Jackson Carey, 2028
My Capstone Experience consisted of working with Dave Campbell's Texas Football, where I focused on promotions, outreach, and digital content within high school sports media. Throughout the semester, I supported multiple initiatives including promoting their live streaming platform, assisting with their online voting competitions, and driving awareness for their UIL State Championship Recap Shows. My role centered on communicating with athletic directors, coaches, and booster clubs across Texas through email, phone, and other outreach methods to increase visibility, engagement, and participation. I also helped build and manage contact databases, track engagement, and contribute to promotional strategies that connected schools and communities to digital sports content.This experience allowed me to gain hands-on exposure to how media, sponsorships, and digital platforms work together in the sports industry. By contributing to real campaigns and adapting to challenges like low response rates and limited contact information, I developed skills in professional communication, strategic outreach, and problem-solving. Overall, my Capstone Experience provided practical insight into sports marketing and business operations while helping strengthen relationships between media platforms and high school athletic programs.
Words of Wisdom
Consistency and Adaptability.
Kayla Kovar, 2026
For my capstone project, I had the opportunity to work with the Houston Astros for the BRUCE BOLT College Classic. I got to build a digital media plan for the tournament, which included writing promotional email copies, creating social media posts, and creating a media plan. As part of my project, I had the opportunity to attend the tournament. While I was at the tournament, I got to shoot and create content, and I also helped create each post throughout the tournament. This project taught me a lot, and I am so grateful I got the opportunity to do this project.
Words of Wisdom
Make the most out of your project; you never know where it might lead you. Have fun!
Colin Kemper, 2027
This semester, I have had the amazing opportunity to work with Special Olympics Texas to complete my Capstone Project. Through my capstone experience, I got the chance to mentor one of Special Olympics Texas own Athlete, AJ. AJ is a Track and Field athlete who loves competing. In this mentorship we worked on things not just on the track but off the track as well. Areas like Leadership and Communication were grown not just in him but for myself as well. As much as I saw growth in AJ through this mentorship, I feel as if it has also grown me as well. Overall, this experience was exactly what I was looking for and I am very satisfied with its outcome.
Words of Wisdom
Stay Dedicated & Earn the Opportunities
Collin Rodgers, 2027
My culminating experience with EverRise was a valuable learning opportunity. Over the course of the semester, we worked to develop an efficient outreach strategy in an effort to expand the company's total client base. We had to think outside the box, utilizing tools like Social Media and AI to find quality leads at an efficient and sustainable pace. It was a pleasure to work with people who are truly passionate about their work, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to have worked with EverRise to grow my experience.
Words of Wisdom
Put in your best effort and don't be afraid to make your voice heard
Brayden Hand, 2026
The three-day College Baseball Classic organized by the Houston Astros is one of the projects in my CE Business class that I will remember forever. I worked mainly on ticket sales, and the project required me to be active and communicate with different people. Thus, I gained invaluable experience and learned about the processes occurring in the field of sports business and how difficult it is to organize such events.Apart from that, I had plenty of other opportunities that came along with my primary task. I performed different tasks related to guest services, visited the playing field, went inside the media room, and got acquainted with many members of the Houston Astros' staff. All of this contributed to a completely new attitude towards the organization. I am truly thankful to Jay Verrill for the wonderful experience.
Words of Wisdom
Step outside your comfort zone, Take initiative and ask questions, Build connections with everyone you meet
Mallory Thedford, 2027
My culminating experience with TexAgs has been a hands-on combination of sponsorship sales and event execution that pushed me into a more active, professional role. Throughout the semester, I worked on reaching out to potential sponsors, building relationships, and helping present opportunities such as live show segment sponsorships and athlete partnerships. I was able to take what I’ve learned in the classroom and apply it directly in real situations, communicating with businesses and contributing to ongoing sales efforts in a meaningful way.At the same time, I played a role in planning and supporting events like the Happy Hour at Doglegg and the Preseason Kickoff luncheon, helping to ensure everything ran smoothly from both logistical and sponsor-facing standpoints. Being involved in both the sales and event sides gave me a full picture of how partnerships come to life, from initial outreach to on-site execution. This experience helped me build confidence, improve my communication skills, and better understand how to create value for both the organization and its partners.
Words of Wisdom
- Don’t be afraid to reach out to people, because consistent communication builds confidence even when you don’t always get a response.- Take ownership of your role by going beyond assigned tasks and actively looking for ways to add value.- Stay organized from day one by tracking contacts, notes, and follow-ups so you’re not overwhelmed later.
Bryce Jordan , 2026
For my Culminating Experience, I partnered with the Tulsa Drillers to complete a Capstone Business Project. During my project, I met weekly with the Drillers VP of Sales (Jennifer) to develop real-time solutions and tackle the organization's evolving needs. Each week during our meeting, Jennifer presented a current challenge or specific situation the Drillers were facing. I would then devote the following week to conducting research and delivering a detailed work document with actionable solutions for our next meeting. The content of these documents varied week to week based on the Drillers' current needs. At the beginning of my project, I focused mostly on promotions, group ticket sales, and memberships. Then, as the weeks progressed, my research shifted more toward website analysis, SEO strategies, and marketing optimization. Finally, I analyzed attendance trends, provided recommendations to maximize occupancy, and addressed fan fatigue. The main purpose of my project was to provide an innovative outside perspective on the internal issues and circumstances the Drillers face. By working across multiple departments, I was able to showcase my creativity and strategic thinking throughout the project.
Words of Wisdom
The two biggest pieces of advice I would have are don't be scared to take risk and have fun! Throughout my project there came points where I felt unsure of my work or thought I maybe took too many creative risk. Looking back, it was some of those "risk" that ended up being my best ideas. I also think it's very important that you enjoy whatever you are doing. You'll be partnered with the organization for a whole semester, so if you don't enjoy the work that's a long time to grind through. Just have fun throughout the process and be open to new experiences!
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!