Nike: Fueling Gen Z Engagement Through Innovative Scholarship Experiences

Nike: Fueling Gen Z Engagement Through Innovative Scholarship Experiences

Unlock genuine Gen Z engagement and drive real-world action with a custom scholarship experience. This case study reveals how ScholarshipOwl empowers brands to connect with their target audience in innovative, impactful ways.

Ready to connect with Gen Z?

Unlock genuine Gen Z engagement and drive real-world action with a custom scholarship experience. This case study reveals how ScholarshipOwl empowers brands to connect with their target audience in innovative, impactful ways.

Ready to connect with Gen Z?

Turning Ideas into Action

Turning Ideas into Action

The Opportunity

Nike, a global leader in athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment, aimed to deepen its connection with Gen Z. ScholarshipOwl identified a unique opportunity to test how students engage with brands beyond traditional marketing, specifically focusing on driving engagement to brick-and-mortar and online retail destinations.

The Opportunity

Nike, a global leader in athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment, aimed to deepen its connection with Gen Z. ScholarshipOwl identified a unique opportunity to test how students engage with brands beyond traditional marketing, specifically focusing on driving engagement to brick-and-mortar and online retail destinations.

The Opportunity

Nike, a global leader in athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment, aimed to deepen its connection with Gen Z. ScholarshipOwl identified a unique opportunity to test how students engage with brands beyond traditional marketing, specifically focusing on driving engagement to brick-and-mortar and online retail destinations.

Our Approach

ScholarshipOwl designed and executed a test scholarship campaign, imaginatively titled the "Nike Scholarship," to explore a novel approach to brand engagement. While not directly run by Nike, this initiative showcased a powerful theoretical model for brands to connect with their audience. The campaign challenged students to: - 🏃 Go to their local Nike store (or explore online). - 📸 Snap a photo of their favorite Nike product (shoes, gear, you name it). - 📝 Submit it with their scholarship application for a chance to win $1,000. This innovative approach transformed a scholarship application into an interactive brand experience, directly encouraging students to engage with Nike's products and retail presence.

Our Approach

ScholarshipOwl designed and executed a test scholarship campaign, imaginatively titled the "Nike Scholarship," to explore a novel approach to brand engagement. While not directly run by Nike, this initiative showcased a powerful theoretical model for brands to connect with their audience. The campaign challenged students to: - 🏃 Go to their local Nike store (or explore online). - 📸 Snap a photo of their favorite Nike product (shoes, gear, you name it). - 📝 Submit it with their scholarship application for a chance to win $1,000. This innovative approach transformed a scholarship application into an interactive brand experience, directly encouraging students to engage with Nike's products and retail presence.

Our Approach

ScholarshipOwl designed and executed a test scholarship campaign, imaginatively titled the "Nike Scholarship," to explore a novel approach to brand engagement. While not directly run by Nike, this initiative showcased a powerful theoretical model for brands to connect with their audience. The campaign challenged students to: - 🏃 Go to their local Nike store (or explore online). - 📸 Snap a photo of their favorite Nike product (shoes, gear, you name it). - 📝 Submit it with their scholarship application for a chance to win $1,000. This innovative approach transformed a scholarship application into an interactive brand experience, directly encouraging students to engage with Nike's products and retail presence.

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Now it's Your Turn

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The Outcome:
Nike Brand Experience in Full View

This campaign, run by ScholarshipOwl, effectively demonstrated the power of scholarships as a strategic marketing tool. It provided valuable insights into Gen Z's willingness to engage with brands through unique, interactive initiatives.

Over the campaign period, we achieved remarkable results:

2,564 students submitted images from their Nike store experience, directly fulfilling the campaign's goal of driving brick-and-mortar and/or online retail action.

Insights

Insights

Insights

Key Market Insights for Nike

This "Nike Scholarship" experiment revealed a significant appetite among Gen Z students (ages 16-24, targeting high school and college students) for engaging directly with brands, even when the primary incentive is a scholarship. The requirement to visit a physical or virtual retail space successfully drove real-world interaction, a challenge many traditional marketing efforts face.

See It In Action

See It In Action

See It In Action

Real Applications from Students

Real Applications from Students

Real Applications from Students

The campaign generated enthusiastic participation from students eager to showcase their connection with Nike.

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Student View of Your Nike Scholarship

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Student View of Your Nike Scholarship

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Preview

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Testimonial

Testimonial

Testimonial

“Winning the $1,000 Show Your Swoosh: The Nike Fan Scholarship through ScholarshipOwl was absolutely amazing! The platform made it so easy to find and apply for scholarships that fit me, and I loved sharing my passion for Nike in my application. When I found out I won, I was over the moon—this money will help cover some of my college costs as I start my freshman year! I’m thrilled to be studying Business and International Affairs, exploring new ideas and opportunities in college. ScholarshipOwl has already made such a difference in my journey, and I’m so grateful for their help. I totally recommend this platform to any student looking for scholarships—it’s super user-friendly and effective!”

“Winning the $1,000 Show Your Swoosh: The Nike Fan Scholarship through ScholarshipOwl was absolutely amazing! The platform made it so easy to find and apply for scholarships that fit me, and I loved sharing my passion for Nike in my application. When I found out I won, I was over the moon—this money will help cover some of my college costs as I start my freshman year! I’m thrilled to be studying Business and International Affairs, exploring new ideas and opportunities in college. ScholarshipOwl has already made such a difference in my journey, and I’m so grateful for their help. I totally recommend this platform to any student looking for scholarships—it’s super user-friendly and effective!”

“Winning the $1,000 Show Your Swoosh: The Nike Fan Scholarship through ScholarshipOwl was absolutely amazing! The platform made it so easy to find and apply for scholarships that fit me, and I loved sharing my passion for Nike in my application. When I found out I won, I was over the moon—this money will help cover some of my college costs as I start my freshman year! I’m thrilled to be studying Business and International Affairs, exploring new ideas and opportunities in college. ScholarshipOwl has already made such a difference in my journey, and I’m so grateful for their help. I totally recommend this platform to any student looking for scholarships—it’s super user-friendly and effective!”

Daniel F, Winner of the $1,000 Show Your Swoosh: The Nike Fan Scholarship

Daniel F.,

Winner of the $1,000 Show Your Swoosh:

The Nike Fan Scholarship

Daniel F,

Winner of the $1,000 Show Your Swoosh: The Nike Fan Scholarship

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Let’s Build Your Campaign Like This

Let’s Build Your Campaign Like This

Let’s Build Your Campaign Like This

ScholarshipOwl for Business is pioneering the idea of companies using scholarships strategically to achieve marketing, lead generation, and social impact goals. With access to over 11 million Gen Z students actively seeking scholarships, we can help you create a campaign that truly connects with the heart of your audience.

Ready to create a scholarship campaign that delivers impactful results like this? Contact us today to get started!

Let’s Build Your Campaign

All rights reserved ScholarshipOwl for Business - Copyright© 2025

All rights reserved ScholarshipOwl for Business - Copyright© 2025

Let's build your campaign

Get in touch

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Preview

Preview

Student View of Your Nike Scholarship

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Fragments OS