NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University's Madison Galloway has been selected as a member of the USA Basketball Foundation's 2027 Torch Leadership in Sport Mentoring cohort, the foundation announced Friday.
Galloway, a third-year majoring in business marketing from Detroit, Michigan, and a member of the NSU Athletics marketing team, is one of 10 students chosen from more than 290 applicants for the program's fifth cohort, which runs from September 2026 through May 2027. The 2027 class is the largest in the program's history, and Galloway is one of five first-time university representatives in the group.
"Being selected for such a competitive program is truly a blessing," Galloway said. "Representing Norfolk State, HBCUs, and women in sports on a national level means so much to me. I've poured a lot into Norfolk State Athletics and the MEAC, so seeing those experiences lead to opportunities like this is extremely rewarding.
"As a young woman in sports and one of the youngest members of the cohort, I want to represent my community well and show what HBCU students are capable of."
At NSU, Galloway works under Director of Marketing Kaila Williams, supporting game day operations and the department's social media efforts.
"I'm so proud of Madison and excited to see her receive this well-deserved opportunity," Kaila Williams said. "She has been such a great addition to our marketing team, bringing her energy and creativity to both game day operations and our social media efforts. One of my favorite parts of working with students is getting to watch them grow, find their confidence, and take the next steps toward the professionals they want to become. I know this experience will be another great step in Madison's journey, and I'm excited to see everything she takes from it and everything she brings to it. So proud of you, Madison!"
The Torch program pairs students at minority-serving institutions with USA Basketball executive staff for mentorship, with the goal of developing the next generation of BIPOC leaders in sport and introducing them to career opportunities at USA Basketball and across the sports industry.
"As we welcome our fifth cohort and celebrate a record number of applicants, we continue to see tremendous growth in the program and its impact," said Jennifer Lynne Williams, USA Basketball Foundation chief development officer. "Most importantly, we're seeing that impact extend well beyond the program, with Torch alumni now building careers across professional sports leagues, as well as within numerous other cutting-edge fields in sports or elsewhere."
Over the course of the program, Galloway and her fellow cohort members will take part in virtual mentoring sessions with members of the USA Basketball leadership team, hear from other industry leaders, and participate in in-person learning opportunities.
To be eligible, applicants needed a minimum 3.0 GPA, junior, senior or graduate-level standing at a minority-serving institution, and a submitted resume, cover letter and letter of recommendation.
The 2027 Torch cohort also includes students from Morehouse College, Hampton University, Clark Atlanta University, Arizona State, George Mason, UCF and the University of Washington.
As she begins the program, Galloway pointed to a favorite saying: "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
For more information on the USA Basketball Foundation, visit usabfoundation.org.
