Senior Ryan Mortensen, an athletic intern, works with Miami hockey. (SCOTT ALLISON | The Miami Student)
The Miami University athletic department is opening its doors for students who choose to participate in its internship program.
The work involved in the program varies widely depending on which avenue of sports interns wish to pursue, according to Brad Bates, director of intercollegiate athletics.
Bates said the internships range from marketing to game operations.
"We have alums who are leaders in athletic training, game operations and in the media," he said. "Miami alums that are out there want to connect with Miami students."
While only a select few of the internships are paid, many of the program's participants consider the personal networking gained through the experience invaluable. Game operations intern senior Ryan Mortensen has seen a blossoming of opportunity not only for himself, but also for his fellow interns.
"I know we have had people go to the Atlanta Falcons, the Cincinnati Reds and the L.A. Dodgers," Mortensen said. "Last year, I also had the opportunity to work with the Boston Bruins. The connections you make in an environment like that are fantastic."
Students are not guaranteed an internship.
According to Bates, each area of the department has different procedures, but as many as 50 applicants per year are reviewed in each department. The athletic department receives calls from high school students each year inquiring the nature of athletic-based internships, Bates said.
"The marketing department has a very comprehensive interview and screening process," Bates said. "What we're trying to do is get our students involved in an experience-based education process."
Despite the competitive nature of the application process, Mortensen said more could be done to make students aware the internships exist.
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"It's really based on students searching for opportunities and sending e-mails to the right people," Mortensen said.
During a behind-the-scenes tour of Goggin Ice Center, Mortensen elaborated on some of the important personal qualities someone in game operations should have, as well as the impromptu circumstances they can expect.
"We have to manage most of the logistics surrounding parking, crowd management and sometimes even deal with injuries alongside the athletic trainers," he said.
According to Mortensen, one of the most fascinating parts of the job is the constant opportunity to address new challenges.
"Once we had the lights go out during a volleyball game, and even though none of us are electrical engineers, we still had to find a way to get the lights back on," Mortensen said.
According to Mortensen, between 20 and 30 interns are chosen each year for any given department and the internship will continue as long as the student continues to perform at a high level.
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