OCCU Launches NIL Partnership with University of Oregon Student-Athletes Focused on Financial Empowerment

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on August 27, 2026

For today’s student-athletes, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities bring more than visibility. They bring new income and new reasons to build financial confidence.

OCCU and Oregon Sports Properties (OSP) 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.

Dante Moore

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.

Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu

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.

Alanah Clemente

“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.”

Katie Fiso

“I’m excited to work with OCCU and share how I’ll use every day financial tools to balance school, volleyball, travel and the things I enjoy, while also saving for bigger goals and experiences,” shared Alanah Clemente, UO women’s volleyball player.

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.

Peyton Bair

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 and 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.”

Posted in Financial Education, Oregon, Regional Member News.