Wow, what a day it was for the Drexel Sport Management
Student Union last Friday at the first annual Sport For Social Change
Conference. Five different presentations and five different new ways to look
at the sports that we already know and love. With these new viewpoints on
sports from the professional levels to the youth levels, everybody’s horizons
were certainly broadened and futures brightened. We all have the power to
change the world in we live in through sports.
This was the largest event that the SMTSU has ever held in
terms of length, number of presentations, and attendance. Over the course of
the day, we had a large and engaged audience that truly bought into the lessons
that our presenters laid before us.
There is so much thanks and praise to be spread around I do
not even know where to begin. But let’s try to take spin through it together.
Thank you to the Drexel Sport Management program. The
support that the SMTSU got to run this event was incredible. You guys somehow
were able to keep pace with all our questions and requests and all of my
babbling emails. A huge thanks goes out to Dr. Ellen Staurowsky who supported
our grandiose visions from the very start when we first brought up the idea
last spring, encouraging us to think big and never back down. This was truly a
shared dream to hold this event with everybody on board, and we could not have
done it without you.
Thank you to the SMTSU officers, conference organizing
committee, and volunteers. I’m sure you are all glad that the event is over
because your email inboxes can now breathe a little bit. All of your efforts
shined through on Friday and people noticed. Do not underestimate the impact
that you have made by organizing this event both on yourselves as professionals
and individuals but others as well. I am so proud of all of you.
Thank you to our incredible speakers. To Dr. Eric Zillmer and
Bruiser Flint for presenting on the importance of athletes giving back to their
community. To Jim Britt, Tarasai Karega, and Sarah Dwyer of Ed Snider Youth
Hockey Foundation teaching us how to develop our nation’s youth through sports.
To Eli Wolff who has made an impact on the lives of so many athletes and
created a more inclusive environment for athletes of all abilities. To Nora
Cothren and Craig Cassey Jr. who shared their stories of courage and bravery
coming out themselves and working to create a better environment for all out
athletes. To Patrick Hruby for working to make our games safer through fearless
reporting. You guys came from all over to help spread the message of a positive
future, and the SMTSU and I cannot thank you enough.
Thank you to everyone that attended. This event was for you.
We saw students, undergraduates and graduates, professors, professionals,
faculty, administrators make their way out all under the same vision to make
the world a better place. We hope that you all will take the lessons that we
learned throughout the event and work as tirelessly as those who presented to
make the world a better place. If we all strive to be better today than we were
yesterday, then our positive impact on this world will have no limits. By
attending, you said that you want to be better, and that’s all we can ask of
anybody.
Thank you, everybody. The outpouring of support that you
have shown the SMTSU has been tremendous and will not be forgotten. We hope for
the SMTSU and the Sport For Social Change Conference to see continued growth.
I’m already excited for what this event has in-store for next year.
Please fill out the survey about the conference because we
want to know what you thought and how we can make it better in the future.
The SMTSU will be back to working hard on the next event, so
keep your eyes and your ears out for what’s to come during winter term! The
next general body meeting will be Thursday Nov. 14th at 7:00 p.m.
---
Archived Presentations:
Dr. Eric Zillmer and Bruiser Flint
Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation (Part 1) (Part 2)
Eli Wolff
GO! Athletes with Craig Cassey Jr.
Patrick Hruby
---
Speaker Recaps:
Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation
GO! Athletes and Craig Cassey Jr.
---
Interviews:
---
Check out our photo gallery of the Sport For Social Change Conference up now on our Facebook page!
---
Kevin Rossi is a
junior Drexel Sport Management major with minors in Communications and Business
Administration. Since joining the SMTSU, Kevin has worked his way up the ladder
to President. Currently, Kevin is also the Drexel
editor for Philahoops.com. Kevin recently finished his second co-op with Temple
University in their Athletic Communications office where he still writes
football program feature stories and volunteers on gamedays. Follow Kevin on
Twitter @kevin_rossi.
No comments:
Post a Comment