Celebrating success and lessons learned from the inaugural NCAA Read to the Final Four Literacy Student-Athlete Representative Program

By Rico Francis, Member of the Read to the Final Four committee of the Indianapolis Local Organizing Committee and Program Officer at the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis welcomed the nation’s top college basketball programs for the 2026 NCAA® Men’s Final Four® in April, and the tournament’s impact continues to be felt in classrooms and learning centers across the Hoosier State. In February, Indiana Sports Corp and the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four Indianapolis Local Organizing Committee announced the distribution of $75,000 in Read to the Final Four® Literacy Legacy Grants, supporting schools and students across Indiana in their pursuit of literacy excellence.

Launched in November 2025, the Read to the Final Four Literacy Legacy Grant program was made possible through the generous support of the NCAA, Indiana Sports Corp, and the Local Organizing Committee. Open to schools enrolled and engaged in Read to the Final Four education programming throughout Indiana, the grants were reviewed by committee members alongside NCAA student-athlete representatives from institutions across the state, a process that itself modeled the civic and leadership values at the heart of the program.

The Cohort Experience at a Glance

The Cohort

Ten student-athletes from institutions across Indiana joined the inaugural class, representing Indiana University, IU Indianapolis, Valparaiso University, and Franklin College. Thanks to the generous support of the 2026 NCAA Men's Final Four Indianapolis Local Organizing Committee, Indiana Sports Corp, and the volunteer program staff of the Literacy Grants & Resources Subcommittee, 100% of the cohort was retained through August 2026 — a retention rate that speaks less to the program design than to the commitment these students brought with them and the institutions they represented.

Tonya Sisco, IPA, Executive Director, Corporate Responsibility at Cummins and I designed and moderated the program. Fernando Flores, a junior studying Sport Management at IU Indianapolis, served as a student representative to support program design, implementation, and evaluation.

Program Goals

The goals were straightforward but ambitious:

  • Develop students' critical thinking and decision-making skills
  • Expose students to the principles of grantmaking and philanthropy
  • Encourage thoughtful evaluation of proposals based on impact and feasibility
  • Foster collaboration and discussion among students in the selection process
The Capstone

Rather than end with a certificate, the athletes ended with responsibility. Each student-athlete completed a capstone experience of creating and awarding their own micro-grant to a learning location or school of significance in their personal life. But they didn’t just get the money, they learned the process starting at step 1. This process included:

  • A live grant review alongside the Literacy Grants & Resources subcommittee
  • Monthly one-on-one meetings with industry professionals
  • Journal reflections documenting their evolving understanding of philanthropy, critical thinking, and decision-making
  • Research and administration of $3,000 in micro-grants for literacy efforts across Indiana — real dollars as part of the Read to the Final Four Literacy Legacy Grants
    • Bloomington, IN - $1,800 awarded to Fairview Elementary to purchase Developing Decoders Decodable Books and literacy program development.
    • Shelbyville, IN - $300 awarded to Coulston Elementary to support a library makeover and new books for students.
    • Fort Branch, IN - $300 awarded to Little Miracles Learning Campus to support the purchase of children’s books for Pre-K and early learning programs.
    • Washington, IN - $300 awarded to Washington Intermediate School to purchase various Spanish-language novels, graphic comics, and vocabulary for a dual language immersion program.
    • Indianapolis, IN - $300 awarded to Mary Nicholson School 70 to support the maintenance and new books for Nyla’s Corner.
Lessons Learned: Engaging Student-Athletes

Flexibility isn't a concession — it’s critical in program design. Student-athletes need flexibility built into programming to allow for a more authentic and memorable experience. Program staff and goals must bend to fit the reality of demanding academic and athletic schedules, not the other way around. Our representatives appreciated being able to engage when it best suited them, which meant leaning fully into a virtual environment that allowed participation without travel.

Professionalism showed up early and consistently. Regardless of age or class year, these student-athletes demonstrated a level of professionalism that mirrored their commitments to academics, athletics, and the institutions they represent.

Watching the NCAA student-athletes debate the merits of a proposal, weigh feasibility against impact, and ultimately put their names behind a funding decision was the moment the program stopped being theoretical.

Looking Ahead

An inaugural year is supposed to teach you what to fix. This one mostly taught us what to protect: the flexibility, the real stakes, the trust we extended to student-athletes who proved worthy of far more.

To our ten representatives — thank you for showing us what this program could be.

NCAA Read to the Final Four Literacy Student-Athlete Representatives

  • Callie Dickerson – Indiana University Indianapolis – Softball
  • Chelsie Lindauer – Indiana University – Women’s Rowing
  • Evelyn Tabor – Indiana University – Women’s Rowing
  • Garrett Messer – Indiana University – Track and Field
  • Kristina Vincic – Indiana University – Track and Field
  • Marisa Grzesiak – Indiana University – Women’s Soccer
  • Nico Daly – Indiana University – Women’s Rowing
  • Olivia Luban – Indiana University – Women’s Rowing
  • Robert Spang – Valparaiso University – Football
  • Taylor Turk – Franklin College – Women’s Basketball

Click here learn more about the Read to the Final Four program during the 2026 NCAA Men's Final Four. To learn more about Indiana Sports Corp's literacy programs or to donate, go to IndianaSportsCorp.org/literacy.