TULSA, Okla.–Thunder Fellows, a free after-school mentorship program designed to teach data, analytics and career skills to underserved Black youth, announced it’s opening applications for the 2025-2026 cohorts of future leaders.
To apply, visit this link.
Founded by the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team and Creative Artists Agency Sports, the program started by intentionally focusing on Black students who descend from survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Now, the program is widening its eligibility to include Black 11th and 12th graders in Tulsa and Black college freshmen students across Oklahoma.
“This program continues to prove what’s possible when you combine real-world learning and students’ ambition,” Cedric Ikpo, Thunder Fellows executive director, said in a statement. “We’re helping young people build the skills and experiences that position them to lead in the spaces they care about most.”
The program is broken up into semester-long offerings for high school participants and a year-long format for college students.
OKC Thunder dominates on the court
News of the new cohort applications comes as the Oklahoma City Thunder continues a dominating performance in the NBA playoffs. The team finished a 4-0 sweep against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Moving on to the second round of the Western Conference finals, the Thunder will face the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. That match is tied 3-3, going into Game 7 on Saturday, May 2.
Thunder Fellows application now open
A century after a white mob tried to eradicate the bodies, hopes and dreams of an entire Black community in Greenwood, home to the original Black Wall Street, Thunder Fellows is supporting the next generation through mentorship and specialized skills for their future.
In 2022, Greenwood filmmaker Keith “Sneak the Poet” Daniels, released a documentary about the program. Seeds of Greenwood follows 26 Tulsa participants, revealing the realities of their situations while highlighting the ways the programs makes an impact.
Birthed out of a desire to close opportunity gaps following the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti and Creative Arts Agency executive Mike Johnson, who were both childhood friends, came together to honor the Historic Greenwood community and help to plant the next generation of seeds.
In a previous interview, Thunder Fellows Executive Director Cedric Ikpo said he’s learned just as much from the students as they have learned from the program.
“I realized that each of these kids are incredible individuals. They have their own backgrounds, their own fears, their own passions, interests,” Ikpo said.
The students’ interests range from writing or animation to sports management and data analytics. “I hope this shows the general public what can happen when you invest time and resources into our future,” Ikpo added.
To learn more about the program or to apply, visit their website at okcthunder.com/fellows.
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