First-Ever Athlete Con Empowers Collegiate Student-Athlete Influencers

In a landmark event for collegiate athletes, the first-ever Athlete Con was held this past weekend, offering a unique platform for student-athlete influencers and content creators to network, connect with brands, and learn about cutting-edge tools and platforms for content creation. This innovative conference created by Sam Green is set to become a game-changer for student-athletes looking to expand their reach and capitalize on their name, image, and likeness (NIL).

Out of hundreds of student-athlete applications, CavFutures had four student-athletes from UVA selected to attend. Of the four, two attendees were standout women’s basketball players Paris Clark and Kymora Johnson. Both Clark and Johnson, who are McDonald's All-Americans and key contributors to the UVA Women’s basketball team, were celebrated not only for their athletic prowess but also for their impressive content creation skills. The duo clinched a Creators Award during the event, highlighting their influence and creativity off the court.

The event also saw participation from two rising stars in women’s volleyball, Kadynce Boothe and Nala Cornegy. These student-athletes quickly garnered attention from a variety of brands and business owners, showcasing the growing interest in female student-athletes as influential content creators.

Throughout the conference, student-athletes had the opportunity to connect with representatives from major social media platforms such as Meta (Instagram), TikTok, and Snapchat. Additionally, each student-athlete participated in a Canva Create workshop, and learned from a variety of speakers about digital content creation and branding.

The competitive spirit of the athletes was on full display as they vied for on-the-spot brand deals. The event also featured generous product gifting, with each student-athlete receiving a variety of items ranging from clothing and skincare products to healthy drinks and snacks, underscoring the tangible benefits of engaging in networking opportunities.

On Saturday, the evening festivities included a star-studded Pink Carpet and awards ceremony. The evening featured custom live sneaker painting, a variety of photo opportunities, and interviews conducted by the NIL report.

"Athlete Con provides a much-needed platform to bridge the gap for college athletes seeking resources and support to build their brands and platforms," said CavFutures Director of Marketing and Media, Kellie Booth. "We're proud to support our student-athletes as they learn valuable tools and strategies to build their brand, and look forward to continuing to share these resources with a broader UVA student-athlete audience." 

The success of this inaugural Athlete Con sets a promising precedent for future events, as the demand for influential student-athletes continues to rise. By fostering a community of engaged and savvy content creators, Athlete Con is poised to redefine the landscape of collegiate athletics and content creation and we are proud to continue partnering with Athlete Con creator Sam Green to provide these important resources and support.