OCCU launches NIL partnership with Oregon student-athletes focused on financial empowerment
Contact:
Cherie Kistner, Vice President of Communications
OCCU | Oregon Community Credit Union
541.681.6016
CKistner@MyOCCU.org
MyOCCU.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCCU launches NIL partnership with Oregon student-athletes focused on financial empowerment
New multi-sport campaign will feature Duck athletes in storytelling, fan engagement and real-life money education
EUGENE, OR – Aug. 25, 2026 — For today’s student-athletes, Name, Image and Likeness opportunities bring more than visibility. They bring new income and new reasons to build financial confidence.
OCCU | Oregon Community Credit Union and Oregon Sports Properties today announced a new multi-sport NIL partnership with University of Oregon student-athletes designed to provide practical financial education for athletes, students, fans and communities across Oregon.
The first-of-its-kind partnership for OCCU and OSP expands OCCU’s long-standing relationship with Oregon Athletics and will feature Duck student-athletes in a year-round campaign focused on storytelling, community engagement and financial empowerment.
Seventeen student-athletes from across Oregon Athletics will participate throughout the year. Five student-athlete ambassadors will have deeper engagement and include Dante Moore, UO football quarterback; Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu, UO football center; Alanah Clemente, UO volleyball opposite hitter; Katie Fiso, UO women’s basketball guard; and Peyton Bair, UO track & field decathlete and heptathlete.
Participating student-athletes will help bring financial education to life through social media content, digital storytelling, fan engagement and in-person appearances. Fans can expect to see familiar Duck faces in OCCU digital marketing campaigns, social media content and promotions throughout the various athletics seasons. The campaign will follow the energy of the Oregon athletics calendar, with content that may include financial management tips, behind-the-scenes looks at student-athlete life, and Q&As about budgeting and credit.
“We’re excited to help OCCU build a campaign that reflects the energy of Oregon Athletics and the influence of today’s student-athletes,” said Kelly Schukart, vice president and general manager of Oregon Sports Properties. “By pairing NIL opportunities with financial empowerment, this partnership gives student-athletes a chance to share useful, real-life lessons with their peers and fans while strengthening OCCU’s connection to the Duck community.”
“University of Oregon student-athletes have a big reach and a powerful connection with fans and communities across Oregon,” said Rob Mullens, athletic director at the University of Oregon. “This partnership supports student-athlete access to an additional financial literacy opportunity while making those conversations more relatable for others.”
Alanah Clemente, UO women's volleyball player said, “I’m excited to work with OCCU and share how I’ll use everyday financial tools to balance school, volleyball, travel and the things I enjoy, while also saving for bigger goals and experiences.”
As NIL continues to reshape the student-athlete experience, OCCU’s program is designed to support student-athletes as they navigate income, visibility and financial decision-making at an important stage in their lives. By sharing what they learn along the way, the ambassadors will help make topics like budgeting, credit and managing earnings more accessible to students, young adults and fans across Oregon.
Rooted in Eugene and serving communities across Oregon, the partnership is a natural extension of OCCU’s commitment to helping members and young people build lifelong financial confidence.
“NIL has created exciting opportunities for student-athletes, but with opportunity comes the need for guidance, confidence and support,” said Greg Schumacher, OCCU president & CEO. “This partnership is about more than putting Duck student-athletes in OCCU campaigns. It’s about helping young leaders build financial skills they can carry with them for life, then using their voices to make money conversations more relatable for others.”
About OCCU
OCCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $3.5 billion in assets. The credit union was founded in Eugene, Oregon, in 1956 and remains headquartered there. OCCU has an expanding network of branches and digital tools to provide its more than 300,000 member-owners with a full suite of financial products and services. Learn more at MyOCCU.org.
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