College athletes are some of the most dedicated and hard-working individuals in the world. They work tirelessly trying to make themselves better for their respective sport. As always, this topic brings on the question whether college athletes should be compensated for their efforts.

I, like many others around the country would agree that college athletes should be rewarded. They often practice and prepare themselves as much as professional athletes.

College football and basketball are the two most profitable sports at the collegiate level; often making schools hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Colleges often expose their best athletes as advertisements. Whether it’s selling their jersey with no name on the back, but we all know who it is, or putting them on posters to attract fans to the game.

I think it’s safe to say that all college students live on a budget even if they happen to have a job. Imagine for the athletes who do not have time to work because of their demanding workloads.

Not having extra income causes many college athletes to become tempted into accepting money in exchange for signing autographs or making public appearances. It’s angering that athletes have to do these type of things in order to put a little extra cash in their pockets because they are not being compensated for their hard-work and dedication. And lets be honest, if it was not for the athletes, schools would not be where they are at today. Athletics alone have put schools in the national spotlight and in return have acquired some of the nation’s best high school athletes to come play for them.

With all the success these athletes bring, in the end they are not being rewarded. I get it, getting a $250,000 education isn’t a bad compensation but that does not help pay rent or utility bills that come with being an adult.

Colleges are moneymaking machines, so what is the problem with giving their athletes a reasonable stipend? I believe if athletes were given stipends during college it would help them considerably when they become professional athletes and are receiving contracts worth millions and millions of dollars. It would help them become better prepared on how to handle their money on their own.

If and when colleges start to reward their athletes, there will be no more stories in the news talking about players taking some sort of monetary value for their autographs or appearances.

I believe one day college athletes will be rewarded for their play and in return will be asking the question, which schools will be able to offer the most money for their athletes?