# NIL Partnerships are Extending Personal Branding Opportunities to Non-Athletic Students With Unique Talents By Leigh Steinberg · Published 2023-09-06 · Updated 2026-03-25 · Education Technology on MarketScale Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/nil-partnerships-are-extending-personal-branding-opportunities-to-non-athletic-students-with-unique-talents > Students with niche talents are discovering unexpected ways to build personal brands and attract sponsor interest beyond the athletic sphere ## Key points - Students with niche talents are discovering unexpected ways to build personal brands and attract sponsor interest beyond the athletic sphere Block Field The advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) laws in collegiate sports means personal branding is not only for social media influencers or big-time celebrities anymore. The landscape of personal branding is becoming increasingly democratized. This is particularly significant on college campuses where, beyond athletes, non-athletic personalities have an opportunity to market themselves, too. The various disciplines of talent they display is also a chance for them to increase their stock value in the eyes of future employers or sponsors. The key, however, is the role of marketing directors who can offer assistance in shaping these unique talents to broader interest and even more sponsorship deals. But the responsibility is on both ends. The [students must be proactive](https://marketscale.com/industries/business-services/leaving-nothing-on-or-off-the-field-to-be-questioned/?ctb_post=1), continuously updating their digital selves, showcasing their skills, and engaging with their audience. The idea that anyone can be a brand is not new, but it’s a concept that’s gaining serious traction in academic settings. > Brand can be extended to any student on a campus, and if they’re working with a marketing director, that person can help them put together the best website, the best content. [**Leigh Steinberg**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesteinberg?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name&challengeId=AQFKVaGewtb3pQAAAYprj0XpLzoaSdkRfumNUBUb2dxlga7vb_0AOAs5vBBfpmfJ2QuiYK82iajMjVotrbPnAQTFuYiUy3taJw&submissionId=2f897cd6-ba5f-8217-5c1c-33051f875221&challengeSource=AgFaohR5pUMZmAAAAYprj3XHgHSuwZxT5dCvDr1RE4zclpYoGCWHSk-7UMSUsPA&challegeType=AgHgu3tSab-XmQAAAYprj3XK-xaCFgY-pIqzKHkv8hkfstTixxFvGVg&memberId=AgGvSdpHKp4ovwAAAYprj3XNxpeb5yMzrNXSCSpjluO6cjc&recognizeDevice=AgGadvhpFGDyCwAAAYprj3XQVMIIeNplfgNzJOb98rYZPmJmKvcJ) is an Adjunct Professor at [**Concordia University Irvine**](https://www.cui.edu/) and a renowned sports agent. He has years of expertise in the fields of branding and marketing spanning nearly five decades. Steinberg is Chairman of the Board at **Steinberg Sports & Entertainment**, which he has led since 1975. Sports law is his specialty in teaching at several institutions. He briefly explained how non-athlete students can also gain ground in obtaining NIL deals. With the Midwestern convenience store chain, [**Kwik Trip**, recently partnering](https://www.channel3000.com/features/kwik-trip-signs-first-nil-deal-with-uw-marching-band-member/article_afa53566-4075-11ee-86a8-ebe349367a1a.html) with **University of Wisconsin–Madison** marching band student, **Will Hazeltine**, Steinberg mentioned how this just the latest in similar non-athlete NIL deals to come. ### Steinberg's Thoughts on Personal Branding "As the field of NIL expands, it’s inevitable that there will be non-athletic personalities on college campuses who, much like influencers in different areas, can again take advantage of logo and branding to be marketed. So, it could be a member of the marching band, it could be a dramatic arts major, it could be anyone as long as they have interesting content and that high profile of partnership with **Kwik Trip** and **Will Hazeltine** is a harbinger of things to come because, again, you have alumni groups that have a special interest in highlighting athletes and keeping them on campus, but they also have an interest in other students who may have something unique to share. > Brand can be extended to any student on a campus, and if they’re working with a marketing director, that person can help them put together the best website, the best content. > *— Leigh Steinberg, Adjunct Professor at Concordia University Irvine* And brand can be extended to any student on a campus, and if they’re working with a marketing director, that person can help them put together the best website, the best content. They need to be constantly posting, but this marketing branding craze can hit any interesting individual." ### About the Speakers **Leigh Steinberg** is an Adjunct Professor at **Concordia University Irvine** and a renowned sports agent with years of expertise in the fields of branding and marketing spanning nearly five decades. He is Chairman of the Board at **Steinberg Sports & Entertainment**, which he has led since 1975, and specializes in sports law teaching at several institutions. Tags: college athletes, Concordia University Irvine, image, Kwik-Trip, Leigh Steinberg, likeness, name, NIL, Will Hazeltine --- Source: MarketScale, https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/nil-partnerships-are-extending-personal-branding-opportunities-to-non-athletic-students-with-unique-talents. Published for AI indexing and citation; cite the canonical URL. Site guide for agents: https://www.marketscale.com/llms.txt