Commonwealth University Sport Management Students Network with Professionals at Annual RMU Conference

Sixteen sport management students from Commonwealth University Lock Haven and Bloomsburg campuses attended the 20th annual Robert Morris University (RMU) Sport Management Career Summit in November.

RMU's annual conference provides students with the opportunity to learn from and network with sport business professionals. Each year, Lock Haven students leave the summit with valuable connections and some with internships or job opportunities. Representatives from more than 40 sport organizations were in attendance, including Lock Haven alumni Angelo Hronis '18 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Dr. David Synowka, recently retired Robert Morris University sport management professor, established the conference in 2003. During the opening ceremony, Synowka urged students to identify how they would get their dream job and why they were the right candidate for the job. "The summit is about the how and the why, and the people who helped along the way," Synowka said.

The students in attendance were Lock Haven students Nadia Baskot, of Damascus, Maryland; Jakob Bower, of Williamsport; Lucca Capparelli, of Port Matilda; Abigail Hampson, of Adamstown, Maryland; Derek Hughes, of Lock Haven; Nita Imeri, of Montgomery; Abigail Katrinak, of Strongsville, Ohio; Deegan MacLeod, of New Cumberland; Austin Melius, of Bellefonte; Erin Ondik, of Bechtelsville; Hannah Possinger, of East Stroudsburg; Joshua Torrens, of Pottstown; Benjamin Walter, of Easton; Emma Williams, of Garnet Valley; and Dylan Young, of Pleasant Gap and Jason Yeick, of Catawissa, from the Bloomsburg campus.

"The Robert Morris University Student Summit was nothing short of exciting," Hughes said. "Our students displayed excellent communication skills while gaining meaningful connections with future employers."

The students were accompanied by sport management faculty, Dr. Peter Campbell and professor Bridget Roun. The faculty urge upperclassmen to take advantage of these opportunities to help kickstart their careers.

"There are some things that cannot be taught in the classroom," Roun said. "Students must also gain knowledge by attending these conferences, networking with professionals and working hands-on in the industry."

For more information about the sport management program at Commonwealth University and to learn about other experiential learning opportunities for students, visit www.lockhaven.edu/sportadmin/ or contact Campbell, coordinator of the sport management program, at pcampbel@commonwealthu.edu.