MKH Moment: Allyse Volpe
Written by: Talia Elizabeth Barras
Since 2021, the new NCAA regulations have given student athletes the opportunity to profit from their name, image, and likeness. This recent development has opened up numerous opportunities for college athletes to make money through endorsements, sponsorships, and other opportunities. Allyse Volpe, a current client of MK Hustle and a softball player at UCF has fortunately been given the opportunity to build her brand through NIL.
Allyse is a standout softball player who plans to take advantage of NIL opportunities offered to her. With the help of Matt Kahn, the founder and CEO of MK Hustle and partner, Steve Denker, Allyse can achieve these goals. Most recently, the MK Hustle team helped Allyse become a brand ambassador for Fitbiomics to promote their product, Nella Probiotics. As a student athlete, Allyse wants to ensure her playing performance is maximized during every season. She is currently injured and is doing everything in her power to recover in a timely manner. Fitbiomics will help her reach her potential in that the probiotics will help her maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. Allyse’s platform has allowed her to advocate for causes she cares about, such as health awareness.
Thus far, Allyse’s experiences with the NIL have been positive. Being a student athlete at UCF, their softball team tries to create a positive culture that promotes NIL deals. These deals are 100% negotiable and can be made personal. For example, deals are made so that every student athlete can provide their own input when negotiating a deal. Overall, Allyse believes that the NIL has been a beneficial change for college athletics. It has allowed her to profit from her hard work and talent. NIL has also taught her to be empowered and to have control over her own image.
A student athlete can also be one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences in a person’s life. Balancing academics and athletics can be a difficult task, but it can also lead to opportunities such as developing valuable life skills. Allyse manages her NIL opportunities and school by prioritizing her time and by creating a schedule that works for her. She acknowledges that she must be efficient with her time, which means avoiding distractions and making sacrifices when necessary. With that being said, being a student athlete is also incredibly rewarding. Softball provides a sense of purpose and belonging to Allyse. She has learned the value of teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Overall, the new NCAA regulations, allowing student athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness has had a positive effect on Allyse’s life. She has learned the importance of discipline and hardwork, which has been very rewarding for her. She highlights that there are many rewards and benefits from these changes in the college sports industry and believes that future generations of college athletes should take advantage of these opportunities.
