Student-Athlete Internship Costs

Unlike the general student body, NCAA student-athletes are dedicating 20 hours per week to their sport, in addition to maintaining a full academic course load. Due to the time demands needed to compete at the highest level, the opportunities for career-shaping internships are only a possibility during the summer months. Since a majority of NCAA student-athletes will go pro in something other than sports, that on-the-job training is vitally important.

Our goal is to raise $10,000 to aid a student-athlete with sufficient funds to obtain a post-graduation internship of their choice that is applicable to their career field. While on campus, athletes are provided housing, food and transportation. When students are enrolled in their internship, these things are often not provided. The funds you provide will be applied towards housing, food, transportation and other living costs.

"We've been saying for quite some time that there are two things we want each of our student athletes to leave Auburn with — a diploma in hand and a championship ring on their finger," said Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs. "Now, the third thing is, we want them to leave Auburn with a job opportunity."

"There are a lot of expenses that go into an internship and knowing that those expenses are covered would be a sense of relief," said senior and volleyball player Breanna Barksdale. "Because you ultimately want to worry about work."

Last summer, Barksdale, women’s basketball player Katie Frerking, and track and field athlete Redatu Semeon, were able to obtain highly coveted internships at Under Armour in Baltimore, Md. While the experience was invaluable, they were responsible for their living costs.

"The financial aspects of internships are often what hinder student athletes, because they don't have the funds to relocate to a large city," said Semeon.

This funding will help offset any out-of-pocket expenses the student-athlete may encounter.

The deserving student-athlete will be chosen using specific need-based criteria by an Athletics Department selection committee.