Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Kinesiology student to intern with Colts
Abby Williams
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Betty Vawter Senior Editor, News & Information Services 812/480-1873 Kip Brownfield, a 1990 USI graduate in business administration, is director of ticket sales for the Colts. He said, "The Indianapolis Colts and our Promotions Department are excited to have Abby Williams as part of our marketing team this summer. Abby's leadership skills, great personality, and strong work ethic will make her a huge asset and great ambassador in the community during our summer internship program. Abby was one of a few intern candidates selected out of 400 applicants. She will be active in seeing that our "Make It Personal" slogan and marketing campaign are carried out in a successful manner this summer." A trip to Indianapolis last fall for the Sport Management Conference sponsored by the Indiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD) acquainted Williams with the Colts internship program. The conference included a tour of Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Colts. Matt Godbout, director of sponsorship sales for the Colts, led the tour and told students about the internship program. Williams will graduate May 9. In addition to a major in kinesiology, she has completed a specialization in sport management and a minor in coaching. USI recently received approval from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to offer a major in sport management. "It has always been my dream to work for a professional sports team or a college team," Williams said. She looks forward to honing her leadership skills through the internship opportunity. "I want to understand what it takes to be a leader in the sports industry and be a part of such a big organization," she said. Dr. Glenna Bower, assistant professor of physical education, accompanied a group of nine students to the Sport Management Conference. She is a member of the IAHPERD Sport Management Council that planned the event. Bower said, "Attending professional development conferences is crucial for any sport management student. The industry is highly competitive and selective. Professional development conferences allow students to realize the extent of career opportunities, the importance of networking, and the necessary skill sets that will help them obtain entry-level positions." During the interview process, Williams told Colts staff members about her experiences in sport management at USI. As vice president of the Sport Management Club, she has been involved in planning events such as a golf scramble to support scholarships for sport management students and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to raise money for the education fund benefiting the son of Jeron Lewis, the USI basketball player who died in January. Williams also has served as an intern this semester for USI Sports Information. Bower is internship coordinator for the Department of Physical Education. She recognized that Williams would be successful from the time she stepped into her office as a potential basketball player. Williams has maintained a 3.7 grade-point average. "She is truly an exceptional student who stands in a league of her own," Bower said. "She did an outstanding job of managing school and maintaining her work ethic as a student athlete. She will always be the student who set the standard for where our sport management program is headed." Williams said that being a student athlete is challenging. "You must do schoolwork and concentrate on basketball," she said. "When we were on the road, I did homework and got on the Internet to ask my teachers what I missed." An Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference performer, Williams is from St. Joseph, Illinois. She transferred to USI from Kankakee Community College where she was an NJCAA II All-American. In her two years at USI, she averaged 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game and helped lead the Eagles to the NCAA II Tournament this past March. Rick Stein, head coach for USI women's basketball, commended Williams for her keen sense of responsibility. "Her success comes because of her commitment to get things done and done in the right way," he said. "She's done that here on the court, in the classroom, and in the community, and she will continue to do that with the Colts." |
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