By Jennifer K. Morita

March 04, 2025

Sacramento State President Luke Wood announced a new partnership with beloved Elk Grove native and NFL star Arik Armstead’s nonprofit Armstead Academic Project (AAP) to guarantee admission for underserved youth.

Wood and Armstead signed a memorandum of partnership commitment during a ceremony March 3 in the University’s Welcome Center.

“We believe that partnerships like this help to strengthen our community,” Wood said. “They help to make it so that every single student who grows up in Sacramento or the surrounding area knows that they have an opportunity to attend a high-quality institution that's affordable and dedicated to students and to student success.”

Armstead said this partnership will open doors for young people who may not otherwise see themselves attending college.

“I feel like this is long overdue,” Armstead said. “I literally owe my life to Sacramento State. My parents met here back in 1980. So it’s an honor to be here today to celebrate the collaboration between two organizations that share a deep commitment to improving outcomes for students who have historically been overlooked in traditional pathways to higher education.

“… This collaboration is about more than just access—it’s about empowerment. By creating opportunities to accelerate our shared goals for student success, we are building a stronger, more inclusive community where students can see higher education as an attainable and realistic future.”

In addition to guaranteed enrollment for eligible students, the agreement will:

• Identify local students historically overlooked in traditional pathways to higher education
• Increase exposure and access to Sacramento State for all local youth through year-round college tours, wellness events, career campus and educational enrichment activities
• Establish Sacramento State as a hub for AAP programming that brings together academics, social emotional wellness and sports
• Encourage familiarity with, and connect faculty, counselors, and students to opportunities, afforded by Sacramento State such as dual enrollment, athletic events, specialized tours and other on-site events

Armstead, the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, is a Pleasant Grove High School graduate and defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played for the San Francisco 49ers between 2015 and 2023. Armstead and his wife, Dr. Melinda Armstead, co-founded AAP to advocate for education equity and increase graduation rates for youth in underserved communities.

AAP has helped more than 4,500 underserved youths in Sacramento, the Bay Area, and Jacksonville, since launching in 2019.

Sac State’s agreement with AAP is the latest in similar partnerships over the past year with dozens of high schools and community colleges to create a seamless pathway for students to continue their education.

Due in part to these programs, enrollment has increased significantly, and Sac State welcomed the largest incoming spring class in University history this year.