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Sports Communication Major Gains Internship Experience in Grand Rapids-Area School

Ferris State University students gain valuable work experience through internships. Internships also can confirm or redirect career decision-making, provide marketability, develop people skills and enhance classroom learning. Many academic programs require one, but the experience is encouraged regardless to provide students with a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the workplace.

Many students are participating in myriad internships this summer. Meet: Brett Eiseler


Brett Eiseler
He is: A senior from Bath, Mich., majoring in Sports Communication

Internship: Wyoming High School Wolves Athletic Department, which oversees all aspects of the public school district’s sports programs. The new high school was formed in a merger last fall of Wyoming Park and Wyoming Rogers high schools. Wyoming is a city in the Grand Rapids area.

Brett’s unpaid internship began in May and runs through August.

What he’s learning: Brett is focused on understanding the role and duties of a high school athletic director charged with overseeing several sports programs for boys and girls.

Brett is working on schedules for the upcoming fall and winter sports seasons and also is in charge of revamping the Wolves’ social media platforms. Before the school year ended, his duties included planning and executing game-day operations for spring sports such as track, baseball, softball and soccer.

“I enjoy learning how the entire athletic department communicates and operates as a whole,” he said.

Something cool: “Wyoming hosted the softball and baseball district tournament on June 1,” he said. “We had been preparing for this event for several weeks, and we executed it perfectly. It was awesome to see all of our hard work and preparations pay off.”

Core values: Brett said his internship has proven to mirror many of Ferris’ core values, including diversity, ethical community and collaboration.

“I am planning on coaching basketball at the high school level, so learning the ins and outs of the athletic department will help me understand how coaches are managed and the expectations that the athletic director has for them,” he said.

On campus: Brett served as vice president of the Sports Careers registered student organization and was historian for the Lambda Pi Eta communication studies honor society, which he said polished his organization and communication skills. He also worked as a communications assistant for Ferris Athletics, which provided professional experience.

His goal: Brett, who will receive his degree following completion of the internship, said he would like to work for a high school or college athletic department, or for a professional sports organization such as the Grand Rapids Griffins professional hockey team.