First in a series
CoSIDA’s Postgraduate Scholarship program began in 1981 and celebrated its 35th anniversary just last year. As a follow-up to a feature in the February edition of CoSIDA 360 magazine that caught up with a number of past scholarship recipients, this series will go in-depth with several winners in a Q&A format.
For more information regarding the deadlines - all in April 2017 - for the 2017 postgraduate scholarship and other CoSIDA scholarships and grants, go to
http://www.cosida.com/sports/2014/1/30/scholarshipgrants_program.aspx
Akilah Laster
Current position: Assistant Director, Athletic Communications at the University of California
Undergraduate school: University of Miami, 2007
Graduate school: University of Oklahoma, 2016
How did the CoSIDA scholarship help advance your career?
Receiving the Langston Rogers Postgraduate Scholarship was huge in advancing my career as far as giving me the confidence to feel like I was on the right path. Becoming an SID is a second career for me and once I received the award and more importantly was recognized and welcomed into the CoSIDA family, I was more assured about my new career path. It made finishing school from a financial standpoint easier and also helped with the transition to my first full-time SID position at Cal-Berkeley. I don't know if I can truly quantify or explain how valuable beyond the dollar amount that scholarship has been and continues to be for me.
How were you encouraged to apply for the scholarship?
I was encouraged by Debbie Copp, my mentor and supervisor at Oklahoma, to apply. She is very involved with CoSIDA and has always been a tremendous support and guide for me in this industry. I've learned an unprecedented amount from her and honestly if she did not continue to push me, I would not feel as certain about my abilities as an SID.
What was it like to be notified as a scholarship recipient?
I was in Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Track and Field Championships with the OU team when I got the call at breakfast. I was really surprised because I had never received a scholarship before. I think I texted or emailed Debbie to tell her and she promptly wrote a press release for the front page of
SoonerSports.com, which was hilarious and very weird. It's strange to be behind the scenes a lot making sure everyone else gets their time in the spotlight and then get some publicity of your own, but I'll take it.
What have been some of the highlights of your athletics communications career to date?
The highlights of working in athletics can be summed up in two words: the people. It's so corny, but so true. I have met some of the best people in the last few years. I'd love to name them all, but in thinking about the last few years, I've probably met several dozen people that I really just smile when I think about the laughs (and cries sometimes) that we've shared. I'm super fortunate because I've always had a lot of external encouragement and it helps. I think when a coach begins to consider you a part of his/her family, the student-athletes send "thank-you" text or introduce you to their parents, or you can hug and laugh with well-respected administrators who can seem so distant from a hierarchical standpoint, it's special. Mostly though, my colleagues have been great, particularly the GA family from OU. We communicate constantly and it's fun seeing everyone starting anew (even though I'm a bit older than most of them). Oh yeah, and I love the travel!!!