ACCESS U Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Black and Latino scholar athletes by providing mentorship and guidance through the college recruitment process. Their mission is to help these students achieve their academic and athletic potential, leading to success in education, work, and beyond.
The event kicked off with an overview of college soccer recruitment from Lindsey Huie, a two-time NCAA Champion and former US Women’s National Team player, who captivated the audience with her candid advice and personal journey. Huie emphasized the importance of authenticity and self-awareness in the recruitment process.
“I was like any one of you guys,” Huie said.
She shared practical tips on creating standout highlight reels and crafting player profiles that grab coaches’ attention.
“If you can grab onto someone’s heart right out the gate, you make that journey with the schools ten times easier,” Huie said, while students snapped photos of example emails and profiles displayed during her talk.
Huie shared a story of overcoming rejection. She described her dream of playing at UCLA and how realizing she wouldn’t thrive in that environment led her to find a better fit.
“Hearing ‘no’ in one place means you’ll hear a better answer somewhere else,” she said, “There’s an opportunity in every obstacle.”
Brett Lyons, Chief Commercial Officer of aiScout, showcased the app’s cutting-edge technology, which transforms the recruitment process by assessing player talent through AI. Since its launch, the app has helped over 300 players join clubs, academies, and national teams and symposium attendees left with their own free, personalized workout. In between speakers, a raffle for professional headshots added to the excitement, ensuring attendees left with not only critical knowledge, but practical tools to enhance their player profiles.
The symposium also featured insights from Phil Cohen and Reena Kamins, who demystified the complexities of college admissions. Kamins emphasized the importance of non-athletic factors such as grades, letters of recommendation, and life experiences, reminding students, “The 4.0 is not enough.”
Kamins then led the students through an interactive workshop, offering students a hands-on glimpse into the unpredictable nature of college admissions. She presented volunteers with varying GPAs ranging from 2.0 to 4.0.
Then, Kamins threw in a twist. She began introducing additional factors — having some candidates moved up due to compelling personal essays or unique life experiences, while others dropped because of gaps in course rigor or lack of extracurricular depth.
“You can’t just be a soccer player,” Kamins said, explaining how nuanced the admissions process truly is.
Current scholar athletes Sarah Ginsburg, a class of 2026 student at the University of Chicago, and ACCESS U alumna Isabella Hoyuela, a class of 2026 student at UC San Diego, took to the stage. They encouraged attendees to embrace every moment, in soccer and in college.
“Making those little adjustments in your life makes the difference,” Hoyuela said. “Games aren’t won in the big moments but in the little ones,” Ginsburg added.
Caryn Rosoff, Senior Vice President of Sports and Brand Insights at United Talent Agency, inspired students with her journey from Division III soccer to a thriving career in sports management. She underscored the value of work ethic and persistence.
“I might not be the best at this or that, but when I come into a room, no one will outwork me,” Rosoff said. She credited her early years in soccer with instilling this drive, “You can see people’s faces light up when you say that — it comes from soccer.”
Rosoff reflected on her transition from sports to business, emphasizing the importance of finding passion in her work. She also shared how getting uncomfortable and pushing herself helped her grow.
“For so long, I never pushed myself to do the uncomfortable or challenging things. I realized that getting uncomfortable is really good for you — it’s how you get to the next level.”
As a final piece of advice for the students in the room, Rosoff encouraged them to seize every opportunity.
“Put yourself out there. Meeting someone may lead to something you never expected. If it’s done the right way, it will pay dividends in the long run. … Who knows — maybe one of you will be my boss someday.”
Day one of the event wrapped with a message of empowerment: showing up matters, persistence pays off, and everyone’s journey is unique. With day two offering even more speakers and workshops, the symposium continues to serve as a roadmap for students to achieve their goals, on and off the field.
