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.
