Spotlights
Shaun Keller '23
Where are you from?
White Lake, MI
Did you play any sports in high school?
Football
Favorite place to eat off campus?
Freddy's
Favorite class?
SPM 376: Sport Facility and Event Management. That class really cemented that the sports industry is where I want to be.
Favorite thing to do outside of school and work?
Work out, listen to music, and spend time with friends.
Dream Job?
Lead marketing operations for a big school.
390 Internship?
I interned with GVSU athletics as a marketing intern my Junior and Senior year. My junior year experience was for my 390 credit and senior year for 490.
What were your responsibilities at your internship?
I was responsible for all the marketing operations for events. Running on-field promotions, organizing student giveaways, video board operation, playing music, etc. After my first-year interning with GVSU I was promoted to a paid internship and an expanded role. My new responsibilities included working with ticketing, creating run of the show scripts for events, and assisting with student email marketing.
What was your favorite part of the job?
Working with my team to create fun events with a great atmosphere. Looking around during a football game and seeing Lubbers stadium packed and loud was a cool thing to be a part of.
Any special skill that you use or had to learn?
Something I had to learn early on in my internship is things rarely go to plan in event operations. Unexpected things just happen. I learned that adaptation and communication are essential skills in the sports industry.
Any fun memories working at your internship?
One fun moment for my internship was when I had to be Louie the Laker at an event at Culvers. The event was outside in the summer heat, and I felt like I was about to get heat stroke. Not to mention the fact that I was way too big to even properly fit in the suit to begin with. It was generally a miserable experience, but I don’t regret it because it’s a fun story to tell.
Advice for students looking for internships?
My advice to students looking for internships is focus on getting your foot in the door. Once you do, your experience and network will naturally grow over time. To get your foot in the door I suggest making a LinkedIn and connecting with people in the industry. Also check out job websites like handshake, NCAA Market, and TeamWork Online.
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