Monmouth University senior business student Kadeem McKnight has been named the 2025 College Program Big Brother of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey (BBBSCNNJ). The organization honors Bigs and Littles of the year as exceptional individuals who have made a lasting impact through their dedication to mentorship and community service.
McKnight has excelled in balancing the demands of college life as a Division I student-athlete on the football team while dedicating himself as a committed four-year mentor in the Empowering Young Black Males Program. This impactful program is a collaboration of BBBSCNNJ, Monmouth University, Long Branch High School, and Neptune High School.
The BBBSCNNJ mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. For nearly 50 years, the organization’s mentorship programs have helped equip young people with skills, confidence, and positive relationships that empower them to reach their full potential. The Empowering Young Black Males Program allows BBBSCNNJ and Monmouth University to partner in reaching students at local high schools through mentorship.
Through the Empowering Young Black Males program, McKnight has made a lasting impact by offering support, guidance, and mentorship to high school students. He has become a figure youth can look up to, especially those aspiring to play football at the collegiate level.
“I became a Big for Big Brothers Big Sisters because of my natural interest in helping others. I believe that everyone deserves guidance and help down the road of life, as I did when I was younger,” said McKnight. He added, “My experience has been great. I get to help young African American males who are in the same position I was in high school, trying to figure out their path while balancing the weight of society on their shoulders. I’m very grateful for the experience and being able to interact with the next generation of leaders.”
As a student athlete, McKnight has also demonstrated his mentoring instincts around his teammates and coaches, according to Monmouth University Head Football Coach, Kevin Callahan, who said, “Kadeem has the natural ability to relate to people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. His magnetic personality and ability to overcome some personal hardships are two of the factors that have shaped him into the person he is today.”
McKnight has gone above and beyond as a Big for the BBBSCNNJ Empowering Young Black Males Program. The organization selected him as Big of the Year because he has been a vocal advocate for improving the program to better serve both the students and mentors. His unwavering commitment and leadership have made him an integral part of the program and a lasting influence on the students he supports.
