IRVING, Texas - The Big 12 Conference today announced the newest student-athlete cohort of the Big 12 Beyond Borders program. The two-year opportunity - first launched in 2024 - immerses student-athletes, coaches and administrators in a variety of historical and cultural experiences in the U.S. and internationally.
Each Big 12 member institution selected two student-athletes to participate based on their demonstration of leadership skills and character on and off the field. UCF will be represented by Taylor Kittleman (Softball) and Rocklyn Kelley (Football).
The program begins this week in Washington, D.C., providing participants with opportunities to engage in civic leadership, explore significant historical sites and make a meaningful impact in the local community. Participants will meet with members of Congress on Capitol Hill and visit several cultural institutions, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Additionally, while in D.C., the Big 12, in partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation, will help revitalize several spaces at a local DCPS middle school, including the creation of a community garden supported by Plots & Pans. Student athletes will also engage with students through a field day, arts and crafts activities, and an educational panel discussion.
Washington, D.C., serves as the first experience in the two-year journey that will expose participants to diverse cultures, communities and leadership opportunities across the United States and abroad.
“We created Big 12 Beyond Borders as a way to help develop our student-athletes into the global leaders of tomorrow,” said Jenn Hunter, JD, Big 12 Chief Impact and Student Services Officer. “The program utilizes history, culture, food, art, community engagement and advocacy as a way to understand our connectedness and place in this world. With the skillsets our group of student-athlete leaders possess, their opportunities are endless, and we are excited to witness the journey that this next cohort will experience.”