Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Develop and pitch an athlete brand strategy in this 2-week program for high school students on Georgetown University’s campus.
Course Description
How does a college athlete become a credible brand? Students examine the business and media ecosystem of college sports, then study how name, image, and likeness has changed the relationship among athletes, schools, audiences, and commercial partners. Cases and discussion connect opportunity with legal and ethical responsibilities.
The course moves from the landscape to personal brand architecture. Students define a story, values, audience, and point of difference, then plan content across social platforms. They analyze what brands look for in a partner, how sponsorship fit affects credibility, and why engagement strategy must serve more than follower growth.
A Personal NIL Brand Pitch brings the work together. Each student develops a brand position, audience profile, content strategy, and potential partner fit, then presents the rationale with clarity and confidence. The project treats the athlete as both creator and decision-maker, emphasizing consistency, judgment, and responsible representation. Discussion, practice, and feedback help students check their reasoning and improve how they communicate the work.
This two-week course takes place at Georgetown University. The course is available to residential and commuter students. Beyond class, students connect focused academic work with campus life, growing independence, and clearer direction about what students may want to study or pursue next. The program is developed by Georgetown University and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery.
What Will You Do?
• Map the business and media ecosystem of college sports
• Explain how NIL changed athlete marketing opportunities
• Define a personal brand story, values, audience, and difference
• Build a cross-platform social content strategy
• Evaluate potential partners for brand and audience fit
• Create and deliver a Personal NIL Brand Pitch
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Explain the role of NIL within the college sports ecosystem
• Develop a coherent athlete brand and content strategy
• Evaluate partnership fit and present a responsible NIL pitch
Students leave with a completed Personal NIL Brand Pitch and a stronger framework for athlete marketing, partnerships, and reputation.
Why Sports Marketing Skills Matter?
Sports marketing requires students to connect identity with audience and business strategy. A personal brand is not only a logo or feed. It is a consistent set of choices about story, values, content, partnerships, and the people a message is meant to reach.
NIL also makes legal and ethical awareness essential. Students consider how a partnership may affect reputation, obligations, and trust. Evaluating fit and explaining a strategy strengthen media literacy, communication, and decision-making in a fast-changing marketplace. Together, the work reinforces careful reasoning and the ability to revise a conclusion when new evidence changes the picture.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for high school students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and are interested in college sports, athlete branding, social media, marketing, content, business, or NIL. It fits athletes and non-athletes who want to understand how personal brands and partnerships are built.
Participants should be ready to examine case studies, reflect on values and audience, create a content plan, and present an individual pitch. Students should be comfortable discussing both opportunity and responsibility in public-facing brand decisions.
Recommended by More Than 4 out of 5 Students
Based on students surveyed in 2026 about Summer Discovery High School programs at Georgetown University campus.
Why Georgetown University’?
Studying on Georgetown University’s campus gives high-school students the opportunity to explore an academic interest while experiencing campus life in Washington, D.C. Its historic campus and surrounding neighborhood sit near embassies, institutions, and organizations that shape national and international conversations, giving the summer a distinctive sense of place.
Students learn alongside peers with similar interests, navigate a new environment, and gain independence through everyday choices and responsibilities. Time outside class helps students experience the broader rhythm of university life while considering what subjects, communities, and possible directions feel right for them. For families, the program offers a combination of substantive academic exploration, personal growth, and clearer insight into what a student may want to study or pursue next.
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive