For my 2023 senior Capstone, I had the privilege of interning remotely for both Burst, the leading user-generated content engagement platform, and The Carnegie Initiative for inclusion and acceptance in hockey, a non-profit named after the legendary hockey player and social justice pioneer, Herb Carnegie.
I worked for both organizations as a business development and research intern, primarily focusing on content creation and engaging storytelling while rotating between a variety of departments and acquiring skills in public relations, communications, marketing, program development and production.
I helped to develop the Herb Carnegie Trailblazer Award Program, honoring the unsung heroes of the hockey world and those who use the sport as a vehicle for change.
Also, I was honored to work on a documentary titled “Beyond Their Years: The Incredible Legacies of Herb Carnegie and Buck O’Neil,” which tells the story of two men’s parallel lives, and how they were denied from playing in the NHL and Major League Baseball due to the color of their skin. The film also focuses on their induction into their respective halls of fame. I started as the production coordinator and by the end became an associate producer. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was something I never imagined as part of my senior year of college. I traveled to Toronto and Kansas City, writing and directing interviews. I was lucky enough to also attend the 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
I will cherish my senior Capstone experience for the rest of my life. I am forever grateful for those who helped me get there and supported me along the way as I begin my post-graduate career in the sport industry.