SIUE Athletics continues to set the standard for comprehensive student-athlete success both on and off the playing surface. Prioritizing community engagement, career and leadership development, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). The Cougars showed tremendous effort committing to their holistic development during the 2024-25 academic year.

With over 2,000 community service hours in the 2024-25 academic year, Cougar student-athletes have joined organizations like Restore Decor, Metro East Humane Society, Main Street Community Center and more for events like Community Service Day, created by SIUE Track and Field student-athlete, Vashanti Reynolds.

Community Service Day was part of the In It to Win It Leadership Development Initiative, created by Dr. Venessa A. Brown. This initiative has provided a framework for SIUE student-athletes to participate in both career and leadership development. Drawing from Jackie Joyner Kersee's Winning in Life program and ensuring the NCAA's constitutional requirements are met, this program provides space for student-athletes prepare for not only life after their collegiate journey but enhance their current career as a Cougar.

This year, the monthly event topics included (but are not limited to) community building, time management, emotion regulation, financial literacy, wellness, personal branding, student-athlete mental health, networking, and community service. With partners like Northwestern Mutual – Fairview Heights – Clayton, the Student-Athlete Success team was able to bring the vision of holistic student-athlete development to life and encourage participants to dive deeper into current interests as well as explore new ones.

Highlighting engagement and development through participation in country-wide initiatives like Civic Engagement Day and NCAA's Diversity and Inclusion campaign, the SIUE Cougars ensure the lessons learned translate across their personal, academic, and athletic pursuits.

The 2024-25 academic year was one to remember. The student-Athlete Success team is excited for another year of growth as they continue to support and elevate the student-athlete experience here at SIUE.