In today’s job market, an internship is a foot in the door. But how do students find these opportunities during a global pandemic? Campus internships are just one way students are building the connections and experiences they need to be successful outside the classroom. From working with Big 12 teams to learning the ropes alongside facilities pros, our students will be well prepared for their next big step — lifelong careers.
Jimmy DelGatto
Sport Management
This first-year graduate student in sport management hails from Sayreville, New Jersey, and has a passion for the bright lights and spirited crowds of collegiate athletic events. After taking a position as a graduate assistant for facilities and operations at WVU, he’s learning how to run sporting events on a larger level and bigger stage than he ever has before. Even during a pandemic, DelGatto is finding invaluable lessons in the everyday buzz of college athletics. And, if anything, COVID is also teaching him how to navigate his own future in the midst of constant change.
Kalista Gioglio
Sport Management
A second-year graduate student in sport management, Gioglio now works with the WVU wrestling team, specifically with operations, and is loving every minute. Originally from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Gioglio’s big dream is “to work in collegiate athletics, either in operations or compliance on the Division I level. My ultimate career goal is to become a senior associate athletic director/SWA.” She says every day she grows and learns something new. “The individuals that I have been fortunate to work with have provided me with the knowledge and invaluable experiences that will propel me into my future career in Division I athletics,” she says. “I am so grateful for this opportunity at a Power 5 institution, while earning my master's degree.”
Marija Medelinskaite
Coaching and Sport Education
Medelinskaite came a long way to join the graduate program in coaching and sport education at WVU. Hailing from Kaunas, Lithuania, she took a position with the WVU women's rowing team to gain a broader understanding of each coach’s role on staff and the importance of each coach. She says being able to see what she has studied used in the real world helps solidify her learning and keeps her engaged with the latest trends and theories. Marija gains a lot from seeing and participating in the intense camaraderie. “My passion in sports is teamwork,” she says. “I think it is the biggest driver for sports and athleticism in general. When the team gets to practice and compete, watch them push for each other and with each other, is something that nothing else can bring.”
Olivia VanHorn Sneed
Sport Management
A Morgantown native and second-year grad student, Sneed finds inspiration in the art and business of athletics communications. She is now the direct media contact for men’s soccer and swimming and diving. “Before getting involved with WVU Athletics communications as a junior, I honestly didn't know what sports information was. I knew there was obviously a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on in Athletics, but I wasn't aware how much happens that we don't think about as a fan,” she says. “Working in this position has not only opened my eyes to all the hard work that goes on to make WVU Athletics run smoothly, but it also introduced me to a new career path that I didn't know I wanted for myself.” She came to WVU with a dream of working as a reporter for ESPN, but has since come to love working behind the scenes as part of a prestigious athletics department. Her new dream? “One day, I would like to work as a sports information director in Division I college athletics.”