By: Director of Athletic Communications and Public Relations Kevin Ruple
BEREA, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University junior-to-be and sport management major Ryan Sosic (Olmsted Falls) is embracing the theory of experiential learning, and his experiences should position him well for a future career in sport.
Sosic, who was a defensive end on the Yellow Jacket football team, will miss the 2017 season due to an injury that will require surgery. So, instead of taking the year off and feeling sorry for himself, Sosic dove head-first in another set of experiences that will prepare him for a career in sports.
His Latest Internships With the GCFCA and in Tampa, Florida
Sosic embarked on his latest experience on July 17 when he travelled to Tampa, Florida and began work as an intern at the National Football League Training Camp of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That experience comes on the heels of just serving as the intern for the Greater Cleveland Football Coaches Association and its 2017 Cuyahoga County East-West Scholarship All-Star Football Game.
"For the GCFCA East-West All-Star Game, I got to work with long-time director Larry Keller. "I was able to earn about everything from how the teams are selected, to the production schedule of the game program, to creating a media relations plan, to game day operation and all the financial particulars. It was another great experience.
"I got the opportunity to work at the Tampa Bay Bucs training camp based on the networking and work that I did at the 2017 BCS Championship Game in Tampa," said Sosic. "This will be a great opportunity to show that I am mobile and am willing to go and do whatever I need to do to be successful.
"So far my experience in Tampa has been great," continued Sosic. "Everyone in the Bucs organization, specifically the equipment group, has welcomed me and taught me a lot about the dynamics of a professional football team's equipment room during training camp and the preseason. In the short time I have been in Tampa, I have already made many great relationships and I am excited to continue this experience through the end of the preseason."
How did Sosic Get Started?
As a freshman and sophomore, Sosic has already worked a BCS National Championship Game (2017 in Tampa, Florida), a pair of Super Bowls (Santa Clara, California in 2016 and Houston, Texas in 2017), volunteered at both the Cleveland Browns Fan Fest and Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Party (2016), as a statistician for the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League, as a student assistant in the BW sports information office and as an Intern in the BW Athletics Department.
At each stop, Sosic has gained valuable experience.
The BW Advantage
"This is one of the main reasons I chose to come to BW," said Sosic. "The opportunities that the BW sport management program and athletics and sports information office offer to students is outstanding. It sets us apart from other sport management majors at other schools when we are out competing for a job in the real world."
"Next fall, I will spend a lot more time than usual working in the sports information office in the fall and help to manage the football press box during home games," said Sosic. "I will help manage the official game statistics and assist some of the younger BW sports information student assistants. Plus, in January, I will have another opportunity to work a second BCS Championship Game and third Super Bowl.
"What BW told me when they were recruiting me is absolutely true," said Sosic. "It is the BW Advantage. I knew I couldn't play football for the rest of my life, and this preparation will make me extremely marketable for the rest of my life."
His Next Potential Internship
When Sosic returns and in addition to working in the BW sports information office, he also will be talking to the media relations staff at the Cleveland CAVS regarding its game day internship position.
Are You Thinking About Taking Advantage of the BW Advantage?
If you are a current high school student or attending another two or four-year institution and are interested in knowing more about the experiences that Ryan Sosic is having, please call BW any time at 440-826-2222 or visit the BW Admission web site at its site for sport management.