Two groups of Shenandoah University students completed experiential learning trips in February on some of the sports industry’s biggest stages, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field of sport management while working league-sponsored events leading up to the NFL’s Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas and the NBA’s All-Star Game in Indianapolis.
Shenandoah students who participated in the weeklong trip to Las Vegas from Feb. 6-13 got to tour various sports venues in the Las Vegas area and met several industry professionals and organizations in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. These experiences included meetings and site visits with the Las Vegas Golden Knights (NHL); University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Athletics; Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC); Professional Bull Riders (PBR); the Las Vegas Stadium Authority; Las Vegas Motor Speedway; and Las Vegas Ballpark (home of the Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s).
Students also participated in a networking event at UNLV, during which they heard from a panel of sports-industry executives and connected with fellow college students from other institutions who were working at this year’s Super Bowl.
On Saturday, Feb. 10, the students worked throughout the day at the NFL Fan Experience, and on Sunday, Feb. 11, they worked the Kansas City Chiefs’ pregame party prior to kickoff of the Super Bowl, which ended in the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
“You don’t find this type of opportunity everywhere,” said Aaron Sustrick ’24, one of the students who traveled to Vegas. “I felt lucky getting this type of experience at a major sporting event, to see how many people and resources go into it. Looking back, it feels like a dream. I wish everyone would get to do this. Having those hands-on experiences will separate us, put us one step ahead down the line in the future.”
SU students who traveled to Indianapolis for the NBA’s All-Star weekend on Feb. 16-18, kicked off their experience with a trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse – home of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and WNBA’s Indiana Fever – to watch all-star practice on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 17. From courtside seats, students found themselves surrounded by NBA players and celebrities.
Later in the day, the students went to work in the Volunteer HQ, checking in the volunteers who were scheduled to work for the weekend, gathering their uniforms for distribution, restocking the hospitality room, organizing the inventory, and other tasks that event staff needed them to do.
That night, the SU group started out sitting courtside at Lucas Oil Stadium for the round of all-star activities that included the Kia Skills Challenge, Starry 3-Point Contest, Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu 3-Point Challenge and the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest. One of the highlights of the night for Shenandoah students was an encounter with rapper 50 Cent, who took selfies with the group prior to the skills challenge.
Shenandoah’s Super Bowl contingent included sport management students Kyle Boettner ’24, Dylan Bly ’24, Amanda Dasher ’27, Tyler Garr ’26, William Gronlund ’26, Skyler Hill ’24, Drake Keckley ’25, Kara Mondrone ’25, Vincent Moore Jr. ’25, Isabelle Schultz ’25, Aaron Sustrick ’24, and Erin Talko ’26, as well as Associate Professor of Sport Management David Eyl, J.D., and Department Chair for Sport & Entertainment Brian Wigley, Ed.D.
Those who traveled to Indianapolis for the NBA’s All-Star weekend included students Conner Long ’26, Janelle Anderson ’25, Sean Perry ’24, Landon Russ ’26, Matt Shakley ’26, Kiyah Stewart ’24 and Ahvyon Boothe ’25, as well as Career Life Coach Fritz Polite, Ph.D.; Associate Athletic Director and Athletic Communications Director Matt Milich, MBA; and assistant men’s basketball coach Avery White ’21.
