Three Eagles Perform on and off the Field for AU Athletics Department
Oct. 26, 2007
WASHINGTON - Student-athletes at every college and university across the country are given the chance to be a part of something special. They are members of teams that help to unite the campus community, rally cities and towns around a common purpose and are representatives of their school to thousands and sometimes millions of people. For three lucky Eagles, these experiences have been paired with a unique opportunity to go beyond the playing field and behind the scenes.
Lauren Lane, a senior on the lacrosse team, Dan King, a cross country and track sophomore, and Ryan Leonard, a sophomore on the soccer team, are each interns in the American University Department of Athletic Communications. During their internships, these student-athletes will learn the ins and outs of athletic communications and get a glimpse into the inner workings of a Div. I college athletics program.
"I like it," King said. "It keeps me more in tune with what is going on in the Athletics Department which is important to me as a student-athlete."
Tasks required of all three encompass nearly every facet of athletic communications including website maintenance, statistical work and writing to name just a few. Despite being involved in so many different areas of the job they all agree on their favorite part.
"I like being up-to-date with the other teams," Lane said. "You get to learn about the accomplishments of players on other teams that you might not otherwise know about."
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The rigors of college, athletics and work are demanding but the trio's burdens have been lessened through the understanding of those around them. "Most of the people in the Athletics Department have played sports in college or at another level," Leonard said, "so they know what it is like having to balance both school and being an athlete. Because they know how hard it can be they are willing to work with us and help in anyway that they can."
Helping these unique student-athletes is an ambiguous term. Whether it be through advice, moving schedules around or teaching, the AU Department of Athletics is flexible and gives these student-athletes the freedom and independence they need to succeed in all three areas of their life. "Our interns work very hard in the classroom, in their sport and in our offices." Anthony Wilson, Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications said. "We are very happy to do whatever we can to help make their time working with us as beneficial to their future as possible. They are all great kids and we are very happy to have them working with us."
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"I think it is good to have experience working in an office environment," King said. "Most people our age are working as servers or in retail but are not learning how to successfully interact in a more typical working environment."
With all of their new learned knowledge and desire to better prepare themselves for the future, these student-athletes are still eager to learn more about the less glamorous side of college athletics. "I'm interested to learn more about the sponsorship side of athletics," Lane said. "I really enjoy working in communications but I think it would be interesting to learn about how a program goes out and builds support for itself through the community."
On the field, in the classroom, in the office, Lauren, Dan and Ryan have each experienced all that college athletics has to offer. These three have exemplified what it means to be a student-athlete and have taken it upon themselves to give back to the program which has given so much to them.
"Its nice to have the opportunity to support the Athletics Department in a way most students can't," King said. "Since I have been at American the Athletics Department has been extremely successful and I enjoy being a part of that success."
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