LARAMIE – A capacity crowd of approximately 200 attended the Wyoming athletic department's "NIL 101" event last Tuesday night at the Laramie Rib & Chophouse.
 
The dinner presentation was an opportunity for fans to learn more about how name, image and likeness deals work for student-athletes and the importance for UW to compete in the NIL space to keep up with Mountain West rivals.
 
Speakers at the event included UW's senior associate athletic director Randy Welniak, 1Wyo president Mitch Edwards and Wyoming Sports Properties general manager Rob DeSoto and NIL liaison Canon Flores.
 
"We're approaching NIL a little differently here at the University of Wyoming," Welniak said. "You've heard a lot of the media attention, which is focused on those six- and seven-figure types of NIL deals at larger Power 4 Conference schools. … But the way we're approaching it is by lining ourselves with some unbelievable charities around the state of Wyoming."
 
Donations made to the 1Wyo collective connect UW student-athletes to charities around the state.
 
During a fundraiser last month at the Little America in Cheyenne, players from the football and basketball programs were among the student-athletes who earned NIL money while helping Make-A-Wish dreams come true for children battling critical illnesses.
 
"When you are able to grant wishes for 25 kids across Wyoming, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it because the stories that you heard, the battles that they're fighting," UW women's basketball head coach Heather Ezell said. "A lot of credit to these student-athletes who came over. They gave little skits and did whatever to raise money for all those kids across the state."
 
Emily Mellema, the Cowgirls' starting point guard, participated in the Make-A-Wish fundraiser with teammates Tess Barnes and Allyson Fertig.
 
"It's cool for us to realize how big of an impact we can have on the community and the people of Wyoming," Mellema said. "That event really opened my eyes to how much they can really impact us as well."
 
Traditional donations to the Cowboy Joe Club remain vital for the athletic department to pay for scholarships, cost of attendance for student-athletes and facilities projects. Wyoming Sports Properties can connect corporate sponsors and businesses with student-athletes for use of their NIL in advertising and promotion.
 
1Wyo, a non-profit corporation established last July, is primarily being used to provide NIL opportunities to established Cowboys and Cowgirls standouts in exchange for charitable work.
 
"Recruitment-wise sometimes people will want to know what their long-term opportunities are, but the reality to it is NIL dollars in our space is for retention," UW football head coach Jay Sawvel said. "For football, we've got the best fan base in the Mountain West, so we appreciate that space and the ability to do that."
 
The players Sawvel took to the Make-a-Wish to represent his team were senior linebacker Shae Suiaunoa, senior cornerback Tyrecus Davis and senior center Nofoafia Tulafono. All three will play leading roles for the 2024 Pokes.
 
"Community engagement throughout the state by the university of the state is one of our biggest things. Our players enjoyed it, our players appreciated it and was a touching event," Sawvel said. "The Make-a-Wish Foundation and the people you're having the opportunity to work with and be with at that is outstanding. The three players that I took over there thanked me for taking them over there because I think more so than anything they just enjoyed the evening and enjoyed the interaction with the people involved."
 
Sawvel and Ezell both noted they have had players contacted by third parties promising NIL money if they enter the portal and transfer to other schools. NIL can help with roster stability at UW in this new era of collegiate athletics.
 
"I want to keep the Emily Mellema's and Allyson Fertig's on my team," Ezell said. "Giving them the opportunity that they've put in the work, now how can we get them out in the community and compensate them for that while at the same time helping the community.
 
"It's not come here and get X amount of dollars. It's (to) stay here, graduate from the University of Wyoming and be part of something special."
 
1Wyo is launching a campaign to get 1,000 fans to donate at least $307 to the collective.
 
"It's like passing a collection plate at church to help somebody out or to do something. Some people can afford more, some people can afford less," Edwards said. "But if everybody collectively contributes, we have the money and we have the funds to engage those student-athletes.
 
"The goal is to make Wyoming a better place."
 
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes.
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.