Happy Wednesday, Hounds! This week on Highlighting Hounds, we are featuring junior Ugo Ogbonnanze ’26. Ugo’s journey at Assumption University has been a transformative one, with personal growth being a major theme. As an official team manager for both the Football and Men’s Basketball teams, Ugo has earned the infamous nickname “Juiceman” for his natural ability to bring energy and enthusiasm (“juice”) to practices and games. While his work in the classroom is something he’s proud of, it’s his impact outside of it that has truly defined his college experience. Over the past three years, Ugo has learned to lead with authenticity, stay committed to his intentions, and embrace the power of selflessness. Whether it’s his role in Orientation or his involvement in community-building projects like the Sneaker Ball, Ugo’s dedication to making others feel valued and supported has been a hallmark of his time at Assumption. As he reflects on his journey, Ugo is proud of the person he has become and is excited to continue growing—both personally and professionally—into the future. Read more to learn about Ugo’s experiences, and what advice he has to offer.
Give a brief overview of your campus involvement and impact on the Assumption community.
In my 3 years here at Assumption, I have served in quite a few roles. It first started my 1st year as a Team Manager for the Football Team in the fall of 2022. That year, I brought what we call “Juice” — energy and positivity– to the team. While doing that, I also took on the role of Public Outreach Liaison for our Black Student Union, a role I still have today. I’ve taken part in Student Leadership roles such as Orientation Leader and introduced the class of 2028 to Assumption. As of this year, I have managed both Football and Men’s Basketball — your East Regional Champions, I might add– and I also helped out Field Hockey as they won the Northeast-10 conference this past fall. It hasn’t all been easy, but the impact I’ve made so far has been very rewarding.
As a Team Manager for both Football and Men’s Basketball, and as a helper for the Women’s Field Hockey team, how do you manage different team dynamics? Can you describe how you adapt your leadership style for each sport or team?
When it comes to managing dynamics, I’ve learned over the years to just be me. I’ve never let the “dynamic” of the team change the way I approach helping them. I stand by my intentions, which have always been to encourage the athletes to keep the love in their sport. As a former athlete myself, I know how hard it can be to love your sport. I may not know exactly how it is in college since I’m not an athlete, but I use my own experience to help ensure they don’t feel that it’s hard to love their sport.
What influenced you to become a Orientation Leader for the Class of 2028? What were some key takeaways from helping introduce new students to Assumption, and how did that experience shape your leadership philosophy?
My influence for Orientation mostly comes from my friend Gabriel Corey. He reached out to me one day and encouraged me to sign up for position. He reminded me of the gift I have to make people feel good and welcomed and helped me see the potential impact I could make. It was doubled down by Conway Campbell and Brenda Hunt when they asked me about the legacy I want to leave here on campus, and that pushed me to commit and follow through. Along with the help of George Kuntz, Jared Magno, and the rest of the great Orientation Team we had, it was an experience I’m glad I went through.
How have you seen the role of the Black Student Union evolve over your time as Public Outreach Liaison? What initiatives or projects are you particularly proud of, and why?
My role as Public Outreach Liaison has helped me shape how I communicate with people. It’s put into perspective how much work true leadership takes and has taught me the beauty of fully committing to making something better. It’s brought me closer to people who I didn’t think I would meet and share a bond with, but it also showed me my generosity even when I don’t believe in my own generosity. The proudest project I’ve taken part of was the Sneaker Ball that BSU hosted this year. It was fun to see and help bring someone’s vision to life, and enjoying the fruits of the labor our team put into the event.
What are your career goals? How will your experiences help you reach those goals?
My career goal is to be either a broadcaster or a team assistant for a professional team. My experiences have taught me the value of selflessness. Understanding that when you’re a part of a team, the team goals should and are bigger than us as individuals. That mindset has been proven true, and I would point to the impact I’ve made on teams as a prime example of that.
What are your key takeaways from your experience?
The biggest takeaway for me is dedication and commitment. There was a point in time when I almost transferred out of Assumption, but something in me told me to stay. For a while I questioned it– I questioned the value of what I do and why I even did it. Ultimately, I told myself that God brought me here for a reason, and that I have to get over whatever barrier I’m placing on myself. So, I stayed, and I’d say it’s working out pretty well.
Will you continue your education? If so, what are the key factors that will influence your decision on where to continue your education?
As of right now, I do plan on furthering my education. Where that will be remains up in the air right now. I might take a year off first to recharge my educational battery.
Looking back on your time at Assumption, what would you say is the most rewarding aspect of your involvement in student leadership? How has it influenced your personal and professional growth?
The biggest reward for me is that I think I’ve found my confidence again. I’ve always second-guessed myself and my decisions for some time, I was unsure if I was actually helping people the way I intended to. That confidence has extended to other parts of my life as well– such as not being scared to cheer people on because of what others might say, for example, is something I struggled with when I first started in 2022. I’ve also seen the growth in myself, knowing that even when I may not be in the mood to bring the “juice” I still do it because it’s not about me, which is something I’m going to take with me forever.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your leadership roles, or any lessons you wish you had learned sooner?
I wouldn’t change a thing about my journey over the last now 3 years. I truly believe every part of my experience was needed for me to be not just the person I want to become, but for the person God created me to be.
If you are interested in being featured on Highlighting Hounds or know of any students who would be a strong candidate, please email us at careerdevelopment@assumption.edu!
