"I am incredibly proud to see Arionna honored with this prestigious fellowship," said Athletic Director
Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson. "This achievement is a testament to the dedication, discipline, and commitment that our students bring to every aspect of their lives, both on and off the field."
In May 2016, the NFL launched Strength of HBCUs, Impacting Pro Football Since 1948 in partnership with two preeminent HBCU athletic conferences – the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Since the launch, the NFL has expanded the partnership to also include the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), and HBCUs across the country. The partnership's objective is to increase opportunities for students and athletic administrators from this world class community of institutions. The NFL is proud of its long history with HBCUs and is committed to strengthening the ongoing partnership.
"Nothing works unless you do," is a quote Johnson uses every day to motivate herself to continue to get the job done, stating "if I'm not putting in the work, the job will never be completed."
The Future Leaders in Football Fellowship exists in partnership with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Select participants interested in careers in football are provided with a stipend to work with their institution's football program in athletic training, scouting/recruiting, football operations, equipment, and video. Highly evaluated participants will be given an opportunity to attend an NFL tentpole event and will be placed in the pipeline for future opportunities at the league. Fellows are selected through their HBCU conferences and work for the duration of the football season.
Another quote that Ms. Johnson often references is to "work hard in silence and let success make the noise." This fits into her life journey as she continuously puts in the time and effort while learning that consistent hard work always leads to good rewards.
For those interested in learning more about this fellowship, there will be a virtual forum held in mid-November featuring industry professionals and NFL partners that aims to inspire and develop students that are interested in a career involving football. Current undergraduate junior or senior class members and/or Master's/Law students are eligible to attend. To apply for the event, email a resume to
FootballExposure@nfl.com.
