CKA SAVE Project Returns as Sponsor of the CKA Balanced Student-Athlete of the Year Award at the 2026 Opendorse Bowl Series
CKA Virtual Internship Program student-athletes will lead research and produce content on site in Canton, with Opendorse Bowl Series coverage coming to The Odd Coaches Podcast
SILVER SPRING, MD (October 21, 2026) – The CKA SAVE Project, Inc., the National Leader in Holistic Student-Athlete Development, today announced its return as sponsor of the CKA Balanced Student-Athlete of the Year Award at the 2026 Opendorse Bowl Series, the second consecutive year of the partnership.
The Opendorse Bowl Series takes place Saturday, November 21, 2026, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. It features the ForeverLawn Bowl and the Extra Points Bowl, two postseason games for Division III teams from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC), North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), and Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC). Founded in 2024, the series gives programs that narrowly missed the NCAA tournament an additional postseason platform.
The award honors student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional commitment and success in both academics and athletics. The 2025 inaugural class recognized one player from each participating team: Dylan Sleva (Westminster College), Jordan Bassler (Ohio Northern University), Miles Harding (Mount St. Joseph University), and Jerry McBee (Wabash College).
Student-Athletes Leading the Work On Site
Members of the CKA Virtual Internship Program (CKA VIP) will work the event in Canton, conducting research on three timely topics: student-athlete motivation, student-athlete perspectives on collective bargaining, and coaching in today’s climate. They will also create content for the CKA SAVE Project and The Odd Coaches Podcast (OCP).
The CKA VIP is a pioneering flexible virtual internship program built to close the “Resume Gap” by giving student-athletes real-world execution experience, including serving as on-site leads for national events.
For more information about our research studies, visit us on the web at www.ckasaveproject.org and click the Contact tab.
CKA will also promote Opendorse Bowl Series programming on OCP, hosted and executive produced by Dr. Keith Adams. Subscribe and share at https://www.youtube.com/@oddcoachespodcast.
Introducing CKA to a National Audience
The sponsorship introduces CKA’s services to a national audience of athletic administrators, coaches, student-athletes, and families. Built on 17 years of Educational Management research and practice, CKA’s offerings include:
Individual student-athlete services: Academic Skills and “Gap” Assessments, Student-Athlete “GM” Consulting, and Full Academic Outsourcing
Premier specialized services: Transfer Portal Navigation & Audit and NIL “PIE” Strategy Consulting
Career Launch Academy (CLA): One program for every student, from middle school through post-graduate
“Returning as sponsor of the CKA Balanced Student-Athlete of the Year Award is an honor,” said Dr. Keith Adams, Ed.D., CMAA, Founder and President of the CKA SAVE Project. “Our mission is to move the conversation Beyond the Scholarship, and these student-athletes show what balance looks like in practice. Having our VIP interns on site lets the next generation of leaders gain real experience while helping tell these stories. Experience matters.”
About the Opendorse Bowl Series
Founded in 2024 in collaboration with the HCAC, NCAC, OAC, and PAC, the Opendorse Bowl Series is a two-game Division III postseason event at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Live video coverage is available on FloCollege. For updates, follow @D3BowlSeries on Instagram and X.
About The CKA SAVE Project
The CKA SAVE Project, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Since 2009, it has empowered student-athletes nationwide through Educational Management, a philosophy that coordinates academic, athletic, personal, and professional development into one system of support. Its founder, Dr. Keith Adams, received the 2026 Drake Group Education Fund Exceptional Service Award. One Goal: Balance. One Result: Success. Learn more at www.ckasaveproject.org.
Media Contact
Dr. Keith Adams, Ed.D., CMAA
President, CKA SAVE Project | President-Elect, The Drake Group | Host & Executive Producer, Odd Coaches Podcast
[email protected] | www.ckasaveproject.org | @ckasaveproject | @oddcoaches
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