I completed my Senior Capstone with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in Indianapolis, Ind., as the championships extern for women’s basketball.
While working out of the NCAA’s national offices, I completed marketing roles and had the honor of leading two new initiatives that were facilitated onsite at the 2017 Division I Women’s Final Four in Dallas.
One initiative, The Rewards Program, gave fans the opportunity to earn points for VIP experiences at the Women’s Final Four. I acted as the point person for the creation of the program as well as the facilitation onside. I also had the privilege of working on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund series of mini-basketball games that took place during Women’s Final Four weekend, to help raise money and awareness for the fund.
While my whole experience was more rewarding than imaginable, the best feeling was taking what I created in the office onsite to the Final Four. I learned from some of the top executives in college athletics and truly saw what it takes to put on an event of that caliber.
I have always dreamed about having a career in sports, and thanks to the Sport Management program’s opportunities and having faculty and staff dedicated to students’ success, I am on the right path to obtaining that dream. The NCAA allowed me to find my place in sports and build connections to help me achieve the next goal in my career. I am proud to say I have accepted a position as a championships assistant at the Big East Conference.
If someone ever asks you to go across the country to work with leaders in sports – I say go for it!