Meet the Class - Chris S.

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: Christopher D. Sarpy

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Undergraduate School & Major: Tulane University: Undergraduate Major was Finance; also earned a Master of Accounting from Tulane Graduate School

Past Sports Industry Experiences:
*Worked for Gatorade during the NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans.

Current G.A. or Sports Industry Related Internship/Job:
*Graduate Assistant for The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES)
*Graduate Assistant for the Hope for Stanley Alliance
*Premium Game Day Services Representative for UCF Football

Reasons for Choosing the DeVos Program:
I chose the DeVos Program because it had been repeatedly mentioned as one of the most respected programs in the nation. I was also impressed by the networking potential built through the program’s association with so many significant figures in the sports world.

Future Career Ambitions (1 to 2 sentences):
I would like to work as a business analyst for an NFL, NBA, MLS, NHL, or MLB franchise, or I would like to work in a capology position for the NFL or NBA.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why?
I would like to be able to teleport because it would be an unbelievable experience to travel all over the world without the concerns of cost and time.

If you had the opportunity to interview anyone dead or alive, who would you choose and what would you most want to know?
I would choose to interview former NFL Commissioners Bert Bell and Pete Rozelle. I would like to hear their views regarding the modern NFL, and I would ask what it means to them to be the architects of what is now the most popular & prominent professional sports league in the US.

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Meet The Class- Aaron

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: Aaron J. Gearlds

Hometown: Jackson, MS

Undergraduate School & Major: Georgetown College, MAJOR- Kinesiology and Business, MINOR- Sociology

Past Sports Industry Experiences:
*Professional Baseball Player For The Colorado Rockies

Current G.A. or Sports Industry Related Internship/Job:
*GA for TIDES

Reasons for Choosing the DeVos Program:
Two masters degrees and a chance to learn from the best in the industry.

Future Career Ambitions (1 to 2 sentences):
After completion of the program, I look to obtain a position in Major League Baseball working in player operations with the focus of becoming a general manager.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why?
I would choose the power to heal and give back life.

If you had the opportunity to interview anyone dead or alive, who would you choose and what would you most want to know?
I would like the opportunity to interview GOD and ask how can I make the world around me better.

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Meet the Class - Demetrius

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: Demetrius A. Frazier

Hometown: Winter Haven, FL

Undergraduate School & Major: Accounting, UCF

Current G.A. or Sports Industry Related Internship/Job:
*GA for TIDES
*GA for NCAS

Reasons for Choosing the DeVos Program:
The DeVos Program focuses heavily on community service and diversity, which are two things that I greatly value. No other program emphasizes these two important things like the DeVos program. Also, sports was a positive outlet for me during times in my life when there was no much negativity around and I saw how sports affected people’s lives. I could not envision my life without sports.

Future Career Ambitions (1 to 2 sentences):
In the future I would ultimately love to be team president of a sports franchise and then one day blessed enough to be an owner.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why?
X Ray vision

If you had the opportunity to interview anyone dead or alive, who would you choose and what would you most want to know?
My mom, and I would ask her everything about her childhood.

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Meet the Class - Jake

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: Jake Spiak

Hometown: Watervliet, NY

Undergraduate School & Major: Ithaca College, B.S. Sport Management

Past Sports Industry Experiences:
*Ticket Sales and Services Intern, Tampa Bay Rays
*Ticket Sales Representative, Tampa Bay Rays
*Group Sales Executive, Jacksonville Jaguars.

Current G.A. or Sports Industry Related Internship/Job:
Florida Citrus Sports and Nelligan Sports Marketing, Corporate Sponsorship Sales.

Reasons for Choosing the DeVos Program:
The ability to receive a duel degree is something that undoubtedly attracted me to this program. After further research, I saw that the DeVos program discussed topics and areas of sport that is hard to find in other programs. The ability to be in a diverse classroom with people from many different backgrounds is something that is very unique.

Future Career Ambitions (1 to 2 sentences):
I would like to work in professional sports in either Corporate Partnership or Marketing with the goal of becoming a Team President.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why?
I would choose teleportation because I would love to travel to anywhere in the world in the blink of an eye and experience different things.

If you had the opportunity to interview anyone dead or alive, who would you choose and what would you most want to know?
George Steinbrenner, and I would like to know how he dealt with the criticism of New York fans and media over his management style during his ownership of the Yankees on his way to building one of the most powerful franchises in sport.

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Meet the Class - Francisco

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: Francisco Aristeguieta

Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

Undergraduate School & Major: University of South Florida, Finance

Current G.A. or Sports Industry Related Internship/Job:
*Graduate Assistant for TIDES
*NASCAR Diversity Department

Reasons for Choosing the DeVos Program:
My first reason was that my undergrad mentor, Justin Miller, told me that DeVos was the place for me. I have always trusted Justin, but once I started to research the program I realized that I want to be part of this family.


Future Career Ambitions (1 to 2 sentences):
My future plans are to work with soccer in Europe and learn as much as I can, so I can go back to my country and apply what I would learn. I think soccer is a key to make changes in Venezuela.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why?
I would like to be able to change people’s mind. With this power I would try my best to change the way leaders in my country think, so they can start helping to build a better Venezuela.


If you had the opportunity to interview anyone dead or alive, who would you choose and what would you most want to know?
I would to interview my grand father (dad’s side), Fernando Aristeguieta. He died when I was 2 years old, so I never had the chance to really know him. He was one of Venezuela's most prominent engineers, and a devote person to social changes. He built schools for low income kids, and he constantly made donations for different organizations. He was a very loved and admired person by many, and when he died the President of Venezuela at that time assisted in his burial. I know that having the chance to talk to him even for just a few minutes would help me tremendously in my career.


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Meet the Class - Christie

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: Christie Cloud

Hometown: Lexington, KY

Undergraduate School & Major: University of Kentucky, Accounting & Marketing

Current G.A. or Sports Industry Related Internship/Job:
*Graduate Assistant for The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport
*Orlando Magic Premium Services


Reasons for Choosing the DeVos Program:
I was originally attracted to the Program because of the dual degree option. After doing more research about the Program, I was intrigued by the idea of using sport to produce social change. I also love the fact that community service plays such a large role in the Program.


Future Career Ambitions (1 to 2 sentences):
To work for a professional sports organization, preferably in the NBA.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why?
I would choose to have the power to become invisible. It would be nice to be able to duck out of uncomfortable situations, be able to run errands without spending much time getting ready in the morning, and play pranks on people.


If you had the opportunity to interview anyone dead or alive, who would you choose and what would you most want to know?
I would interview Michael Jordan. I would ask him how he stayed motivated once he achieved so many personal accomplishments and won so many championships.


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The DeVos Life

Wow!!! How time flies and what an experience this has been so far. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the TOP sports management program in the country. The atmosphere (inclusive and ever-evolving based on the current status of sports ) and approach (hands-on and in-depth) provides me the ability to create my own learning niche that corresponds with my career aspirations. The material and knowledge that I am learning can be specifically targeted and focused to what I will be doing in the future.

It feels good to know how I can be a part of the development of the sports industry in the sense of the societal impact that I can and will have in comparison to just a mere addition to the sports industry. In my opinion, this program calls for all of us to be held accountable for our actions and by the time we leave we understand how are actions can positively or negatively affect the industry and even more important society.

It is hard to imagine that I have almost completed two semesters. Two more semesters to go and off all of us go into this industry being the best equipped leaders to handle the current and future issues of this industry. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity and do not take this time in my life for granted. I'm eager to see what the future holds because I know that all of my cohorts will be change agents in sports. Can't wait!! Let the countdown begin!!!



Simone Jackson
DeVos Sports Business Management '12
University of Central Florida
Graduate Assistant - The Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES)

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Meet the Class - Andrew

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: Andrew H. Lilly

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Undergraduate School & Major: The University of Texas at Austin; Sport Management

Past Sports Industry Experiences:
*Championships/Events Intern at The University of Texas at Austin
*Sports Services Intern at Conference USA
*2007 & 2008 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship Intern
*Professional Exchange Participant at Texas Christian University


Current G.A. or Sports Industry Related Internship/Job:
*Graduate Assistant for The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport
*Content Marketing Associate for SportsBusinessWire.com


Reasons for Choosing the DeVos Program:
DeVos chose me. The program entered my radar during my junior year of undergrad. I set my course for this program, and by God’s grace, I made it here. I valued the program’s emphasis on diversity, ethics, and the communities we serve.


Future Career Ambitions (1 to 2 sentences):
I want to work in collegiate athletics and serve as an advocate, mentor, role model, and friend to student athletes. I love social networking, writing, and tackling social issues, so I hope to implement these into my career as well.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why?
Let me channel my inner X-Man and go with Archangel’s superpowers. He can fly and heal others. I’m cheating by picking two superpowers. Sue me.


If you had the opportunity to interview anyone dead or alive, who would you choose and what would you most want to know?
I would interview the one grandparent I never got to meet, and that is my maternal grandfather, Rochelle Foreman. I’d like to know kept him going every day, what life was like for him, and if I make him proud.

Do you have any closing thoughts?
Yes, I’m glad you asked. Follow me. Facebook me. E-mail me. Text me. Call me. Skype me. I pride myself on being available to those who reach out to me even if it gets me in trouble. I love my phone. I love people.

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