Summer for many UI Sport and Recreation Management students is summed up in two words: field experience. While students can earn independent field experience through internships during the fall and spring semesters, the industry’s demand for professionally trained and enthusiastic student interns is at its peak in the summer. This demand provides countless and exciting opportunities for aspiring sport and recreation professionals to develop knowledge, skills, and abilities in the field.
This summer, 80 students enrolled in independent field experience coursework through their qualifying internship. While most interned in Iowa or a surrounding state (Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota), many did not. In fact, eleven of the 80 students interned at a location outside of the states listed.
One might ask, how do students learn of such opportunities? The answer is there are several ways that students can identify and pursue exciting experiential learning opportunities. First, UISRM pays for program access to TeamWork Online, the leading hiring platform in sport and recreation that highlights positions in all sectors and levels of the industry. Second, program facilitated events and initiatives (UISRM Symposium, UISRM Advisory Board, and the Hawkeye Sport Business Association) introduce students to working professionals in locations throughout the country. Finally, the University of Iowa provides resources through Handshake (UI hiring platform) and International Student and Scholars Services.
In addition to students earning field experience in exciting locations, the responsibilities provided to interns and the knowledge, skills, and abilities earned are even more sensational. Below are comments from several of the students who earned independent field experience this past summer across the United States and around the globe.
Becca Ball (ex. BS 2023): This summer, I interned for a Spanish company, Globasket. I was their marketing intern, and my primary responsibility was to help them expand their reach to the United States. My supervisor charged me with creating a networking event between European athletes and US college basketball coaches. After acceptance to UI Study Abroad, their support resources identified a few options for study abroad companies to apply to, which introduced me to Globasket.
This field experience will give me an edge when it comes to applying for jobs. Not only was I leading a project to give European athletes the opportunity to pursue athletics and an education in the US, but I was doing that while abroad and learning about a different culture. I learned about the differences between athletics in America and Europe which is knowledge that not a lot of sport and recreation professionals have.
Emma Cooper (ex. BS 2023, pictured above): I spent the summer working with TrackTown USA in Eugene, Oregon, serving as their Workforce Coordinator. In this position, I was part of the team dedicated to establishing the workforce for some of the most elite track and field meets in the world. Early this year, I reached out to one of my LinkedIn connections, Bri Lantrip, who also happens to be a UISRM alumna. After an informational conversation, she encouraged me to apply for the Workforce Coordinator position.
As someone who grew up in Iowa City and enrolled at the University of Iowa, working in a new environment has been one of the biggest opportunities for growth for me. I dove right into an entirely new setting with new people in a new area of the sport and recreation industry. I have worked with college football for the past three years so entering the track and field industry at the interscholastic, collegiate, and professional level was a big change. Each different event brought new challenges and opportunities to learn from. Getting to work with elite championship events at every level will allow me to be more versatile in my professional career!
Cole Janz (ex. BS 2022): As an intern with the Indy Eleven’s Corporate Partnerships team, one of my main responsibilities
was attending Indy Eleven home matches and taking photos of all sponsored materials throughout the game. After the game, I uploaded them into a system called Trak, which the team uses to make sure the Indy Eleven are following through with all contracts, as well as uploading proof of performance pictures. Another primary responsibility was creating partner recap presentations, which is shared with sponsors at the end of the season. This is a critical piece of Indy Eleven’s sponsor fulfillment process.
I learned of this internship through TeamWork Online. After applying, I had two rounds of interviews with the head of the Corporate Partnerships team. This experience will benefit me in my career as working in corporate sponsorships for a sports team is my dream job after graduating from Iowa. While this summer has taught me that I would prefer to work in intercollegiate athletics, it was a valuable experience that has taught me a lot and has only strengthened my desire to work in sponsorship.
Lilly Bender (ex. BS 2023): This past summer I was an Athletic Facilities and Operations intern at the University of San Diego. My primary responsibility was planning and carrying out large athletic events on campus, but I also gained experience managing facilities and assisting athletic teams.
I knew I was interested in moving out to California, so I dedicated my internship search to the San Diego area. I connected with various people on LinkedIn and set up a phone call with my eventual position supervisor. We discussed his education and how he obtained his job at the University of San Diego. At the end of our conversation, he offered me an internship position.
Throughout this internship I have been able to explore departments of athletics that I would have never thought to. This internship has provided me with great connections to people within the sports industry. I have accepted a part-time position as Athletic Facilities and Operations Assistant and feel that the opportunities and knowledge that I will gain within this job will set me on the right path as my career progresses.