By Zac Cornell
The 2021 NBA Rookie of the year and Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball has launched a scholarship for students looking to study Sports Management, or Sports Communications and Marketing. The four-year scholarship is part of the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment at Long Island University in Brooklyn. The Roc Nation program’s website reveals students will “gain experience in sports writing, reporting, broadcasting, promotion and digital marketing and collaborate closely with LIU’s alumni network, including sports reporters, publicists and experts.”
Ball says he wants to drive change within the sports industry, which The New York Times recently revealed is still lacking in leadership diversity despite a number of initiatives trying to increase diversity in management. The 20-year-old basketball star revealed his goals for his scholarship program, saying, “I want to encourage the next generation of sports executives and leaders to follow their dreams just like I did to make it to the NBA.” He continued, “I’m fortunate to have the means and public platform to support others, so I want to do my part and create a lane for a student to get a strong education and be in a position to make a meaningful impact in the sports industry.”
Opened in the Fall 2021, the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment is focused on helping students from underserved communities overcome financial barriers that stand in the way of pursuing an education and career in various industries. Twenty-five percent of the inaugural freshman class is receiving scholarships from the school. Applicant requirements for the LaMelo Ball scholarship include a minimum SAT score of 1100, or average grades of a B or above. Students must also write an essay about where they see themselves in 10 years and how the LaMelo Scholarship will help them achieve their goals. The application must be submitted by December 1st, and can be accessed here: https://apply.liu.edu/quickapp2_rocnation/?eventCampus=B&admitType=FRE&admitTerm=1224&promoCode=RN22_LAMELO&event=rocnation&theme=lamelo&rn=1&#registration
Inside Sports Journal 