Eleven University of Wisconsin Student-Athletes to Participate in Exact Sciences NIL Program

MADISON, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin Athletics and Learfield’s Badger Sports Properties, in collaboration with Exact Sciences, announce the return of the Exact Sciences Athletes program for the 2024-25 academic year. The program will offer name, image, and likeness (NIL) and educational opportunities to 11 Badger student-athletes.

The student-athletes will engage with the company on various initiatives, including career coaching, community events, social media outreach and more. Tailored to the student-athlete’s individual interests, each athlete can explore career paths and build their personal brand through a passion for health care and community giveback.

“We couldn’t be more pleased that the Exact Sciences Athletes program is returning for a second year,” said Mitchell Pinta, UW Deputy Athletic Director. “This is a truly innovative program that allows student-athletes to showcase their skills and make meaningful connections in the healthcare sector, reinforcing our commitment to preparing students for life after college athletics. It has already produced some fantastic outcomes for student-athletes, and we’re excited to see it continue to grow. Thank you to the team at Exact Sciences for partnering with our student-athletes in such a valuable initiative.”

Student-athletes participating in the program include:

• Austin Brown | Football | Major: Health Promotion and Health Equity | Hometown: Johnston City, Ill.

• Carter Gilmore| Men’s Basketball |Major: Consumer Behavior | Hometown: Hartland, Wis.

• Sophia Gruenling | Rowing | Major: Genetics and Genomics | Hometown: Marshfield, Wis.

• Elissa Perkins | Track & Field | Major: Nursing | Hometown: Bolingbrook, Ill.

• Ronnie Porter | Women’s Basketball | Major: Family Studies| Hometown: Saint Paul, Minn.

• Chloe Powell | Rowing | Major: Marketing | Hometown: Menlo Park, Calif.

• Liam Smith | Rowing | Major: Personal Finance | Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.

• Jason Swarens | Track and Field | Major: Mechanical Engineering | Hometown: Terre Haute, Indi.

• Bella Vasseur | Women’s Hockey | Major: Applied Mathematics, Engineering, and Physics | Hometown: Oregon, Wisc.

• Abby Wanezek | Swimming | Major: Kinesiology | Hometown: Elm Grove, Wisc.
• Jalen Williams | Track and Field | Major: Health Promotion and Health Equity| Hometown: Washington, D.C.

The Exact Sciences Athletes program has expanded from eight to 11 student-athletes following a successful inaugural year that saw 18.5 hours of volunteering, 20 hours of career exploration and one student-athlete landing a full-time position upon their graduation in May 2024.

Katie Boyce, Senior Director, Corporate Impact, Community Relations and Internal Communications said: “We’re really excited about our second year of the Exact Sciences Athletes program. It will continue to highlight our purpose to help eradicate cancer and focus on giving back to the community. We love working with the athletes to bring their passions together with our core values.”

Headquartered in Madison, Wis., Exact Sciences is a leading global provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests. The company aims to help eradicate cancer by preventing it, detecting it earlier, and guiding personalized treatment.

“This partnership is a perfect example of how collaboration can lead to innovative opportunities,” said Scott Silvestri, Vice President and General Manager of Badger Sports Properties. “We’re thrilled to support Exact Sciences in the second year of this venture, to connect student-athletes to professional networking and career-related experiences tailored to their interests and post-graduate goals.”

Badger Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college sports – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for UW Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Badgers. Badger Sports Properties does not represent the student-athletes themselves but collaborates with corporate partners to maximize sponsorship agreements with the inclusion of NIL programs and the integration of university marks and logos within those programs.

About Exact Sciences
Exact Sciences is a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, with more than 6,500 employees worldwide. Headquartered in Madison, WI, Exact Sciences gives patients and health care professionals the clarity needed to take life-changing action earlier. For more information, visit ExactSciences.com, follow Exact Sciences on X(formerly known as Twitter) @ExactSciences, or find Exact Sciences on LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.