HAMPTON, Va. (Nov. 3, 2025) … Canyon Steverson, a member of the Hampton University lacrosse team, recently participated in the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Dallas, Texas. The Tucson, Ariz., native serves as president of Hampton's Student-Athlete Advisory Council. He is a senior majoring in Cyber Security.
 
"The student athlete leadership forum is an opportunity for athletes across Division I, Division II, Division III, all different conferences and different sports to gain knowledge and engage about what leadership truly means," Steverson said. "Only 250 student athletes were selected representing .03 percent of student athletes within the NCAA. The experience assisted my continued growth as a student leader and allowed me the space to understand myself and others better when it comes to providing good leadership."
 
Thew four-day program included student-athletes, administrators and coaches embarked on a journey to learn more about navigating the ever-changing tides of leadership. Organized and hosted by the NCAA leadership development staff, the Student-Athlete Leadership Forum annually provides participants with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their core values, develop emotional intelligence, embrace vulnerability, grow their personal network and develop leadership skills. Division I and II conference offices and Division III schools nominate select student-athletes and administrators to attend the forum.
 
Building relationships was a key focus of the program and was encouraged through small-group activities. Learners were each assigned to a color team with about 30 other student-athletes, coaches and administrators, as well as two trained facilitators, who serve as college athletics administrators on campuses throughout the NCAA membership.
 
This year's program theme, "Adjust Your Sails," aimed to equip student-athletes with leadership skills and empower them to take on greater responsibilities and apply the lessons learned when they are on campus and out in the world. Student-athletes also had the opportunity to attend division-specific governance sessions and participate in a community service activity to support domestic violence survivors.