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Why This Nutrition Company Is Giving Scientists The Influencer Treatment

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Athletic Greens (AG1) announced a new approach to endorsement deals that redirects the spotlight from athletes to scientists, creating what may be the first-ever NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) program for researchers in health and nutrition.

This move comes as the traditional NIL market for college athletes is projected to surpass $2 billion by 2026, according to data from Opendorse. While most brands focus on athletic endorsers, AG1’s scientist-centered approach represents a notable departure from current industry trends.

AG1, a nutrition company known for its supplement products, has signed NIL endorsement deals with three early-career scientists instead of the athletes typically associated with such arrangements. The company provides financial grants and visibility to researchers studying sleep health, nutrition gaps in athletes, and microbiome science.

The company selected Chidera Ejikeme, a research assistant at Brigham & Women’s Hospital; Hannah Eberhardt, a master’s student at Florida State University; and Dr. Margaret Hilliard, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Davis, as their scientific endorsers.

“We believe scientists deserve the same stage,” AG1 said in their announcement. “Their work is the engine behind human health, nutrition, and performance – and it deserves investment, amplification, and celebration.”

Selection Process Mirrors Brand Partnerships

AG1 reports using a structured selection approach for identifying researchers that mirrors how brands typically select influencers and athletes for partnerships. The company evaluates candidates based on alignment with their brand mission, scientific merit, researcher potential, feasibility of research impact, and commitment to integrity.

This framework focuses on research areas that advance foundational health and wellness science, novel approaches that address gaps in current knowledge.

According to AG1, the three researchers represent distinct specialties within health and nutrition science:

Ejikeme’s research at Brigham & Women’s Hospital examines sleep’s impact on health. Her work includes studying sleep patterns of resident physicians and the relationship between sleep quality and blood pressure in mothers and children. Ejikeme emphasizes that quality sleep involves the body’s ability to recover, not just total hours, and advocates for translating scientific insights into practical applications.

Eberhardt studies nutrition gaps at Florida State University, particularly low energy availability in female athletes and tactical populations. Her undergraduate research identified protein and carbohydrate deficiencies in adolescent female gymnasts. Eberhardt’s thesis explores connections between body composition, dietary habits, and energy availability.

Hilliard, a computational microbiologist at UC Davis, investigates how diet shapes the gut microbiome and impacts health outcomes. Her research spans early-life nutrition through adult health, including how sugars in human milk influence microbiome development differently in rural versus urban communities. Hilliard currently applies machine learning to understand interactions between diet, microbiome, and vitamin B12 levels, potentially informing personalized nutrition strategies.

Investment Strategy Includes Academic Partnerships

The NIL program represents one component of AG1’s broader research investment strategy. The company said these endorsements complement their recently formed partnership with UC Davis and its Innovation Institute for Food and Health.

AG1 reports committing $20 million to nutrition and metabolic health research over the next three years, positioning the company at “the intersection of nutrition and metabolic health.”

This approach represents a potential shift in endorsement strategy that may interest brands and creator economy professionals. While traditional NIL deals typically leverage an athlete’s or creator’s existing audience, AG1’s model invests in emerging researchers who bring credibility rather than audience size.

The company positions these researchers as “the future of innovation in health, nutrition, and performance science,” suggesting a long-term investment in scientific authority rather than immediate audience reach.

AG1’s strategy contrasts with current trends in the influencer market. According to a recent Goat Agency report, college athletes have become “cultural tastemakers with peer-level credibility” for Gen Z consumers. While brands typically seek influencers with established followings, AG1 invests in scientific expertise that may build different types of trust with consumers.

Strategic Positioning and Research Credibility

AG1 frames these endorsement deals as supporting their mission of “empowering people to take ownership of their health.” The company states this requires not only offering research-backed products, but also investing in researchers who advance scientific understanding.

“By backing emerging researchers, AG1 is reshaping how we think about endorsement deals – and who deserves the spotlight,” the company said, positioning the program as an innovation in how brands develop and leverage expertise.

The NIL program represents AG1’s attempt to establish deeper credibility in the nutrition space through direct investment in scientific research rather than traditional influencer marketing approaches that focus primarily on visibility and reach.







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Catie Riley – Assistant Track & Field Distance Coach – Men’s Track and Field (Sprints, Hurdles, Jumps) Coaches

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Catie Riley ’21 joined the Colby Track & Field coaching staff as an Assistant Coach to start the 2021-22 academic year. 

“Colby is extremely excited to keep Catie in Waterville so soon after graduation,” said Head Cross Country Coach Jared Beers ’01. “Catie had so much positive impact in the team as a student athlete, I cannot wait for her to build upon that as a coach.”

During her four years at Colby, Riley competed for the Cross Country and Track & Field teams. In Cross Country she posted a personal best of 23:44 for the 6000m and finished as one of the team’s top-five runners in her junior and senior years. In Track & Field, she focused on the 5000m (personal best 18:53), the 3000m (11:04), and the 3000m steeplechase (12:29).

“I feel so lucky to be able to come back to Colby as an assistant coach,” said Riley. “During my time as a student, Colby quickly became my second home and the team was like family to me. I feel so grateful to have this chance to further explore my passion for running and give back to this amazing program. The pandemic has made this opportunity all the more special as I get to spend one more year with my former teammates and coaches, cheering them on and supporting them. Everyone was extremely dedicated to training this past year and I am looking forward to seeing that hard work pay off in the upcoming season.”

Riley graduated with a double major in Biology and Government. Beyond Colby, she connected with the greater Waterville community by volunteering in the Emergency Department at MaineGeneral Hospital and working with the Maine Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.



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Watch: 2025 Women’s Volleyball Season Recap

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women’s volleyball finished the 2025 season with an overall record 7-15, including going 6-8 in Ivy League play.  

The Crimson opened the season with a competitive nonconference slate and concluded it with a dominant 3-0 win over Stonehill.  The victory over the Skyhawks propelled Harvard into the Ivy League slate as it won two of the first three contests, defeating Dartmouth and Columbia in three sets. 

Harvard concluded its season in a similar fashion, recording two strong victories in the final three matches.  First, Harvard sent its seniors out a top, defeating Brown 3-0 in the last game at the Malkin Athletic Center.  The Crimson then closed out the year with a five-set thriller over the Penn Quakers in Philadelphia. 

Two Crimson student-athletes received All-Ivy honors following strong seasons on the court.  For the second year in a row Ryleigh Patterson received honorable mention All-Ivy honors.  Despite missing six matches in the middle of the season, Patterson made her mark with 113 kills, 56 blocks, and nine aces.  Sofia Rossi joined as another honorable mention All-Ivy honoree as she paced the Crimson’s offense with 238 kills in her first season.  The standout first-year also tallied 74 aces, 28 blocks, and 15 aces. 

At the conclusion of the 2025 season Harvard says goodbye to three seniors that have left their mark on the Crimson.  Brynne Faltinsky, Peyton Hollis, and Hannah Nguyen made tremendous impacts on and off the court during their four years in Cambridge.  The senior trio was instrumental in 37 victories and a 2023 trip to the Ivy League Tournament. 

Although the loss of the seniors will be felt, Harvard is poised for a strong season in 2026 as it returns the core of its lineup.  The Crimson will welcome back four of its top five attackers and its top four attackers from this past season.  Included in its returners will be three first-year’s from a season ago who all appeared and made noticeable contributions in each match. 

 



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VOLLEYBALL ADDS TRANSFER TO SPRING ROSTER

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BROOKINGS, S.D. – The South Dakota State volleyball team has announced the addition of Patrycja Labucka to its roster, beginning with the upcoming sprint semester. Labucka, a 6-foot-5-inch rightside, will join the Jackrabbits in January and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Labucka will transfer to SDSU after two seasons at Florida Southwestern State College, where she made two NJCAA national championship game appearances with the Buccaneers. The Bucs won the national title in 2024 and were the runner-up team in 2025. Labucka also helped FSW to multiple district championships and a state title during her time with the Buccaneers. Prior to her stint at FSW, Labucka spent one season at Middle Tennessee State, where she did not appear in any matches.

At home in Poland, Labucka was a member of the U16 Polish National Team. She also finished in the top-three at the Cadets Polish National Championship in three straight seasons from 2019-2021.

Labucka plans to major in entrepreneurship at SDSU.


-GoJacks.com-



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Track & Field Elite Prospect Camp Set for Jan. 11

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SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus Track & Field Elite Prospect Camp is set for Jan. 11 at Lund Center. The camp is available for high school juniors and seniors who are looking to gain exposure and are wanting to compete at the collegiate level. 

Itinerary:

12:15 p.m. Check-in

12:45 p.m. Warm-up

1:00 p.m. Session I (hurdles, long jump/triple jump, pole vault, discus)

12:00-2:00 p.m. Time available to meet with an admissions counselor (parents and/or participants)

2:45 p.m. Break or warm-up

3:00 p.m. Session II (sprints, high jump, shot put)

5:00 p.m. Conclusion/Dinner with the team (parents dinner with coaches)

$50 to do one session or $65 to do an event in each session. More details will come after registration and as it gets closer to the camp date.

Included: 

Elite prospect camp t-shirt

Dinner

Video analysis, individualized coaching and instruction

Campus tour and a meeting with an admissions counselor are available

Session I (1:00pm): Hurdles, Long Jump/Triple Jump, Pole Vault, Discus

Session II (3:00am): Sprints, High Jump, Shot Put

 



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Wisconsin volleyball’s Maile Chan decides to enter transfer portal

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Dec. 19, 2025, 8:28 p.m. CT





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Kain Wright signs with Ashland University Track and Field 

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PHOTOS Bluffton Icon / CLICK to enlarge and view at your own pace

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Bluffton High School senior Kain Wright has signed a National Letter of Intent with Ashland University Track and Field. Wright plans to major in actuarial science.

Kain is the son of Kerris and Krista Wright and is an active member of Emmanuel Church in Columbus Grove.

The ceremonial signing took place on Friday, December 19 at the BHS gym with family, friends and teammates on hand.

In track and field at Bluffton, Wright qualified for the Division II State Meet in the 4×200 relay and finished 3rd in the state in the 400 meters with a time of 48.30  seconds.

In football, Kain earned All-NWC honors and Second Team All–Northwest Ohio as a receiver. He is also a member of the Varsity Basketball team.

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