Jul 17, 2026Matrix Fitness announces Project Courage scholarship recipients
Matrix Fitness, a fitness equipment and technology company based in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, has awarded five scholarships as part of its Project Courage initiative.
The scholarships provide students and professionals representing historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with access to industry conferences, professional development opportunities and networking experiences designed to support careers in recreation, wellness and fitness.
The scholarship winners are:
- Carmell Sanders, sports studies and sports leadership graduate student at Texas Southern University
- Chaz Mackey, sports administration graduate student at Delaware State University
- Jared Raysor, kinesiology student at North Carolina A&T State University
- Wesley Davis, assistant director of facilities operations and marketing at Delaware State University
- Zeta N. Phillips, health science and sports medicine student at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
The recipients attended industry events, including the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference and the NIRSA + IDEA World Conference and Expo. Each scholarship covers expenses related to attendance at these events, including registration, travel and lodging.
Students and professionals apply for the scholarship by responding to prompts related to the impact the opportunity would have on their career trajectory and recipients are selected by the Project Courage advisory panel.
“Project Courage is about creating access and building pathways into the fitness and recreation industry,” Rebecca Peoples, collegiate recreation east region director at Matrix, said in a news release. “These recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and professional growth and we are proud to support their continued development.”
Project Courage was established by Matrix Fitness to expand access to professional development, mentorship and career opportunities for students and professionals connected to HBCUs.
Earlier this year, Matrix Fitness expanded Project Courage opportunities through a partnership with the American Council on Exercise, increasing access to fitness-related certifications in the Project Courage network.
The program is in its fourth year, and since the inception of Project Courage in 2023, Matrix has awarded 14 scholarships.
“Through Project Courage, I gained the confidence, skills and direction to take my first real step into my career,” 2024-25 scholarship recipient Isaiah Taylor said. “Attending the (NIRSA 2025) annual conference and meeting people from diverse backgrounds across the recreation community gave me the insight and inspiration to chart exactly where I wanted to go. Now, I’m proud to serve as sports director for the YMCA, where I oversee all of our youth sports programming.”
Applications for the 2026-27 scholarships will open in October. More information is available on the Matrix Fitness website.
