Annual Programming

New Student-Athlete & Family Welcome 

This annual event welcomes the class of new student-athletes' families for an introduction to Stanford Athletics.

GameFACES 

Inspired by Faces of Community during NSO for all new Stanford students, GameFACES highlights the challenges, personal development, and stories of resilience of student-athletes in community with the broader Stanford campus. 

Student-Athlete Send-Off

Annual reception hosted by the Director of Athletics recognizing the graduating student-athlete class. 

Final Pre-Game Meal 

Graduating student-athletes come together for one last time to eat, take photos, and get ready for Wacky Walk on their way to Stanford Stadium for Commencement.

New Student-Athlete Orientation & Transition Support 

DASH advising staff provide individualized advising and onboarding support for all new Stanford student-athletes enrolling outside of Autumn Quarter. 

Faculty Athletic Fellows 

Faculty Athletics Fellows represent a variety of academic disciplines with an interest in supporting the student-athlete experience. Fellows strengthen the ties between athletics and academics at Stanford, provide student-athletes with additional support and mentoring, advance relationships among faculty, student-athletes, and coaches, and build faculty awareness of athletics considerations and student-athlete experiences. 

Cardinal Scoop 

Bi-weekly newsletter for varsity student-athletes with timely information, updates, and opportunities. 

Student-Athlete Engagement Groups

Created by and for the Stanford student-athlete community, Student-Athlete Community Groups offer a tangible way for students to build relationships with each other and support both their personal and professional goals. All student-athletes are welcome to join groups that engage their identities and interests at any point during their Stanford journey. 

 

• Athletes in Medicine (AIMS): Supports student-athletes interested in pursuing the field of medicine
• Cardinal BLCK: Fosters community among Black student-athletes at Stanford.
• Cardinal Pride: Fosters community among LGBTQIA+ and allied Stanford student-athletes.
• Community of International Student-Athletes (CISA): Fosters community and provides resources for international student-athletes.
• Student-Athletes in Finance (SAIF): Supports student-athletes interested in pursuing the field of finance.
• Stanford Maccabi: Fosters community among Jewish student-athletes at Stanford.
• Cardinal Community: Supports student-athletes interested in participating in community service opportunities.
• Cardinal Connections: Creates a space for student-athletes interested in mental health and wellness to engage with each other and on-campus resources. 
• Tree Talk: Tree Talk is a podcast and social media content creation group focused on sharing the unheard and unique stories of Stanford student-athletes. 
• Social Events for Athletes (SEA): Brings together Stanford's student-athlete body in fun and engaging ways. SEA ideates, plans, and executes events that provide student-athletes events.
• Student-Athletes for Sustainability (SAS): Supports student-athletes interested in promoting sustainability practices throughout the Stanford Athletics experience

 

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

• The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a group of student-athletes passionate about policy and legislation impacting the student-athlete experience at the university, conference, and national level. The SAAC executive team meets regularly with Stanford Athletics leadership, university administration, and the ASSU cabinet regarding matters pertinent to the student-athlete experience. In addition, SAAC convenes quarterly C-House meetings, and provides support for groups that engage the entire student-athlete community, including: Cardinal Community, Cardinal Connections, Student-Athletes for Sustainability, Social Events for Athletes, and Tree Talk.

 

Cardinal House (C-House)

Cardinal House (C-House) is a group of coach-appointed representatives from each of the 36 varsity sport programs. C-House plays an integral role in ensuring each varsity sport is represented in the voting and decision-making processes regarding policy and legislation affecting the student-athlete experience.

 

National Leadership Development Opportunities

 

• ACC Unity Tour

• The ACC invites 6 representatives (4 student-athletes, 2 coaches or staff) per member institution to participate in the annual ACC Unity Tour every summer. Participants of this tour will engage in an immersive educational experience, in which the group will visit historical sites, learn from local leaders about history and culture, and engage with the community. 

• Athlete Ally Summit 

• The Athlete Ally Summit brings together college student-athletes, coaches, and administrators from across the country to convene and build community, gain knowledge, and commit to actions to help expand inclusion, allyship, and belonging on their campuses. The days are packed with panels, breakouts, community reflection moments, play, outings to local pro sports games, and special activities. 

• Black Student-Athlete Summit

• The Black Student-Athlete Summit, held each May unites student-athletes, athletic professionals, and industry innovators for four days of dynamic programming. Participants engage in career development sessions, financial literacy workshops, and wellness activities designed to prepare them for life beyond sports. From the game-changing Pro Day to the ElevateXperience and Grad/Job Fair, the Summit equips athletes with tangible skills, strategic connections, and pathways to leadership in business, culture, and community.

• Career in Sports Forum

• The Career in Sports Forum is an annual educational program that brings together 200 selected NCAA student-athletes to learn about and explore potential careers in sports, particularly college athletics. This unique three-day forum helps student-athletes chart their career paths. Participants network with and learn from current athletics professionals.

• Student-Athlete Leadership Forum

• Student-athletes selected to attend the forum return to campus with invaluable leadership skills, a refined understanding of the relationship among personal values, core beliefs and behavioral styles, and the support of a close personal network of like-minded peers to provide continued connection and dialogue after the program concludes. 

• Women Leaders in Sports National Convention

• The annual National Convention, hosted by the Women Leaders in Sports organization, is designed to develop, connect, and advance women in sports. Student-athlete convention attendees will have an opportunity to connect with women from various roles in sports, including CEOs, conference commissioners, and athletic directors. This is an amazing networking and development opportunity for student-athletes who have interest in getting into the sports industry

 

If you have an interest in any of these Leadership Development opportunities, please reach out to DASH’s Student-Athlete Success and Well-Being team. All student-athletes must be nominated by Stanford Athletics and/or the ACC to participate in these events. 

Awards & Scholarships

 

• NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship 

• The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship provides a $10,000 one-time award given to student-athletes who have excelled academically and athletically, and who plan to pursue graduate school. Up to 126 scholarships are awarded each year—split evenly between men and women—across the fall, winter and spring sport seasons.

• ACC Postgraduate Scholarship

• The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford and Jim & Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree after completing their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $9,000 toward his or her graduate education. 

• ACC Excellence Award

• The ACC Excellence Award recognizes outstanding graduates from ACC member institutions. The goal of the award is to highlight the students embodying the student-athlete ideal. The awardees are exemplary students, athletes, and contributors to the community and society, and serve as an example to their fellow students.  

• ACC Top Six

• This award is presented annually to six student-athletes from each ACC conference institution who demonstrate outstanding dedication to community service and outreach programs.  

• ACC UNITE 

• This award recognizes individuals affiliated with the ACC who have made an impact in the areas of racial and social justice. The UNITE Award will be presented annually to individuals who:
• Best exemplify ACC CORE’s mission to promote and encourage racial equity and social justice through education, partnerships, engagement and advocacy;
• Have helped create meaningful, lasting change by improving systems, organizational structures, policies, practices and attitudes;
• Have been a pioneer and/or helped pave the way for underrepresented social identities either at the institution or in the community.

• Dr. Pepper Go Teach 

• Each ACC institution has the opportunity to select one student-athlete to receive a Dr Pepper Go Teach Tuition valued at $2,500. This program is open to student-athletes across all institutional sponsored sports programs and academic classification. Following all school selections, the ACC conference office will select one recipient to receive the grand prize of $10,000.

If you have questions about any of these scholarship/award opportunities, please reach out to Celeste Maxwell Brown (cembrown@stanford.edu).