By Dr. Keith G. Adams, Ed.D., CMAA

Founder & President, CKA SAVE Project

2026 Drake Group Education Fund Exceptional Service Award Recipient

The scoreboard eventually goes dark for every athlete. The lights dim, the fans depart, and a quiet, often unsettling question remains: What comes next?

For over 30 years, I have sat in the rooms where that question is answered—sometimes with triumph, but too often with heartbreak. I’ve sat with the student-athlete who realized their “eligibility” didn’t equal “readiness,” and with parents who discovered too late that their child was falling through the cracks of a system that prioritized game film over a professional future.

This past April, at the Allen Sack National Symposium at Howard University, those rooms felt smaller and the stakes felt higher. The theme, “From Chaos to Consensus: Defining New Models for College Sports,” was not just a title—it was a mandate.

A Recognition of the Mission

I am deeply humbled to have received the 2026 Exceptional Service Award from The Drake Group Education Fund. Standing before the “conscience of college athletics,” I felt the weight of our collective responsibility. This award doesn’t belong to me; it belongs to the mission of the CKA SAVE Project and the student-athletes who trust us to help them “Find the Balance.” 

As I shared in my acceptance speech, “The Infrastructure of Hope,” we are currently facing two silent crises:

• The Resume Gap: The distance between athletic achievement and boardroom readiness.
• Time Poverty: The systemic lowering of academic expectations to preserve playing time.

We must stop settling for eligibility. We must demand readiness. 

Perspectives from the Next Generation

A central part of the CKA mission is ensuring our student-athletes aren’t just subjects of the conversation, but active participants in it. I was joined at the symposium by Keith Adams Jr., a CKA Intern and student-athlete at DeMatha Catholic High School, who shared his takeaway on the shifting landscape:

Keith Adams Jr., CKA Intern: “Attending the Allen Sack Symposium gave me a better understanding of the changing world of college athletics. One of the biggest things I learned was how important it is for student-athletes to balance NIL opportunities while still focusing on their education. It showed me that making money from your name, image, and likeness can be a great opportunity, but earning a degree and preparing for life after sports is just as important. As an athlete, this made me think more seriously about my future and the choices I make on and off the field. I also gained a greater appreciation for the importance of using opportunities wisely and staying focused on long-term goals. Overall, the symposium gave me a new perspective on what it truly means to be a student-athlete.”

Reflections from the CKA Delegation

The CKA SAVE Project arrived at Howard University with a powerhouse delegation, and the insights they gathered underscore the urgency of our work:

• Becky Wallace (CKA Board): Highlighted the challenges of navigating rapidly evolving regulations and the Drake Group’s “ceaseless commitment” to protecting participants from economic exploitation.
• Aaron Goodman (CKA Board): Noted the “impactful” perspective of student-athletes who face the sudden elimination of teams and roster spots in the post-House settlement era.
• Danny Thompson (OCP Correspondent): Observed the “eye-opening” reality of what happens behind the scenes, emphasizing that we must improve the current model without destroying the essence of college athletics.
• Dr. David Weathington (CEO, Delta School): Reinforced our partnership as the National Pilot Site for the “Find the Balance” curriculum, stressing the importance of holistic student development.
• Sydney Seabrooks – Featured Panelist, Panel 1: “The Athletes’ Verdict Post-House Settlement – From the Courtroom to the Locker Room” | CKA Virtual Intern | UNC Women’s Gymnastics ’29: Sydney is a standout freshman gymnast at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she recently earned 2026 Second Team All-America honors on floor exercise. A Clearwater, Florida native, she ranked among the top ten nationally this season and holds one of the highest all-around scores in program history. As a CKA VIP intern, she applies her athletic discipline to marketing and data strategies—dedicated to the “100/100 Standard” and bridging the gap between elite competition and professional healthcare aspirations. 

Sydney’s Reflection: “Attending the National Allen Sack Symposium was an incredible opportunity. As part of the CKA SAVE Project, I was welcomed by several board members, former collegiate athletic directors, and other leaders in college athletics. This experience not only gave me the chance to network but also to learn more about current events and policies affecting student-athletes like me. Hearing from representatives who discussed their advocacy for college athletics was admirable. Importantly, the National Allen Sack Symposium left me with new connections and insight. I look forward to attending another event, now with confidence and knowledge from that Sack Symposium.”

Bridging the Gap: The CKA Infrastructure

We don’t just identify problems; we build the solutions. The symposium highlighted why our “Infrastructure of Hope” is more critical than ever. We are closing the Resume Gap through three deliberate pathways:

• The CKA Virtual Internship Program (VIP): I am incredibly proud of interns like Sydney Seabrooks (UNC Gymnastics) and Dagny Johnson (UNC Fencing), who are gaining professional repetitions today so they can lead tomorrow.
• The Odd Coaches Podcast (OCP): For 52 weeks a year, we use media to choose conversation over confrontation, bringing the “real talk” from the rooms where decisions are made directly to your ears.
• Independent Research: We are currently conducting three landmark studies on student-athlete motivation, collective bargaining, and coaching in the NIL era. 

The Road Ahead: Next Steps & How You Can Help

The symposium was a catalyst, but the real work continues now. We have a clear roadmap for the remainder of 2026 and beyond:

1. Participate in Our Research – We need 100+ participants for our three landmark studies by the June 5, 2026 deadline.

Action: Visit ckasaveproject.org/contact-us to receive the research links and share your perspective.

1. Become an Official Member of the CKA SAVE Project – Join our team at your preferred level of giving at ckasaveproject.org/donate.
2. Prepare for the CKA Post-Graduate Academy (2028) – We are already looking toward August 1, 2028, for the launch of the CKA PGA in the DMV area—a “Front-Office” model designed to turn transition-ready competitors into Sophomore-Ready CEOs. 

Action: High school basketball players in the Class of 2028 should schedule a Zoom consultation now to protect their future eligibility.

Final Thoughts: The 100/100 Standard

Excellence is not a faucet you turn on for a coach and off for a professor. It is a way of life. At the CKA SAVE Project, we demand 100% on the field and 100% in the classroom. 

To our readers and supporters: thank you for being part of this infrastructure. Together, we are ensuring that when the lights go down on the court, the lights stay on for the future.

Be Great.

Dr. Keith G. Adams, Ed.D., CMAA

Founder & President, CKA SAVE Project

Find the Balance.