University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Connecting Student-Athletes to Community Champions
Bulldog Athletics is dedicated to the holistic well-being and performance of our student-athletes to ensure they are the strongest version of themselves - athletically, academically, and personally.
As part of our multidimensional approach, the Leaders for Leaders Program is a low-cost, high-impact initiative that connects student-athletes with members of the Asheville community. These relationships provide encouragement, perspective, career exposure, and a sense of belonging that complements academic and athletic support systems.
The Leaders for Leaders Program offers multiple levels of engagement that allows student-athletes and community volunteers to participate in ways that fit their availability, interests, and comfort levels. Programming includes one-on-one Champions (mentors), conversation partners, educational speaker series, career panels, internship guidance, and other such opportunities.
Leaders for Leaders FAQs
Testimonials
I believe that my relationship with Ahmad Thomas has been a "win" for both of us on many levels. One example is that we found common ground not only in our love of basketball, but also, in serving the community by becoming involved with the Special Olympic basketball team. Ahmad helped me in the process of gifting new basketball uniforms to the Special Olympic athletes. I now serve as one of the coaches for the Buncombe County Special Olympic basketball team. These initiatives would not have occurred without our participation in the Leaders for Leaders Program.Kevin O'Connor, Champion to Men's Basketball Player Ahmad Thomas, 2015 to 2018