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Atlanta is a major sports hub in the United States, offering endless opportunities for fans and those looking to work in the sports industry. Oglethorpe’s unique location and resources allow students to experience both. Ten Oglethorpe students recently explored the behind-the-scenes of sports careers at an Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena.Ìý

With guidance from Dr. Kate Keib, associate professor of communication studies, students developed communication and marketing-focused projects based on the organization’s operations and game-day responsibilities. Their assignments ranged from creating social media content to writing reports, all of which provided them with hands-on experience in communications work.Ìý

Students listened to a panel moderated by Stuart Spiers ’18, an Oglethorpe business administration graduate and current manager of ticket sales with the Hawks. The panel included the following Hawks team members: 

• Jen Choi, vice president of strategy and operations
• David Elgin, SVP of ticketing strategy and analytics 
• Hailey Dougherty, senior coordinator of revenue and partnership marketing
• Taylor Ellis, community impact coordinator 

“Connecting students from my alma mater with the Hawks and giving them a behind-the-scenes look at our organization was an incredible experience,” said Spiers. “Hopefully, everyone got a glimpse of the energy, culture and people that make this team and city so special. It was a proud moment to represent Oglethorpe and show the students how far their passion and hard work can take them.”

Participants in the Hawks visit were each recommended by a faculty or staff member. Mikaia Wheaton ’27, a philosophy major with a special interest in social media, was recommended to attend through her personal relationship with Alyssa Merletti ’24, assistant director of alumni engagement.

“I was very grateful for this opportunity–even though I was a little hesitant at first,” says Wheaton. “I found the experience to be very enjoyable with all the things I was able to learn. I was able to educate myself about the inner workings of what keeps the Hawks going and how they really incorporate the people of Atlanta in all they do.” 

“I also always love visiting more parts of Atlanta, so it was fun to learn and explore from this experience,” says Wheaton.Ìý

These students will work on their individual projects and later present them at the Liberal Arts and Sciences Symposium in the spring.Ìý

A short MARTA ride into the city, growing relationships with Atlanta sports organizations, and access to essential career resources make it even more convenient for Oglethorpe students to pursue standout opportunities in the city’s growing sports industry.Ìý