WVU sport management students Kaitlin Beegle, Jada Kent, Abby Childers, and Charlotte Ralph, recently gained real-world event operations experience at the 2025 Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. The group worked alongside the Tepper Sports & Entertainment Guest Experience Team at Bank of America Stadium as Virginia Tech took on Minnesota.
As part of this experiential learning opportunity organized by Patrick Hairston from the School of Sport Sciences, students attended a pre-game operations meeting before being paired with supervisors to shadow on game day. The experience offered an inside look at event and facility management, including pre-game preparations to post-game wrap-up.
In addition to working the game, the students participated in a professional development session the day before the event. They met with a panel of sports industry professionals from Tepper Sports & Entertainment and Bespoke Sports & Entertainment, who shared insights on career preparation, industry trends, and internship opportunities. Following the panel, students toured Bank of America Stadium, gaining further perspective on venue operations.
“I was able to experience a different aspect of the industry than my experience as an intern in football recruiting here at WVU,” Ralph said. “I learned the ins and outs of a college football bowl game, how it is important to pay attention to detail, and to always bring a positive outlook no matter the circumstances. I enjoyed the ability to network and make connections with others within the business of sports.”
For Kent, the experience also provided new perspectives on career paths in sports.
“When I was younger and realized I wanted to work in sports, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” she said. “At that time, I only saw women taking pictures, working in the media, and broadcasting. This experience showed me that to be a woman in sports, you don’t have to be in front of a camera or taking pictures—you can find your own path in the industry.”
This was the second time WVU sport management students have participated in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl experience, with a previous group working the 2021 contest.