Under the guidance of Head Coach Kalani Sitake, football players are mentoring BYUβPathway Worldwide students and fostering global connections. BYUβPathway Worldwide is an innovative and spiritually based educational initiative sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It makes higher education accessible to individuals everywhere, regardless of their circumstances. By offering online courses and degrees in collaboration with BYUβIdaho and Ensign College, it provides affordable and flexible educational opportunities. Today, BYUβPathway Worldwide has more than 65,000 students in all 50 states and in over 180 countries.
As Coach Sitake, BYUβPathway Worldwide Advisory Chair Matthew Downs and others considered earlier this year how to help the football program discover more opportunities to serve, they decided to tap into BYUβPathway Worldwideβs global network. β[This fits with our schoolβs motto that] the world is our campus,β Coach Sitake said. βAnd if it is our campus, then we should be connected with students from BYU all over the world. My goal is to get our guys connected with everyone in the world, to do whatever we can do to help. This will enhance their experience and give them more to be proud of when they take the field. It will also help them realize theyβve been blessed and have a lot of people who support them.β
In early August 2024, the team organized a Zoom call with BYUβPathway students in Africa. Anticipating around 75 participants, they were thrilled when hundreds more participated. Technology allowed for only 300, though more wanted to join.
Remarkable @Deseret profile of @BYUfootball working with/@BYUPathwayWorld students in Africa. @kalanifsitake explains: βWhen players feel like theyβre doing something more, playing for more β¦ than just themselves .. itβs big,β Yes, it is! Thanks, Coach.https://t.co/379YFpTiJj
β Clark G. Gilbert (@ClarkGilbert) October 12, 2024