Anthony Garcia , 2027
My Culminating Experience is centered around getting real, hands-on experience in coaching and football operations. I’ve had the opportunity to be around the day-to-day side of a football program, seeing what goes into practice prep, player development, and overall team organization. It’s given me a better understanding of how much work happens behind the scenes and how important every small detail is to a team’s success.This experience has also helped me grow a lot personally. I’ve gotten better at communicating, staying organized, and building relationships with others in a team environment. It’s confirmed that I want to pursue a career in coaching or football operations, where I can help develop players and be part of something bigger than myself.
Words of Wisdom
Be consistent, even when it doesn’t feel like it’s paying off yet.Build real relationships — they matter more than you think.Take every opportunity seriously, because they add up.
Alexander Maganda, 2026
My experience with the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches was really interesting and fun. I was able to learn more about Excel and about previous All-Region players. I also had to research missing years from the past.
Words of Wisdom
Any Capstone project that you choose will be fun, but also very time consuming. Looking back, you will feel accomplished and enjoy completing the project.
Carlos Tamez, 2026
My capstone experience with the National Scouting Combine has been a great step into the real sports industry, especially on the communication and relationship side. I spent most of my time reaching out to athletes, sending their Athletic Performance Reports, and checking in on where they are in their careers. I talked to players who had already signed and others who were still trying to get noticed, helping guide them on promoting themselves and staying active with teams and agents. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I got better at communicating professionally and handling real responsibilities. Overall, it helped me grow, build confidence, and understand how important relationships and follow up are in sports.
Words of Wisdom
- Do not procrastinate and know that this is all going to help you in the long run!
Leighton Reddy, 2026
For my capstone project, I worked with Hyphenated Athletics, a sports management company started by Jamie Wood. The company’s main goal is to help college athletes, coaches, and businesses understand how to make the most out of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals. My job was to help them change their strategy from just building athlete brands to acting as a "middleman" between local businesses and college athletes. During the semester, I focused on building the company's online presence. I revamped their social media by posting clips about identity and NIL, which helped us gain over 3,400 views and dozens of follows from athletic directors and college and high school athletes. I also helped edit a new website that makes it easier for brands and athletes to find and understand Hyphenated Athletics. To pull everything together, I created a "Local NIL Playbook" to teach business owners how they can partner with athletes to get more customers and grow their brand.
Words of Wisdom
- The main words of wisdom I would share to future Culminating Experience students would be to make the most out of whatever you do and to stay on top of your work.
Henry Coombes, 2026
My culminating experience working with EverRise focused on understanding how data-driven research can transform leadership in education and athletics. The company’s mission focuses on turning leadership into measurable outcomes by using assessments, research, and analytics to evaluate how coaches and educators impact student growth, well-being, and performance. EverRise emphasizes collecting and analyzing large amounts of data—such as student-athlete feedback—to provide actionable insights that improve communication, trust, and skill development among leaders. Through my work, I gained exposure to how research-backed strategies can directly connect leadership behaviors to real-world outcomes like academic success and personal development.A major component of my experience was using AI tools to support research and outreach efforts for potential clients. AI played a crucial role in efficiently gathering information, analyzing trends, and identifying organizations that would benefit from EverRise’s services. It allowed me to streamline the research process, generate insights quickly, and craft more personalized and effective communication when reaching out to schools, athletic programs, and other institutions. This not only improved productivity but also ensured that outreach efforts were data-informed and aligned with the company’s mission of using evidence-based approaches. Overall, AI was an essential tool that enhanced both the quality and efficiency of my work, making it possible to contribute meaningfully to EverRise’s goal of empowering leaders through data.
Words of Wisdom
- Time-Management, Planning, Persistence
Taylor Jackson, 2027
My culminating experience was a business project centered around a Dude Perfect themed concept, where I helped create and plan interactive games and event ideas designed to engage fans in a fun, competitive way. I worked on brainstorming attractions like team based games that required communication and strategy, while applying what I’ve learned in my Sport Management classes, such as fan engagement, event planning, and operations. The project gave me a better understanding of how entertainment and branding come together to create memorable experiences, and it pushed me to think creatively while also making sure the ideas were realistic and could actually work. Overall, it helped me build confidence in my skills and confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in sports and entertainment.
Words of Wisdom
- Be Adaptive, Be Flexible, Be Confident
Brayden Fickle , 2027
Throughout my culminating experience I was able to analyze social media statistics and trends, as well as learn more about the landscapes of high school and collegiate basketball. I was able to research and plan out how to add more teams to Revocruit, as well as complete daily tasks such as video editing, player and team write-ups, and create social media data sheets. I was also given the opportunity to meet the staff at the Revocruit office, and go through a day in the office, completing assignments and collaborating with different branches in the Revocruit department. It was very helpful being able to see how my work was helping them, and getting some insight into the minds behind Revocruit.
Words of Wisdom
- Never say no to an opportunity or assignment, and don't be afraid to ask questions if you need help.
Vynson Mathavong , 2026
During my culminating experience with the Rice Athletics football equipment staff, I gained comprehensive, hands-on experience in the daily operations of a Division I equipment room. I was responsible for assisting with equipment distribution, laundry operations, locker room organization, and practice and game-day setup. This role required strong attention to detail, time management, and the ability to perform efficiently in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.In addition to my operational responsibilities, I contributed to developing a recruitment outreach initiative aimed at increasing awareness and interest in equipment staff roles. This experience allowed me to expand my understanding beyond day-to-day tasks and into the strategic and organizational aspects of athletics. Overall, the experience strengthened my work ethic, adaptability, and commitment to pursuing a career in equipment management.
Words of Wisdom
- Clarify your path upfront and communicate your goals early.
Carson Lauter, 2027
Best experience ever. If you get the option or opportunity to get TexAgs as a Business Project, take it. But also, make the best out of any culminating experience. It was such a great learning experience and opened my mind to many other opportunities that I would want to pursue after college within the sports management world. Overall getting to be a sales and event management intern for TexAgs while fulfilling the 450 class was a awesome experience.
Words of Wisdom
- Have an Open Mind, Work Professionally, Have Fun.
Megan Pfeiler, 2027
In my Culminating Experience with Athletes in Action, I got to jump right into their marketing world and help create graphics for all kinds of events at the Sports Complex Retreat Center. With my partner, I built a social media calendar and designed flyers and promo materials for the Leanna Crawford Concert. On my own, I created all the graphics for the Women’s Retreat and the Homeschool Winter Field Day—which was so fun because I had the freedom to get creative and really make the designs my own. One of my favorite parts of the experience was joining the weekly marketing meetings on Zoom. They made it feel so personal and welcoming, and it was a fun way to connect with the staff while getting real feedback on our projects.
Words of Wisdom