St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Sports Medicine Department has created a comprehensive Name Image Likeness (NIL) program aimed at developing future leaders in our community and can now announce its inaugural class.
“Through hard work and determination, these individuals have proven to be exemplary student athletes and people who have a positive impact in our community,” says John Hauth, manager of Sports Medicine Relationships, St. Luke’s University Health Network. “After evaluating many prospects, their exceptional character, leadership and commitment to making an impact were obvious. We are excited to offer these impressive young people an opportunity to strengthen our Team and have a real impact in the community by extending to them an offer to become part of our inaugural Name Image Likeness class.”
For years, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) used the name, image and likeness of college athletes to promote their athletic programs and drive revenue. The use of student-athlete’s NILs was not compensated, and student-athletes were not permitted to seek compensation for their NILs outside of official school-related activities.
In 2021, the NCAA established an interim NIL policy allowing student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their NIL outside of official school-related activities.
At St. Luke’s, NIL has opened the door of possibilities for high school and college athletes to make money while engaging in service activities and efforts focused on giving back to their communities.
St. Luke’s inaugural NIL class is:
NAME HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE SPORT
- Najee Adams Easton Lafayette College Football
- Abe Atiyeh Moravian Academy Boston College Basketball
- Blake Barthol Parkland Coastal Carolina University Baseball
- Karam Chakif Dieruff Lehigh University Wrestling
- Maddison Darmstadt Phillipsburg Stonehill College Field Hockey
- Devyn Demchak Northampton Drexel University Softball
- Brynn Dreisbach Parkland West Chester University Volleyball
- Nate Ellis Allen DeSales University Basketball
- Sanaiya Ellis Allen NCACC Basketball
- Tyler Elsdon North Schuylkill Penn State University Football
- Christian Ferman Pocono Mountain West Virginia Commonwealth University Basketball
- Trevor Harris Liberty Lehigh University Football
- Riley Horoshko Central Catholic Temple University Lacrosse
- Justin Kanyuk Bethlehem Catholic University of North Carolina Football
- Jennifer Kokolus Freedom Holy Family University Basketball
- Chuck Kuczynski Central Catholic Syracuse University Lacrosse
- Jack McGorry Central Catholic St. Joseph’s University Lacrosse
- Brianna Moore Palmerton Duquesne University Soccer
- Ava Schaller Parkland Lehigh University Soccer
- Damon Simpson Wilson University of Connecticut Track & Field
- Brylee Tereska Liberty Bucknell University Track & Field
- Emily Vaughn Central Catholic Muhlenberg College Basketball
All NIL athletes also receive access to our state-of-the-art sports performance facilities as well as training opportunities with our elite group of sports performance coaches: access to resources across our Network and through Network partners; career planning, leadership development, social media and community relations training with industry leaders.
“During their experience with St. Luke’s, all NIL student-athletes will make personal public appearances at St. Luke’s and other community events, participate in clinics and other sports and learning opportunities, promote their activities through positive and interactive social media and participate in St. Luke’s student-athlete development program,” said Tim McGorry, community ambassador, St. Luke’s Sports Medicine, Fitness and Performance. “This groundbreaking NIL program will provide a clear pathway for student-athletes from college into the professional world. As the Region’s Leader in Sports Medicine and a Top 100 Hospital nationally, we are excited to offer this next generation of leaders an opportunity to become part of our St. Luke’s Team.”
