Skateboarding and higher education might seem like two totally different worlds, but the College Skateboarding Educational Foundation (CSEF) has been bringing them together since 2017.
While most skaters spend years chasing sponsorships and video parts, CSEF created another option – helping skateboarders pay for college through scholarships.
It turns out you can grind on campus just as hard as you grind on curbs.
The foundation started with a simple idea: skateboarders shouldn't have to choose between their passion and their education.
Plenty of skaters grow up hearing they need to "get serious" and give up their boards, but CSEF says otherwise.
They've been quietly helping skaters across the U.S. cover tuition and school expenses, proving that kickflips and chemistry labs can coexist.
What makes CSEF different is how it challenges skateboarding's old stereotypes.
Forget the image of the dropout skater – these days, you're just as likely to find someone sessioning a campus ledge between classes as you are to see them at the local skatepark.
The foundation doesn't just fund education; it helps change what people expect from skateboarders.
Nike recently highlighted what this looks like in real life by featuring three CSEF scholarship recipients who made it through college without putting their boards away.
Their stories show how skateboarding and school don't have to compete – they can actually work together.
One minute you're studying for finals, the next you're blowing off steam with a quick session behind the library.
As CSEF keeps expanding, it's opening doors for more skaters to pursue degrees while staying true to their roots.
It's not about replacing skate culture with textbooks, but about adding another layer to what skateboarders can achieve.
After all, why shouldn't the same dedication that lands a perfect tre flip also help someone ace their degree?
The foundation's approach proves that skateboarding isn't just a phase to outgrow – it's part of who someone is, whether they're holding a board or a diploma.
And for skaters who never thought college was an option, CSEF shows there's more than one way to make it happen.