Major: Communication Arts & Science (Marketing Department)

Minor: Business

Hometown: Southbury, CT

How did you learn about this opportunity?

I found about this experience online and through a family friend.

Tell us a little bit about your experience

In my experience I am working in the Marketing Department for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Sound Tigers are the minor league affiliate for the NHL's New York Islanders and I get to work closely with both organizations. Some of my responsibilities include running the team's social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to interact with the fans and community and keep people up to date on team news. I also operate the team's official website and make sure all the information is up to date, and post press releases as new information or announcements are made. The team also sends me to Long Island anytime the Islanders have an event so that I can cover it for the Sound Tigers. I am working closely with the VP of Marketing to come up with a promotional calendar for the upcoming season and planning theme nights and giveaways in order to help d rive ticket sales and insure and enjoyable game experience for all of our fans and customers.

This internship has helped me academically because it has provided me with a great experience to learn in a real life setting and get in-the-field experience.

How did this experience impact you academically?

This internship has helped me academically because it has provided me with a great experience to learn in a real life setting and get in-the-field experience. This internship gives me an opportunity to use different skills that I learn in the classroom and apply them to real life. After taking CAS classes, I have learned a lot about communication techniques and how to give public speeches. I have learned a lot about persuasion and how to give persuasive and informative speeches. This has helped me during my internship when I have to give presentations or pitch idea I have to my boss. The background knowledge I gained at school has helped me to articulate my ideas and clearly show that I know what I’m talking about. Now when I go back to school in the fall, I will have real life examples to apply to the things we are learning about and it will help me be able to relate to things that we are learning and I will be able to grasp the concepts clearer. I will be able to apply lessons to situations from my internship and be able to think “this is something I have done” or “this is something I could have done” and I will understand what we are learning easier and quicker.

What are your career goals or plans? How did this experience impact them?

My career goals are to work in Sports Marketing for a professional or Division 1 college level sports organization. This internship will further my career goals because it will give me experience working in my desired future career field. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are a minor league hockey team affiliated with the New York Islanders. Working for this organization will give me familiarity with working in sports at a professional level. In this internship I will be working for the Sound Tigers’ Marketing and Graphic Design department and practicing how marketing works in the sports industry. I will be working every day at the Sound Tigers arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut getting a hands-on look into the sports world and the behind the scenes operations of a sports organization by helping their marketing department with day to day operations as they prepare for the up-coming season. In addition to working for the marketing department, I will have an opportunity to participate in community relation events with the team on weekends in local communities in Connecticut. I will also get to work on organizational group projects with the other interns such as coming up with a promotional plan for a Sound Tigers game next season. This internship will give me an excellent opportunity to get hands-on experience for my intended future career.

Would you recommend this experience to other liberal arts students? If yes, why?

Yes I would recommend this experience to other liberal arts students. This internship was a great experience for me. I really enjoyed myself and was able to have a lot of fun working in my desired field. I was able to work with some really awesome people and learn a lot of valuable things that will help me throughout my future careers. This internship was an excellent experience for me and I would recommend it to anybody who wants to pursue a career in the sports industry.