From the field to the future: Broncos Empowered helps student-athletes thrive after college sports

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—For the vast majority of student-athletes, life after college will not involve Super Bowls or lucrative endorsement deals. Western is using a transformative gift to change the face of collegiate athlete education. A degree here is about much more than just the credits needed to stay on the team.

After the nationally televised games and autographs, the future for most college athletes is rather traditional. It’s not a life of fame, but the typical college graduate experience of getting a job. That’s why Western prepares students for a lifetime of careers, not just their first one. While top student-athletes may go pro, or may not, their education and experiences at WMU will pave the way for success throughout their entire career.

Now in its third year at Western, Broncos Empowered, made possible by the historic Empowering Futures Gift, provides student-athletes with the skills to thrive after graduation. Aimed to position Western as a national leader in student-athlete development, the Broncos Empowered program is designed to cultivate the holistic support of student-athletes for life after their sport. This means Bronco athletes go on to pursue meaningful careers related to their degree.

Lifetime success 

Empowerment can manifest in a variety of ways, but ultimately Broncos Empowered has one primary goal: “We're empowering them to think beyond being just a student- athlete. We’re preparing them for a career once their sport is done,” says Julian Jones, senior associate athletic director.

The curriculum prioritizes building life skills in a wide variety of topics, including from career development and graduate school preparation, leadership development and personal development to financial education, community service, nutrition, diversity and inclusion, and personal brand management and name, image, likeness (NIL).

Upon arriving at Western, “Every student-athlete has to go through a four-year career plan,” says Jones. “We have a four-year financial literacy plan as well, making sure that they understand how to budget their money.”

The career plan is designed to enhance student-athlete professional development, providing a scaffolding approach that builds off the previous year. First-year students focus on transitioning to college, while building skills as young adults. Sophomores learn basic networking skills and core values of the University. Juniors further refine their networking skills and engage in interview preparation, and from senior year on, students focus on pursuing a meaningful career.

In addition to career prep, another key aspect of the holistic education that Broncos Empowered provides is nutritional health. This is why in 2023 the program unveiled four nutrition stations located directly within the athletic facilities: University Arena, Lawson Ice Arena, the Seelye Center and the Bill Brown Alumni Football Center.

The Broncos Empowered program meets student-athletes where they are on their journey, which for first-year softball player Grace Walker meant getting out and making new friends on campus. “Being able to go to the meetings and gatherings, I've met so many other athletes. I know that at a lot of other schools, it's usually just you and your teammates. But with Broncos Empowered, you get together with athletes from other sports, and so I've made a lot of friends through that,” Walker says.

There’s no shortage of opportunities for student-athletes to socialize, collaborate and learn through Broncos Empowered. In a given week, the program might hold a networking event, a resume workshop, mock interviews and a leadership academy meeting, which is a program for upperclassmen athletes to strengthen their leadership skills.

An integral and growing feature of Broncos Empowered is the Broncos for Life mentorship program, which pairs alumni student-athletes with current student- athletes with similar career goals. The program, which is built around themes like professional development and interviewing tips, provides a connection for student-athletes to ask questions of their mentor. Through these meetings and conversations, student-athletes receive support from someone who has charted a similar path, whether they’re involved with the same sport or not.

For the spring semester, there are 12 pairings, but Jones believes the program will continue to expand. “The goal is that we’ll try to get everyone a mentor during their career here.”

Empowered for life

Three years into Broncos Empowered, the results are already showing.

“Jelani Galloway transferred in for football and got involved in our programming early on, asking if he could intern with us so that he can learn a little bit more. He graduated and now he's working with the New England Patriots, doing an internship with them,” Jones says of the 2024 master's graduate.

And then there’s softball player Megan Welsh, MA ’24, who applied to the NCAA’s Career in Sports Forum with the help of Broncos Empowered and was accepted, eventually attending alongside 200 NCAA student-athletes to explore careers in athletics.

More than just offering student-athletes with career opportunities, the success of Broncos Empowered can also be measured through the confidence it instills in its participants. “The program’s focus on providing not just athletic but personal and professional growth has made a world of difference in my journey. I now feel more confident in balancing my education, athletic and professional goals,” says Abigail Baldrige, a junior soccer player.

When asked what separates Broncos Empowered at Western from other collegiate programs across the country, Jones says, “Our coaches are truly bought in. The things that we've done, we’ve done because our coaches and administration make it a priority.”

As Broncos Empowered prepares for its fourth year, the program is still refining its curriculum, but Jones looks ahead to the future with excitement and optimism.

“The financial piece is going to be huge for us. We're going into a new era of college athletics, with NIL and revenue generation. We want to help our student-athletes figure out how to invest their money and how to use their money for good,” Jones says.

With only a small percentage of student- athletes taking their talents to the next level, the need for a well-balanced education that teaches the skills necessary for future success has never been more important.

From the gridiron to the half-court and every field in between, Broncos Empowered equips student-athletes with the tools and experiences they need to flourish in life after graduation. Junior football player Tyson Lee says it’s made all the difference.

“The relationships I’ve built and the skills I’ve developed through Broncos Empowered have given me a strong sense of belonging and a foundation for success beyond my athletic career.” ■