Meet the Class 2011 - Daniel

One of the unique attributes of the DeVos Sport Business Management Program is the network of students who make up our program. Our class will take every course together during our tenure here at UCF and we will work on countless group projects and collaborative efforts. As a result of our shared interests in the business of sport, a natural team camaraderie is formed. However, our team is composed of people from diverse backgrounds, experiences and ambitions. We offer profiles of class members to give you an idea as to the type of people who make up our program, individuals who collectively will be leaders in sport and society and will be teammates for life.

Name: Daniel Caudy

Hometown: Hilton Head, South Carolina

Undergraduate School & Major: University of South Carolina. Bachelor of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management

Past Sports Industry Experiences: I have completed two internships to date. My first internship was with the Columbia Inferno. a minor league hockey team in the ECHL. My second internship was with the Compliance Office of the Georgia Tech Athletic Association in Atlanta, Georgia.

Current G.A. or Sports Industry Related Internship/Job: Graduate Assistantship with The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport

Reasons for Choosing the DeVos Program: I chose the DeVos program for several reasons. The fact that the program is highly regarded throughout the country and puts an emphasis on business principles as well as sport was a deciding factor. The emphasis the program places on ethics, diversity, and social change brought through sport were extremely important to me as I believe sport is a vehicle through which we can make a difference in society. The opportunity to work with a small, tight-knit group of people who share my interests for 16 months excited me. Lastly, the opportunity to learn from some of the world-class professors who lead this program made DeVos seem like the perfect place for me.

Future Career Ambitions (1 to 2 sentences): I have not completely decided what I want to do once I have completed the DeVos program. As of right now I have two ultimate goals: The Athletics Director for a BCS conference school, and the President/General Manager of a National Hockey League team. In the short term I hope to be gainfully employed by a BCS conference school, an NHL team, or the NCAA or NHL national offices.

Meet the Class 2011 - Natalie

One of the unique attributes of the DeVos Sport Business Management Program is the network of students who make up our program. Our class will take every course together during our tenure here at UCF and we will work on countless group projects and collaborative efforts. As a result of our shared interests in the business of sport, a natural team camaraderie is formed. However, our team is composed of people from diverse backgrounds, experiences and ambitions. We offer profiles of class members to give you an idea as to the type of people who make up our program, individuals who collectively will be leaders in sport and society and will be teammates for life.

Name: Natalie Welch

Hometown: Cherokee Indian Reservation, North Carolina

Undergraduate School & Major: The University of Tennessee, Bachelor's in Sport Management, minor in business

Past Sports Industry Experiences: Mainly fitness related, I've worked in 2 different fitness centers doing a little bit of everything. I also interned at the UT Thornton Athletics Student Life Center, working with student athletes progress towards degrees.

Current G.A. or Sports Industry Related Internship/Job: Graduate Assistant - The Institute for Diversity & Ethics in Sport

Future Career Ambitions (1 to 2 sentences): There are so many things I want to do in my career. I would love to work with a team or organization on fitness-related community outreach. I would also like to eventually open up my own fitness and sport related business. Another goal I have is obtain my doctorate degree so I can one day teach at the collegiate level and then establish a sport management program.

Reasons for Choosing the DeVos Program: So many reasons! The dual degree is an obvious reason. What really makes DeVos special is the focus on ethics, diversity, and simply making an impact on the sports world.

If you could play a round of golf with any three sports figures (dead or alive, on the field or off) who would you choose and why? I would have to choose Jim Thorpe because he was one of the greatest Native American athletes of all time and I would love to get his perspective from the good old days; Have to do Michael Jordan, the greatest!; Kathrine Switzer because she was the woman who challenged the all-male tradition of the Boston Marathon and became the first woman to officially run it.

Being the Change

Hey Everyone,

My name is Devan (or as my classmates call me – Digs) and I am stoked to have the opportunity to spend the next 16 months sharing my DeVos experience with all of you. Everything that has brought me to the point where I am a member of the Class of 2011 has been nothing short of one fantastic ride; but I know the real adventure is just about to begin.

I recently graduated from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) where I received a dual-bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and Political Science. While at UCM I participated in a number of student organizations and completed a number of internships and it was during the summer of 2007, while serving as the Assistant General Manager for a minor league sports team, that I realized that what I had always wanted to do and what I wanted to do now, more than ever, was work in the field of sports.

But to simply work in the sports industry was not and is not enough for me. No matter what field I work in, I have always wanted to be somewhere that I could make a difference; I wanted to be in a position where I could bring about social change and foster diversity. These have always been goals of mine and as I looked at sport management programs across the country – I found there was one that could not only provide me a top-notch education; but one that would support and encourage my other endeavors as well. I have always lived by Gandhi’s maxim of, “be the change you wish to see in the world” and since it’s inception, the DeVos program at UCF has done just that and in my first two weeks here, I have been fortunate enough to be apart of that change.

Last week, the DeVos classes of 2010 and 2011 went to New Orleans and spent a week rebuilding the Ninth Ward, which is still in ruin even four years after Hurricane Katrina. We spent the week doing a number of jobs which included insulating houses, hanging sheet rock, and painting. We did this in cooperation with Hope For Stanley and the St. Bernard Project (CNN’s Humanitarian Organization of the Year for 2008). Overall, it was an eye-opening trip that gave all of us the chance to truly give our time, our talents, and our energy to help rebuild a city that still desperately needs our help. This was the 22nd such trip by the DeVos program and there are already plans for at least two more this school year.

I cannot even begin to describe the emotions that such an experience stirred in me or to tell you the things I saw but I will tell you that it was one of the most meaningful weeks of my life. In the Ninth Ward, we saw devastation, we saw shortcomings, and we saw a disaster; but we also saw hope – we saw the heart of the city; we saw the spirit of New Orleans that assured me that the Big Easy will one day shine bigger and brighter than ever and to be a part of this rebuilding endeavor now and in the future is something that I am definitely looking forward to.

I came to DeVos because I do want to work in the sports industry, I do want to be successful; but more than anything – I want to make a difference; I want to be the change and sport is the best way to implement that change. Dr. Lapchick will often say that, “there’s something about sport” and he’s absolutely right. Sport unites us, sport brings us together, and in the case of New Orleans, sport has renewed the hope of an entire population, and sport is rebuilding that great city.

Last week I realized that more than ever DeVos is the place for me and I look forward to receiving a world-class education and using the influence of this industry to make a positive difference in the world. There is something about sport that transcends shoe contracts, web-gems, and multi-million dollar deals – there’s an opportunity to be that change. There are 29 of us in the class of 2011 who are here for that very reason and I’m excited to be a part of this class and to see what we will accomplish and how we will change the face of sport.

Until next week,

Devan

What We Did On Our Summer Vacation

With our last semester of classes now underway (woo-hoo!), I wanted to give you all a quick update on how the Class of 2010 has spent our time since the summer term ended.

The Intramural 5-on-5 Soccer team, led by a balanced scoring attack throughout the tournament, won the Summer Competitive League Championship with a 4-1 victory in the title game. This is the third championship won to-date by members of the 2010 class, with previous titles earned in baseball and women's basketball. In our downtime away from class, we found time for some relaxation, the celebration of several of our summer birthdays, and time home to see family and friends.

A group of 10 DeVos students made a week-long trip to Toronto and New York City. Based upon all of the stories and laughs that have been shared since this group got back to Florida, it is evident that a good time was had by all. Some highlights of the trip included visits to the home ballparks for the Blue Jays and Yankees, informational interviews at Madison Square Garden, Canadian theme parks and all of the notable NYC tourist attractions.

We concluded our summer vacation with a return trip to New Orleans to assist with Hope For Stanley in rebuilding homes in the Lower Ninth. Much of our time was spent working with the St. Bernard Project, an outstanding New Orelans based group that was honored this past year when its founder Liz McCarthy was named the CNN Hero of the Year. Our class did everything from installing insulation, hanging drywall, mold remediation, mudding, painting, sanding and perofrming the final touches on homes for residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina's devastation. Additionally, the DeVos Program welcomed the new Class of 2011 on their first trip to New Orleans. The new class is a great group and we look forward to getting to know them better and helping to set them up for success in our final months in DeVos. Expect to see new postings soon that will introduce the new class and detail their unique experiences as they begin their graduate studies.

That's all for now, back to the books. Take care and enjoy the day.

-Charlie