WASHINGTON – Providing American University student-athletes with opportunities for leadership and personal growth has received a tremendous boost with the announcement of gifts totaling $1.5 million from Board of Trustees member Stephanie M. Bennett-Smith, Ph.D. The existing life skills and leadership programming is hereby known as the Stephanie M. Bennett-Smith Life Skills and Leadership Academy. 
 
This milestone philanthropic gift will provide financial support for all operations of the Bennett-Smith Leadership Academy, whose mission is to create opportunities for intercollegiate student-athletes to develop and expand their leadership skills, experience personal growth, be challenged, and have formational experiences that will guide their futures. 

"Thanks to the vision and generosity of Stephanie Bennett-Smith, this program gives our student-athletes hands-on training, professional development opportunities, and dedicated time to plan for their future—vital elements of success for any student," said Director of Athletics & Recreation Dr. Billy Walker.  
Bennett-Smith has spent her professional life in the field of education. She earned a bachelor's degree with honors in History and a master's degree in English and History from the University of New Mexico. She earned her Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Iowa and has also received honorary degrees from Centenary University and J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo.

Helping our student athletes prepare to serve and lead—and represent AU throughout their lives—is one of the most important things we can do.

In 2017 Bennett-Smith and her late husband, Orin Smith, established an endowed gift of $500,000 for the department's student support programs, specifically earmarked toward the Orin R. Smith Life Skills Etiquette Dinner, an annual business and networking skills event. The Bennett-Smith Leadership Academy also provides other professional development activities, leadership seminars, and community service and engagement opportunities. 
 
The motivation for Bennett-Smith's giving to AU Athletics is a belief in the importance of competitive training on young men and women, and the life-long lessons honed through sports. In doing so, she also honors the memory Orin and their shared passion for athletics. 
 
"Most educators believe that learning takes place not only in academic classrooms but also through out of classroom experiences," said Stephanie M. Bennett-Smith. "In addition to 'on the field' or 'on the court' experiences student athletes benefit from activities which prepare them for productive futures and give them the opportunities to come together and practice the skills that will be critical in their futures. Helping our student-athletes prepare to serve and lead—and represent AU throughout their lives—is one of the most important things we can do."

The original Leadership Academy is a component of the Student-Athlete Support Program, a function of the Office of Undergraduate Education and Academic Student Services. The Academy recently received the Model Practices Award from the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A). This award is given annually to an N4A-affiliated university or college that displays best practices in their programming for student-athletes.  
 
The Bennett-Smith Leadership Academy will now enter its third year under the direction of Senior Academic & Life Skills Counselor Spencer Bonahoom, and is comprised of four groups - the Emerging Eagles, Rising Eagles, Soaring Eagles and Eagles in Service. All student-athletes participate as Emerging Eagles after their first year with their respective programs. The other levels of the Academy become more selective as the student-athletes advance in their AU careers. 

"The Student-Athlete Support Program is incredibly thankful for the generous gifts Dr. Bennett-Smith has made to enhance and expand our programming and services over the years," said Program Director Ashley Rozendaal. "This new chapter, under Spencer's vision and leadership, will allow the Stephanie M. Bennett-Smith Life Skills and Leadership Academy to broaden the ways in which we prepare student-athletes to become lifelong leaders."