LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – Tyleek Fields (Yonkers, NY/Cardinal Hayes High School) represented Lincoln University (PA) at the 2026 John B. McLendon Experience, held September 29–October 3 in Durham, North Carolina.

Selected to participate alongside students from each CIAA member institution, Fields joined a community of emerging leaders for an educational and professional development opportunity focused on learning, building relationships and preparing for future opportunities.

The experience emphasized the CIAA's values of Legacy, Leadership and Community, encouraging participants to represent themselves and their institutions with pride, purpose and professionalism.

For Fields, the opportunity reflected the importance of patience and meaningful relationships in personal and professional development.

"Success takes time, and when you surround yourself with the right people, you build a stronger foundation for growth," Fields said.

The key takeaways Fields' gathered included:

• Spoke about how to become shareholders of the companies we use in every life
• What recruiters search for when it comes to conversation such as how you present yourself and the confidence you may show in yourself 
• Your long term goals never align and may always reroute so don't every decline any good opportunity even if its little in the sports industry
• Connections will always place you in the space you are trying to reach or put you in a room you might've thought you would never step in
• Learning to step out of comfort zones when it comes to reaching out to peers and people in your dream position
• Maximizing every opportunity so when you give 100% at a smaller role it will carry on and be noticed

Fields' participation provided an opportunity to connect with fellow students from across the conference while representing Lincoln in an environment centered on growth and preparation. Bringing together representatives from every member institution, the McLendon Experience offered participants a chance to expand their networks and consider the next steps in their development as leaders.

In her selection letter, CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker encouraged Fields to approach the experience with professionalism and carry the conference's values into every conversation and opportunity.

Fields' selection highlights the opportunities available to Lincoln students through the university's connection to the CIAA, extending the conference experience beyond athletics to include education, leadership and professional growth.