field; they build young people who are equipped for life. Getting the education right, and getting it right early, is what turns that mission into something real when it comes to NIL.”
More than NIL. Preparation for Life.
Throughout the school year, S.O.A.R. will bring student athletes, parents and industry professionals together for an educational seminar series addressing real-world topics that young athletes may encounter, the district said.
Programming will focus on:
- NIL Rules, Safety & Compliance — Understanding NIL and protecting athletic eligibility
- Contracts & Agreements — Knowing what you are signing, recognizing red flags and understanding your responsibilities
- Financial Literacy — Taxes, budgeting, banking, saving and managing NIL income
- College Eligibility & Recruiting — Understanding how NIL, social media and personal decisions may impact opportunities after high school
- Social Media & Personal Branding — Building a positive digital presence and communicating professionally
- Mental Health & Athletic Identity — Managing pressure, establishing boundaries and understanding that an athlete’s value extends beyond athletics or NIL
The yearlong free seminar series will begin on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Redzone Room of the Union Multipurpose Activity Center. It is open to Union student-athletes and parents only, with sessions featuring professionals and subject-matter experts who can provide practical education and answer questions.
Protecting Student Before an Opportunity Arrives
The district said one of the core principles behind S.O.A.R. is that education should happen before a student-athlete is faced with a decision.
The program will teach how to recognize questionable or potentially exploitative offers, protect personal information, understand eligibility requirements and establish documentation habits surrounding NIL activity.
Student-athletes will also learn how to read and understand agreements, identify contractual red flags, recognize their responsibilities to a business or partner and understand issues involving compensation, intellectual property, exclusivity and parental consent.
Know Your Value Beyond the Dollar Sign
S.O.A.R. also challenges student-athletes to think differently about what it means to “know your value,” the district said.
The district said a student’s value is about more than a dollar amount attached to an endorsement. It is reflected in character, reputation, education, relationships, digital footprint, mental-well being and athletic eligibility, all of which play a role in shaping their future.
The program’s mental health and athletic identity component will address the pressures that can accompany social media and NIL, including comparison, self-worth, boundaries, peer pressure and the importance of strong support systems.
Building Champions. Protecting Futures.
The district said S.O.A.R represents another way Union Athletics is working to prepare student-athletes not for competition, but for life beyond the scoreboard.
Because NIL may create an opportunity, education helps students know what to do with it.
The program will be held on the following dates:
- Sept. 9
- Oct. 7
- Nov. 4
- Feb. 3
- March 24
- April 14
