(Brooklyn, N.Y.) — Sports Power Clean Energy, a leading sports, clean energy, and technology brand, announces the launch of their NIL Brand Ambassador Program (Name, Image, and Likeness) with basketball standout Christian Smiley of Wyandanch, (Long Island) NY. An aspiring physical therapist, accomplished student-athlete who graduated high school with an 3.8 GPA, and now a clean energy advocate, Smiley has signed a 1-year Sports Power Clean Energy Brand Ambassador contract for the 2024/2025 season.
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) allows student-athletes to earn money by using their personal brand for endorsements, social media promotions, and other business ventures while retaining their amateur status. This policy, implemented in 2021, has transformed college sports by enabling athletes to monetize their popularity and entrepreneurial efforts. NIL deals must comply with specific regulations set by the NCAA, individual schools, and state laws.
Under the agreement, Christian will provide advisory and outreach support of the NIL Brand Ambassador Program, which will include:
- Local Content NIL Forums: In partnership with LocalContent.com this event series designed for student-athletes, their families, coaches, community members, and brands. The forum details each state’s high school and college NIL policies. In addition to blending education about local content regulations across various industries that offer career and small business opportunities and community benefit investments for student-athletes, their families, and communities.
- Sports Power Clean Energy Clothing Apparel Launch: Offer student-athletes a way to monetize traffic from their social media channels and network through a combination of paid placement opportunities and affiliate marketing (i.e., sales commissions), where other NIL student-athletes and affiliates can generate income.
- Premium Experiences at Professional Sports and Entertainment Venue: Through a variety of Sports Power Clean Energy programs, student-athletes will be able to attend some of the most popular women’s and men’s sporting events in state-of-the-art stadiums and arenas and also network with clean energy professionals to help shape their education and career goals.
“I’m really excited to join the Sports Power Clean Energy team. While playing in different amateur and pro-am leagues this past summer while preparing for prep school in September, the Sports Power Clean Energy team put me through their Coaches Clean Energy Clinics and Local Content Exchange Accelerator. I had no idea about the health and economic benefits of the clean energy transition. I also learned about New York’s Climate Change Law (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act – CLCPA), environmental justice, and how I can help my family, friends, and community have better lives.” says Smiley.
Christian Smiley has been celebrated for his impressive high school basketball career; though he was raised in Wyandanch, N.Y., his talents were showcased in Amityville School District N.Y., where he was a standout player. Smiley significantly impacted the court, leading his team to regional championships and earning All-Conference honors. His talent and leadership continued to shine at Bayshore High School N.Y, where he further established himself as a rising star in the sport. He made All League, All Conference, All County, First Team All Long Island, and 6th Team All State. He also took home the Suffolk County Championship and Long Island Regional Championship. Smiley is set to advance his education and basketball career at The Knox School in St. James (Long Island, NY) where he will prepare for collegiate and professional opportunities.
“The reality of the NIL industry across the nation is creating a misleading narrative. Less than 1% of student-athletes are earning multi-million dollar brand endorsements, and while we should celebrate those achievements, recent NCAA data shows that the median value of NIL deals is just $62, far lower than many might expect. This program, along with our growing roster of Brand Ambassadors like Christian, will focus on supporting the other 99% of student-athletes who may not have a million followers on social media but are high-character leaders with bright futures committed to addressing climate change and improving the quality of life for their loved ones. The truth is many student-athletes are unaware of how many great clean energy careers and small business opportunities there are in technology, construction, and manufacturing that can change the trajectory of their families.” says Tenicka Chaney, Director of Sports, Entertainment and Leisure for LocalContent.com. “Over 51% of NIL deals are focused on men’s football and basketball, for us to make sure both NIL and clean energy opportunities reach more young people and their families, we will ensure representation for more women and athletes in other sports such as soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, field hockey, and e-sports.”
Source: NCAA
Source Date: NYSERDA
Sports Power Clean Energy is accepting applications from high school and college student-athletes nationally with a focus on New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Nevada, and California.
About Sports Power Clean Energy:
Sports Power Clean Energy is a sports, clean energy, and technology brand. We improve communities’ quality of life by leveraging the power of sports and entertainment to provide access to careers, small business opportunities, and energy efficiency resources within the clean energy industry. Sports Power Clean Energy is part of the Local Content Network. For more information, please visit www.sportspowercleanenergy.com
