Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Turning a Triple Into a Home Run: Bukowski Scores with Three Internships



Clare Bukowski is an exercise science major at Elmhurst College with minors in psychology and coaching. As captain of the Bluejay softball team, Clare naturally has an interest in sports, health, and fitness. She is pursuing a career in sports administration at the collegiate level with hopes of becoming an athletic director. To prepare for her professional journey, Clare held internship positions at three different sites. Below she shares some of her experiences and what she learned being an intern.

The three internships I have completed have prepared me for both graduate school and graduate assistantships.  Last summer I interned with the Chicago Bandits professional softball team.  I did on-field promotions, interactions with fans, teams, and players while using a microphone on the field and in the stands.  I also worked with the public selling merchandise, tickets, creating promotional material and working as a guest relations specialist as well as a team liaison. This internship also allowed me to work with Olympian Jennie Finch during her two day camp hosted by the Bandits.  I experienced the amount of work needed to run a small professional sports team. 

 Clare (right) shown here with Olympic softball player, Jennie Finch.


I also worked with Benedictine University Athletic Department during the fall of 2013.  I worked first hand with a college athletic department.  I assisted with on field promotions as well as learned how to run live statistics during college games.  I sat in on meetings and discovered the work that went into planning weekly home athletic contests.  I became an integral team member with other members of the athletic department, specifically with the director of sports marketing at Benedictine.

Finally, I interned with Immaculate Conception College Prep Athletic Department.  I created game day media guides for the fall home tournaments, worked as an official scorer for both volleyball and basketball games, and helped the assistant athletic director and the athletic director with a variety of tasks.  I continue to help ICCP during their winter sports season.

My three internships not only have taught me skills I cannot simply learn in the classroom, they have also put me in the best position possible to enter graduate school and hopefully earn a graduate assistantship. 

                                                Clare shown at the Bandits Stadium.