At the event, hosted by USC from May 23-26, the UO contingent along with a cohort from Oregon State shared the BSA’s Student-Org of the Year Award for collaborating to strengthen ties in the local Black community. The weekend also included networking and professional development opportunities.
The representatives from Oregon included football student-athletes Brison Cobbins, Dante Moore, Devin Morrow, Elijah Williams and Emar’rion Winston; acrobatics and tumbling team members Morgan Hood, Nicole Jackson and Blessyn McMorris; volleyball duo Naomi Glover and Onye Ofoegbu; Sarah Rambus from women’s basketball and Gianna Bullock of track and field.
“It was nice to network with Black student-athletes, since I don’t get the opportunity to do that often,” Winston said. “I enjoyed talking with other educated young Black people. It was also nice to listen to folks who are doing what we aspire to do.”
The student-athletes from Oregon were accompanied by UO senior associate athletic director Da’Mon Merkerson; O Heroes director Malik Lovette; football staff members Lydia Gibbs, Karl Holmes and Kai Jones; volleyball assistant coach Arica Nassar; athletic trainer Brandee Barbee; and the director of the university’s Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center, Dr. Aris Hall.
Merkerson — who helped organize the award-winning collaboration with OSU assistant director of student-athlete development Mya Johnson (below) — Jackson and McMorris have attended the summit in multiple years now.
“For me, the Black Student-Athlete Summit is always a life-changing experience,” McMorris said. “This was my third year attending, and I have learned so much — not only about my athletic status but also about my desired career. As I mature, I find something new to take away from the experience. Being able to connect with other like-minded Black athletes and professionals is an experience I definitely do not take for granted. I am so thankful that we as Black student-athletes have this space to express ourselves and learn from others.”
While that handful of UO representatives was returning to the summit, most of this year’s Oregon contingent attended for the first time. The returners from 2023 saw their cohort of fellow Ducks swell from 10 last year to 20 this year.
“The athletes looked so comfortable and genuinely carefree,” Barbee said. “In a predominantly white space like Eugene, the summit reminded me of why it’s important to create spaces where international student-athletes and student-athletes of color feel safe.
“As a young professional supporting young athletes, I think it’s important for them to see people who look like them doing things they never thought they could. For example they got to network with doctors, lawyers, social activists, tech companies and more. I think it further drives home the message that you can be in any space you want to be.”
The UO and OSU groups shared the organization of the year award, among the criteria for which are “demonstrating the innovative, dynamic and entrepreneurial spirit of the BSA Summit” as well as showing “a track record of dynamic impact” on their departments, universities and communities.
“When not competing against each other, Oregon’s BSAU and Oregon State’s DAMChange come together to connect the student-athletes to the leading voices in the local Black community, including alumni, business professionals and entrepreneurs,” read the announcement of the shared award.
“Through workshops, panels and organic engagement, student-athletes learn from leading Black community members. They also participate in service projects aimed at benefitting the local Black community, reinforcing the values of social responsibility and community engagement.”
While at the summit, representatives from Oregon took time out with those from Washington, USC and UCLA to discuss the upcoming transition to the Big Ten Conference. Among the other participants was the Big Ten’s senior vice president for community and impact, Omar Brown.
“It was a great experience to get to know our Black student-athletes more outside of the Eugene environment,” Dr. Hall said. “This allowed me to get to know some of them more on an individual level and see them beyond a student or UO athlete.
“Attending BSA reminded me why I chose my research area to focus on student-athletes as leaders. This conference gives Black student-athletes and their universities an opportunity to support them as students, athletes and leaders. When they feel supported in multiple areas of their lives, they have a better connection to who they are and want to be post-graduation.”
Among the summit’s goals is preparing participants for their futures, while also empowering them to maximize their collegiate experiences. Those messages came home to Eugene with the participants from Oregon.
“You learn how much power you do have,” Cobbins said. “Our voices have power, and we can make change.”
