NIL – The Game Changer

have greatly capitalized on this opportunity.

By Leahjean M. Denley, MBA

As college sports continue to evolve, the topic of name, image, and likeness [NIL] has become increasingly important. For decades, in addition to seeking financial compensation for their sweat equity, collegiate scholar-athletes have been fighting for the right to use their own name, image, and likeness. July 1, 2021, was a historic day for the lives of scholar-athletes competing in National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA] intercollegiate athletics. For the first time, scholar-athletes would have limitless opportunities to receive compensation for the use of their NIL for endorsements through traditional and social media, appearances, entrepreneurial activities, inkind deals, autographs and more, in accordance with NCAA guidelines. Many of the current top stars in college revenue and non-revenue sports

From the college coaches perspective, NIL is a hot topic that could simultaneously have positive and negative implications. High-major schools with larger budgets and well-established athletic programs see NIL as a major benefit that can help them attract top recruits and remain competitive. For the most part, coaches of these institutions believe that athletes should be able to capitalize on their own brand and make money from their persona as well as their success.

On the other hand, mid-major and low-major programs have concerns about what this could mean for the future of their programs. While most coaches are glad to see players compensated for their time and dedication to their craft, they are also worried that their programs will not be able to attract higher ranked or skilled recruits or retain players on their rosters to compete with high-major programs that have more resources.

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Although we are seeing more parity as of late in the higher revenue Division 1 sports of football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball, due to the differences in facilities and the ability to offer opportunities for more lucrative deals to athletes, NIL could lead to an even wider gap between the haves and have-nots in college athletics. From the college and university perspective, some institutions that have created programs and even positions within their athletic departments to manage the impact of NIL. Almost simultaneously as the NCAA was adopting and implementing NIL guidelines, as a proactive measure,

CTC announces Antonisia (Nisi) Collins and Keegan Robinson as performance apprentices

Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is pleased to announce Antonisia (Nisi) Collins and Keegan Robinson as the Performance Apprentices for the 2023-2024 Season.

CTC’s Performing

Apprentice Program is the is the nation’s leading apprentice program for emerging actors. The program offers a comprehensive opportunity for gifted young actors age 19 and older. Actors from underrepresented communities including, but not limited to, people of color, are especially encouraged to audition. PAs have the unique opportunity to perform on our stages alongside our resident Acting Company members, equity and non-equity actors, student actors, and locally, nationally and internationally renowned guest artists, who have included Itamar Moses, Philip Dawkins, Lisa Portes, Henry Godinez, Timothy Douglas, Eric Ting, Kia Corthron, Nilo Cruz, Naomi Iizuka, Lloyd Suh, Michael Mahler, Alan Schmuckler, Jerome Hairston, and Cheryl West. PAs perform in named roles and as understudies, and take part in readings and workshops of new works. They participate in workshops on resumes, audition pieces, and techniques for monologues and songs. They also gain experience in other departments at the theatre to help grow their professional development. Performing Apprentices have gone on to prolific careers in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, New York, and other major theatre regions and in some cases, became CTC Acting Company members.

Antonisia (Nisi) Collins comes to CTC from Auburn University where she is completing her BFA in Musical Theatre. She is a singer/dancer/ actor who has also worked at Alabama Shakespeare Festival. At Auburn she was Viola in Twelfth Night, Chelle in Detroit 67, Little Red in Into the Woods Kristine Linde in A Doll’s House and Brooklyn in Bring it On Keegan Robinson is a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota Theatre