Blake Russell, 2025
I had a great experience working for Athletes in Action and learned many organizational and leadership skills along the way. During this project, I was able to learn about the process of grant writing and how to properly research and apply for funding from organizations all around the US. Together, my partner and I made a detailed list of potential grantors that aligned with the mission and goals of Athletes in Action and successfully applied to these organizations for funding.
Words of Wisdom
- Ask questions and don’t be afraid to share new ideas
Kaleigh Cochran, 2027
Working for the Texas A&M Women's Basketball Team under Meredith was the best experience. I got the opportunity to gain hands on experience in so many different ways I feel I wouldn't have doing anything else. From comparing and contrasting charter bids and helping pick one to making itineraries and emailing other Director of Ops about shoot arounds, I truly got to experience what it would be like to be a Director of Operations. This experience only motivated me and excited me for what's to come in my future.
Words of Wisdom
- Be able to problem solve and pay attention to detail.
William Filler, 2026
I was tasked with creating a sponsorship plan for Athletes in Action and the John Wooden fieldhouse. The project was hands on and allowed me to learn a lot about sponsorship and everything that entails. I created a sales deck that allows for athletes in action to present to potential partners to fill empty spots within the fieldhouse.
Words of Wisdom
Matt Wyatt Tucker, 2025
My Culminating experience was nothing short of amazing. I was able to meet with an amazing team every week and go over team retreat information for Athletes in Action. I was assigned a few tasks that involved doing research in multiple areas to find activities, food, and venues for future team retreat. Everyone on my team and that I spoke to within the organization was very accepting and willing to help me in my personal journey. I gained a lot of very useful information and couldn't have been more blessed to have been paired up with a great organization.
Words of Wisdom
- Just stay the course! No matter how overwhelming school can seem, it will all be worth it in the end!
Charley Taupin, 2027
For my Capstone Experience – Business Project, I partnered with Athletes In Action (AIA), a faith-based sports ministry dedicated to developing the “total athlete" physically, mentally, and spiritually. My primary role focused on enhancing the organization’s marketing efforts through the creation of comprehensive promotional strategies for seven key events. I developed detailed marketing plans that included email campaigns, social media graphics, caption templates, posting schedules, and content guidelines tailored to each event's unique audience. These plans were designed to be reusable tools for AIA’s marketing team, streamlining their efforts for future programming. In addition to promotional planning, I completed a SWOT analysis on AIA’s Youth Flag Football League to identify ways to better compete with a dominant local league. This analysis revealed critical insights into competitor strengths and areas where AIA could grow. Overall, this experience gave me real-world exposure to sports marketing, helped me build practical tools for a professional organization, and confirmed my passion for pursuing a career in this field.
Words of Wisdom
- Always ask questions and don't be afraid to do things on your own!
Savannah Trotter, 2025
For my Capstone Experience, I worked with the National Scouting Combine (NSC) to help run their social media and alongside their marketing team. I created a four-week content plan to help more people learn about NSC and get athletes excited about the Combine. I made videos, athlete spotlights, and behind-the-scenes posts. I also helped keep everything organized with weekly updates and feedback from the team. This project helped me learn what it’s like to work in sports marketing in the real world. I got better at making content, working with others, and managing deadlines. It showed me how important social media is for building connections between athletes, teams, and fans, and it gave me good experience for my future career.
Words of Wisdom
- Stay Organized
- Ask Questions
- Do not be afraid to put your own ideas out there
Salomon Cisneros, 2026
Throughout my culminating experience with Dave Campbell's Texas Football we worked with Rudy on various assignments. We helped evalute prospect companies that would potentially be a good fit for the brand. Additionally, we got to develop our cold call and sales skills byreaching out to companies. Overall, this was a fun business project to work with. It helped me better my sales skills and gave me insight into what life might look like after school. It was also nice because this business project had me working in the same kind of sales and sponsorship workforce I want to work in one day.
Words of Wisdom
- Embrace being uncomfortable
Edgar Hernandez, 2026
I had the amazing opportunity to work as the ticket sales and operations student assistant for The Astros Foundation for the 2025 Astros College Classic that took place during the Spring 2025 semester. My job included making cold calls/emails individuals and organizations, marketing the event, assistance with on-site operations during the tournament, and much more! It was an eye-opening experience working with the Astros as it allowed me to gain excellent hands-on experience as well as solidifying my dream of working with a professional baseball team!
Words of Wisdom
- Make the most of your opportunity at hand, whether it's through a large or community-based organization!
- Network and put yourself out there as much as possible!
Erroll Daniels, 2026
During my time at Hyphenated Athletics, I served as the lead for athlete relations, where I was responsible for managing and enhancing our interactions with incoming and prospective athletes. I played a key role in shaping the onboarding experience by developing clear, professional onboarding statements that introduced athletes to our company’s values and services. To ensure seamless communication and follow-up, I also created and maintained a centralized database that tracked all athlete interactions, helping the team stay organized and informed throughout each athlete’s journey with us. In addition to streamlining internal processes, I contributed directly to the company’s growth and strategic outreach. I developed a comprehensive target list of athletes who aligned with our mission and values, enabling more focused recruitment efforts. Most importantly, I created a detailed brand marketing playbook designed to help athletes grow their personal brand and maximize their NIL opportunities. This guide provided actionable strategies for social media, personal storytelling, and partnership development, equipping athletes with the tools to take control of their image and future. Overall, my role combined relationship-building, strategy, and operational execution to support both the athletes and the organization.
Words of Wisdom
- Take everything in stride; every challenge is an opportunity to grow
Drum Harrison, 2025
My culminating experience with HYPHENATED ATHLETICS has been both strategic and creative, offering me the opportunity to lead a comprehensive digital audit and develop foundational marketing strategies for a growing NIL-focused brand. From the outset, I conducted an in-depth analysis of the brand’s visual identity, evaluating the HYPHENATED ATHLETICS logo for adaptability and resonance across platforms using multiple AI design tools. I assessed all existing social media platforms and determined Instagram to be the most promising channel for growth, particularly in the areas of storytelling, lifestyle branding, and athlete-centered content. In tandem, I benchmarked key competitors such as Opendorse, MarketPlace, and Teamworks to identify differentiators and found critical opportunities in content strategy and digital presence that HYPHENATED ATHLETICS could leverage. In addition, I developed an actionable roadmap to elevate brand awareness, which included best practices for athlete integration, partnership content, NIL education, and storytelling. I curated educational and motivational content aligned with the brand's mission and gathered podcast clips featuring Jamie Wood to support thought leadership and build trust with our audience. Lastly, I created an outline for an NIL-focused content series and drafted a flexible content calendar, laying the groundwork for ongoing digital engagement. This experience has not only deepened my understanding of brand strategy and athlete marketing in the NIL era but also empowered me to contribute meaningfully to the voice and vision of HYPHENATED ATHLETICS.
Words of Wisdom
- Be proactive
- Be confident
- Be adaptable