A calling for sports: Spears student takes on NYC
Monday, January 30, 2017
Throughout her life, Hayden Lee’s calling has always been her love of sports.
She’s a senior marketing and sports management double-major at the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University. Lee went to Bishop McGuinness High School in Oklahoma City and participated in all things sports, whether it was playing soccer and volleyball or being the manager of the high school’s men’s basketball team. The choice to attend OSU and major in anything sports was an easy one: most of her family members are OSU alumni who instilled their love for OSU in Lee through attending sporting events.
“My mom, my uncle, my cousin and my grandfather all attended OSU, and I got to really see the kind of community and family that OSU provided for so many people, and after getting to come here and see that community for myself through football games and Homecoming, it led me to want to come here and be a student myself,” Lee said.
During summer 2016, Lee had the unique opportunity to travel to New York City to intern with the National Football League (NFL) as a fan development intern for the youth segment in the marketing department, where she worked on generating youth awareness and participation in football. She lived in a dorm for nine weeks with three roommates she met the day of moving in.
“I had actually never been to New York City until I got on a plane to get there that summer,” Lee said. “I saw it as an opportunity for me to see what else is out there. It was cool getting to live in New York City for a summer and see all the culture and events happening out there. There were a lot of former league players that worked [for the NFL] that I got to meet.”
Lee already has some ideas for her future job, and not surprisingly, she’s already had a few interviews within the world of sports.
“I had an interview with the National Basketball Association league office, that’s part of a competitive program they have,” Lee said. “I’m just looking around for the opportunities that are out there. I would love to go back to New York City for a little bit to experience that while I can and see what opportunities are out there within the realm of sports.”
Through classes, faculty and study abroad trips, Lee credits Spears Business for helping her live her passion in sports.
“Getting to take the sports management class and the advanced sports management class through the Spears School of Business has definitely led me and prepared me for my future career path,” Lee said. “Especially with the classes discussing the various opportunities that are out there for sports and bringing in speakers to the classes and learning about different types of sports you can get interested in through the different leagues and agencies.”