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WSU Sport Management Hosts the First Annual

Kansas Sport Summit

The inaugural Kansas Sport Summit was held on Thursday, March 28 at the Rhatigan Student Center, 成人头条. The Summit was a resounding success, attracting over 155 enthusiastic attendees comprising 110 students from 4 high schools and 5 colleges in Kansas and Nebraska and 45 esteemed practitioners from 15 national and regional organizations. The keynote speaker, Mr. Kevin Saal, the Director of Athletics at WSU Athletics shared insight and knowledge in leadership amid challenging intercollegiate athletics. The Summit served as a dynamic platform for sharing insights, trends, and innovations in the realm of sport and related industries. Attendees engaged in a wide array of discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, fostering valuable connections and partnerships.

 

We are grateful to the College of Applied Studies for providing a grant to develop the Summit as well as other partners: WSU Athletics, WSU Undergraduate Admission, WSU Career Accelerator, and Shocker Store. The 2nd Summit is tentatively scheduled for April 2025 to serve students, practitioners, and faculty in sport and related fields in Kansas and surrounding areas.

KSS Opening Statements with Mark Vermillion

Mark Vermillion, Kansas Sport Summit
Opening Statements

KSS Guest Speakers

Guest Speakers (L to R) Madison Stein-Mason,
Korey Torgerson, Hans Nickel,
Amber Feldman, and Clay Stoldt

KSS Breakout session with Jeff Noble

Jeff Noble, Sales and Corporate Sponsorship in Sport

Keynote Speaker Kevin Saal
Kevin Saal, Director of Athletics,
成人头条

Keynote Speaker
Guest Speakers-KSS
Matt Brokaw, Charles Adams, and Alvin Garcia
Panelists for "Trends and Issues in Professional Sports".
KSS Guest Speakers

Greyson Allen, Brian Hargrove and David Kirk
Panelists for "Sales and Corporate Sponsorship in Sport"

Kansas Sport Summit Career Fair & Networking Event

In addition to hearing speakers discuss the latest topics pertaining to sport, students and attendees were given the opportunity to meet with sport organizations at the Kansas Sport Summit Career Fair and Networking Event. Representatives from 15 local organizations met with students to discuss potential employment opportunities. Peak Sports, 成人头条 Open, 成人头条 Wind Surge and Derby Recreation Commission were among those represented.

KSS Career Fair
Shocker Career Accelerator
KSS Career Fair
Peak Sports Management
KSS Career Fair

Greater 成人头条 Area Sports Commission

 

Photo of Megan Leach

Megan Leach
Events Coordinator
成人头条 Sports Commission

WSU Sport Management Alumni Highlight: Megan Leach

What is your current position and give a brief overview? 

 I currently am the Events Coordinator at the 成人头条 Sports Commission. I am responsible for planning and executing various events that we put on for the community. Our main events are the Prairie Fire Race Series, 成人头条 Corporate Challenge, NBC Baseball World Series, Greater 成人头条 Sports Banquet, and the 成人头条 Turkey Trot. My day-to-day responsibilities include planning event operations, coordinating facilities, recruiting event volunteers, and overseeing developing timelines to execute a successful event.

Was this career path on your radar since you graduated? If not, speak on how you came across this position. 

 My main goal during college was to secure a job in Event Management/Operations. During college, I was able to work for the 成人头条 Open where I learned to love the operational side of sports. From planning the event months ahead to getting your hands dirty setting up the event, I quickly found that my passion for sports was in Operations.     Read more 

Mark Vermillion Service Award Winner
Mark Vermillion with Dean Friend

 

Mark Vermillion named CAS Service Award Winner

Mark Vermillion, who serves as the Chair of the Department of Sport and Leadership Studies, has been named the winner of this year's Service Award by the College of Applied Studies. This award acknowledges the activities and initiatives that have a significant impact on the university and educational community, ranging from the departmental to the national level. Congratulations Dr. Vermillion on this well-deserved recognition!