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The stories poured out quickly – of 80 cold calls a day in the Bronx, of late nights tearing down hospitality tents in Minnesota, of navigating the chaos of a rain-delayed baseball broadcast in Atlanta. For the students headlining the 2025 Sport Management Internship Forum, the details weren’t always glamorous, but they were real. And that was the point.

Hosted on Sept. 29 in Turner Theatre and the Snow Family Grand Atrium, the annual forum brought together students to share their summer internship experiences with organizations across the sport industry. The highlight of the annual event was a student panel moderated by Sport Management Society president Abby Selikoff ’26, featuring seniors Sasha Barnett ’26 (New York Islanders), Jack D’Emilia ’26 (New York Yankees), Sever Gregory ’26 (Duke Athletics), Scott Katz ’26 (NBC Universal/Comcast), Shelby Keel ’26 (ProLinks Sports – 3M Open) and Sam Chairman ’26 (SeventySix Capital).

“Tonight is our chance to showcase what they have accomplished – real projects, real responsibilities and real growth,” said Shaina Dabbs, chair of the Department of Sport Management. “It is also an opportunity for future interns to learn about potential opportunities, ask questions, and build connections that can lead to their next role.”

For more photos of the internship forum, .

Panelists discussed the unexpected challenges, such as physical demands and extensive time on the phone, and the skills developed, like communication, decision-making and networking. The forum emphasized the importance of professionalism and maintaining connections for future career growth.

A few common pieces of advice rose to the surface:

• Maintain relationships with fellow interns, as they may become future colleagues.
• Stay in touch with internship contacts and leverage connections for future opportunities.
• Apply for jobs and internships proactively, and don’t be afraid to reach out to make connections.

Students reflected on how their internships revealed the realities of the industry. “You don’t really process the fact that almost every sport job application requires you to lift 50 pounds,” said Keel, who interned with the 3M Open, a professional golf tournament in Minnesota on the PGA Tour. “I quickly realized that setting up and tearing down event spaces is just as important to tournament operations as the work behind a desk.”

For some, the grind of the work wasn’t always physical. “I was making 80 to 100 cold calls a day,” said D’Emilia, who interned with the Yankees. “It was a really tough job, but I gained confidence, improved my communication, and realized how important sales and fan engagement are to a team’s success.”

Katz, who interned with NBC Universal and the Philadelphia Phillies broadcast team, emphasized the importance of networking in everyday settings. He noted that some of his most valuable connections came from casual conversations in the press box cafeteria, where he made a point to sit with directors, producers and longtime Phillies staff to learn from their experiences. Katz also stressed that small gestures, like greeting colleagues by name, go a long way in leaving a positive impression and building lasting professional relationships.

The five panelists all emphasized that the relationships built during internships are just as valuable as the skills gained.

“These internships exist for a reason,” said Barnett, who worked in digital marketing with the New York Islanders. “They want to mentor us and help us learn. Saying ‘yes’ to opportunities and building connections with colleagues and supervisors is just as important as completing the work itself.”

The forum concluded with informational tables and networking in the Snow Family Grand Atrium, giving underclassmen a chance to connect with returning student interns and discuss their summer experiences.

2025 Student Internships

Ahmarion McLeod – ���ϲ����� Athletics
Alex Goldglit – VaynerSports
Alli Gerson – Lancaster Storm
Anthony Martin – ���ϲ����� Athletics – Football
Avi Hurwitz – Valley Golf Course
Ben Bronstein – Winston-Salem Dash
Bernardo Vargas-Lopez – COTA (Circuit of the Americas)

Cameron Dunn – Bristol Blues
Carlos Levy Lanado – Kappers 507 Sportsbook
Caroline Kemp – All Star Sports Academy
Carson Pron – ���ϲ����� Athletics
Cecil Munshin – HealthFitness
Colin Foil – Overtime Athletics
Daniel Jaegar – Stars Agency
Eddie Klima – Philadelphia Eagles
Emerson Baker – Burlington Sock Puppets
Evan Bennet – Duke Athletics
Ian Wolk – Washington Nationals
Isabella Marconi – USA Football
Ishmel Atkins – ���ϲ����� Athletics – Tickets
Jacob Blank – ELOA
Jacob Zik – Mets Camps
Jack D’Emilia – New York Yankees
Jonah Grossman – BIP Wealth
Justin Helberg – Soccer Shots
Lev Olsberg – Greensboro Grasshoppers
Lily Nordheimer – Wasserman
Lucy McAfee – Atlantic Coastal Conference
Luke Silpe – Joe Favorito Communications
Maddy Baird – Winston-Salem Dash
Maraja Pass – ���ϲ����� Athletics
Mark Kelleher – Granite TeleCommunications
Matthew Meck – Perfect Game
Natalia Macphail – Bentley College
Noah Grossman – Westchester Soccer Club
Oliver Wolk – Washington Nationals
Patrick Costin – Brockton Rox
Robby Fleisher – Front Runner Sports
Ryan Dorfman – Harris County – Houston Sports Authority
Ryan Pleasants  – ���ϲ����� Athletics – Development
Sam Chairman  – SeventySix Capital
Sam Miller – Bourne Braves
Sam Miller – NC Fusion
Sasha Barnett – New York Islanders
Scott Katz – NBC Universal (Comcast)
Senqua Alsobrooks – ���ϲ����� Athletics
Sever Gregory – Duke Athletics
Shelby Keel – Pro Links Sports – 3M Open
Will Nance – Carolina Core FC
Will Spoto –  Avenue Capital Group
Will Wranek – Phoenix Club
Wyatt Zsiga – Portland Sea Dogs
Zoe Chepenik – American Cornhole League