Carly Samp

SNHU and MLS Renew Partnership To Help Players and Communities

People often ask me – what is the SNHU partnership with MLS all about? You see the commercials, you read the stories, but there is a whole breadth of things that SNHU has committed to both from an educational perspective, and the great work they’re committed to in the soccer community.

First and foremost, SNHU is dedicated to helping current, future, and past players achieve their dreams educationally. Whether it’s an academy player who is making a decision to bypass college to jump into MLS, a current player who would like to pursue a career after soccer, or a past player who would like to jumpstart a new career; SNHU is for everyone, and these players no longer have to postpone one dream to achieve another. There are 200 career-focused online college degree programs to take advantage of + endless support from SNHU staff – the educational guidance and offerings don’t stop at the players. These opportunities are also offered to Club front office staff around the League, with many people have taken advantage of this, and SNHU current students are encouraged to apply/interview for internships around the League. Those internships have led to multiple full-time jobs.

The relationship also emphasizes community-based initiatives aimed at supporting youth programs, local charities and the military in major cities. Among these is the SNHU/USO/MLS campaign, “Operation: Back of the Net”, during the July 4th period in which for every goal scored, the University raises funds for transitioning service members into everyday life. The past two years, over $200,000 has been raised to support those service members, and a few lucky individuals were handpicked to be recognized at various matches throughout the season. SNHU has also committed to the 20 for 20 Mini-Pitch Initiative (a personal favorite of mine), where in partnership with MLS WORKS, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and Adidas, twenty mini-pitches were built in coordination with each MLS Club in 2015/2016. The great thing about this program is two-fold – each pitch provides children in underserved communities a safe place to play while providing a soccer environment that encourages unstructured play – so it truly grows the game. Also, a total of 24 and counting mini pitches have been built, and the mini-pitches continue to be constructed.

That’s just a quick snapshot of all the great things SNHU has done over the last couple years. It’s been a fantastic (and inspiring) time working side by side with the SNHU team – and we’re looking forward to continuing to make a difference in the community and in the lives of folks looking to further their education in the years to come.

Categories: Client Relations, Major League Soccer, SNHU