LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Experience and networking are the two primary core values of the Sports Management Club at Lock Haven University.
Its main purpose as an academic club, of about 30 members, is to equip students with the knowledge and experience necessary to secure a position and succeed in the sports management and administrative industries. This is done largely by helping club members engage in practical experiential learning opportunities directly related to their career field and interests.
Club secretary Morgan McCutcheon emphasized the importance of needing experience to pursue a sports career post-graduation. She also noted how the Sports Management Club provides students with the chance to help build their resumes and learn how to present themselves professionally within the field.
“Our industry is primarily based on experience. To provide our members with experience at an affordable cost will help benefit them in the future while searching for jobs. We, as officers, try to help out our members as much as we possibly can and help provide them with the right resources.”
Club members have the opportunity each semester to attend one large trip, two to three business conferences and/or resume career workshops, as well as several other small-scale sporting events to gain experience working in the sports industry. In the past, students have worked in various hospitality, transportation, and ticket servicing roles. They also ushered guests, score kept, ball collected, and videographed during games.
While most volunteer experiences are provided through Haven and Penn State Athletics as well as local high school athletic departments, about 15-20 students have the opportunity to attend a large-scale sporting event each semester. Some of the most recent trips included working at the NCAA College Football Championships, Little League World Series, and various Super Bowl games. All trips are paid for through personal and club-wide funding.
“Working at the Little League MLB Classic was a great resume building experience. I really enjoyed working with the different teams and learning about various game day operations within the Little League organization,” said club treasurer Hannah Possinger.
Upperclassmen can also earn service hours to go toward their required three-credit field participation class by actively participating in the club. Most Sports Management majors complete their 120 hours by working at different sporting events promoted through the club.
Another critical aspect of the Sports Management Club is networking. Many members, including the current president and vice president, obtained sports-related jobs and internships through their extracurricular involvement in the club.
President Hailey Farr commented on how networking is one of her favorite parts about being a member of the Sports Management Club.
“Because of the opportunities provided by the club I have been fortunate enough to attend two NCAA College Football National Championships and go on various other small trips that have allowed me to create industry connections. I have also benefited professionally from the major and our alumni through networking and was able to get a part time job from a LinkedIn post one of our alumni shared.”
Vice president Ethan Walker also made professional connections by serving as an active member. After networking and attending several trips associated with the club, he became affiliated with QuintEvents, a global sport and event planning company. Ethan is now employed through the organization and assists other members in attending big-name sporting events.
He also attributes the club’s experiential learning opportunities as his main reason for attending Lock Haven University. “I really like offering so many opportunities to students so they can separate themselves from the rest of the industry after they leave LHU. That’s honestly why I chose Lock Haven. The things this club does for its members are unlike many others.”
Anyone interested in joining Sports Management Club and applying their classroom skills out in the real world can do so by contacting Hailey Farr at hmf7625@lockhaven.edu or advisor Peter Campbell at pcampbel@lockhaven.edu. Meetings are hosted every other Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Zimmerli Room 7. Also, be sure to connect with the club on Instagram @lhu.smc and Twitter @LHU_SMC.
Photo Credit: @lhu.smc on Instagram
Kerri Hoover
Kerri Hoover is in her third year working on the Eagle Eye staff and currently serves as the President and Editor-in-Chief. As a Lock Haven University senior, she majors in Communication with a triple-concentration focus in Advertising & Public Relations, Electronic Media, and Journalism. With her versatile skill set, Kerri hopes to pursue a career working as a social media content creator, journalist, or video editor. On the rare occasion Kerri isn’t working in the newsroom, she can be found hanging out with her friends, working at the PUB, or creating content for the LHU Media and Journalism Department.
