Commonwealth University sport management students volunteer at College Football Playoffs and connect with alumni

The Commonwealth University-Lock Haven Sport Management Club traveled to Houston, Texas, to work as event staff at the 2024 NCAA Division One College Football Championships in January. 

The Championship Game was held at NRG Stadium, the home of the Houston Texans, where the Michigan Wolverines defeated the Washington Huskies 34-13. 

Dr. Peter Campbell and professor Bridget Roun from the CU Sport Management Department accompanied eight sport management students from two CU campuses on the trip. The students in attendance were Kylie Auman, of Centre Hall; Hannah Ernest, of Herndon; Austin Melius, of Bellefonte; Hannah Possinger, of East Stroudsburg; Davin Roy, of Colchester, Connecticut; Ashton Sunday, of Carlisle; and Tyler Williams, of Mount Carmel, from the Lock Haven campus and Jason Yeick, of Catawissa, from the Bloomsburg campus. 

Attendees worked several volunteer shifts at the Playoff Fan Central, Extra Yard for Teacher Summit and on the field for the championship game. Shifts focused on areas such as hospitality, security, operations and event-set up. Yeick also served as the mascot for the Teacher Summit.

“It was an incredible experience to go down to Houston and partake in so many aspects of what goes into the National Championship,” Roy said.

Several students noted that the best part of their trip was holding the American Flag on game day for the National Anthem. “Walking on the field, hearing the fans roar and being able to honor our country was a once in a lifetime experience,” Possinger said.

“We could not have done this trip without professor Roun and Dr. Campbell. This will be an experience that I will never forget,” Auman said. 

While not volunteering, the group had the opportunity to visit other facilities such as the football, baseball and indoor track complex at Texas A&M University, as well as Minute Maid Park, the home of the Houston Astros.

During their visit to Texas A&M, the group met with Clayton Gummo, a Lock Haven alumnus and SSC maintenance supervisor at Texas A&M. Gummo gave the students a tour of the athletic facilities, including Kyle Field (the football stadium) and Blue Bell Park (the baseball stadium).

Gummo also shared his experience of how he got the job and how the facilities at Texas A&M are managed. He emphasized the value of his college trips, saying, "You cannot put a price tag or a value on these experiences. Going on these trips helped me get to where I am today."

The group also had the opportunity to meet another Lock Haven alumnus, Jacob Padelski, an account executive in ticket sales for the Houston Astros. Padelski took the students on a tour of the stadium, explaining the different ticket packages, stadium seating and suite options for spectators. 

“Working with Professor Roun and Campbell, and the best sport management program in the country, got me ready for the ins and outs of every day," Padelski said about his time as a Lock Haven student.

The group also met with former Lock Haven professor and alumnus, Dr. James Mattern and his students from Wilmington College for the facility tours and several volunteer shifts. 

Campbell and Roun also saw former Lock Haven professor, Dr. Charles Crowley, during their shift on game day. Crowley is now a department chair at Livingstone College and also brought some of his students to volunteer at the National College Football Championships.

“It was great reconnecting with all of our alums and former colleagues,” Roun said. “We are thankful that they continue sharing their knowledge and experiences with the next generation of sport management graduates.”

For more information on the sport management program at Commonwealth University and to learn about other experiential learning opportunities for students, visit www.lockhaven.edu/sportadmin/ or contact Campbell at pcampbel@commonwealthu.edu.