Long Beach City College’s student-athletes now have more help getting into the universities of their choice.
LBCC announced on Wednesday, Sept. 21, that it has partnered with Gatorade and the Honest Game Foundation to help student-athletes reach their post-secondary education goals through a new academic eligibility tracking software.
Honest Game, a technology company that helps student-athletes track and navigate college academic eligibility, is working with LBCC to create a data-driven pathway to four-year universities for Vikings.
Under the program, each student-athlete’s transcript will be uploaded into Honest Game’s software, which will keep track of all essential information, such as grade-point average, required credits and test scores, to determine the NCAA division at which the athlete is eligible to compete, Honest Game officials said.
If a student-athlete is not eligible for a certain division, the tracking software will give them a plan to correct the issues that from happening.
“I can say with certainty that Honest Game will be a true game changer, both in the recruitment process and in how we support student-athletes through their academic journeys at LBCC,” Kal Stewart, director of athletics at LBCC, said in a statement.
“At this level, we have never had direct access to a student’s qualifier or non-qualifier status,” Stewart said. “Possessing this knowledge will help our athletic department exponentially.”
The partnership between LBCC and Honest Game Foundation is receiving funding from Gatorade, which has made a multiyear commitment, called Fuel Tomorrow, to increse equity sports by elevating diverse voices, sharing its hefty resources and empowering leaders.
It wasn’t immediately known how much money Gatorade has provided to LBCC and Honest Game Foundation.
“Gatorade knows sport has the power to change lives, which is why we’re committed to addressing the hurdles preventing student-athletes from continuing their athletic pursuits,” said Jen Schmit, senior director of community marketing at Gatorade. “In partnership with the Honest Game Foundation, we’re helping to bring LBCC equity and access to the resources athletes need to realize their full potential.”
Nearly 1 million student-athletes are deemed academically ineligible nationwide each year as a result of avoidable or recoverable errors, such as enrolling in classes that do not meet NCAA requirements, according to a Wednesday press release.
But Honest Game will be there to assist student-athletes at LBCC.
“We exist to leverage students’ passion for sports as a motivation for learning,” said Kim Michelson, CEO and co-founder of Honest Game.
With Honest Game’s help, LBCC students will be on track with the approved courses necessary for NCAA eligibility, creating an educational pathway to play college sports at the next level.
“Student-athletes have a brief period of time to showcase their academic and athletic talents at the community college level,” Steward said. “But with Honest Game, we can now improve our game plans to better navigate some of the pitfalls that can derail a student-athlete’s ability to transfer onto a four-year institution.”