BW students ready to excel at top world event – Super Bowl LX

For the 14th straight year, BW students are headed to the Super Bowl for the hands-on and networking opportunities that can yield big rewards when job hunting.

A group of 20 Baldwin Wallace students and two faculty members is headed to the global stage extravaganza, which includes numerous high-profile pre-event activities leading up to the big NFL game on Sunday, February 8, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

The BW team will depart from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on February 3 and return on February 9. The Super Bowl is among a prestigious year-long series of top sporting events attended by students through the BW sport management club. Club members not only attend the events but also provide hands-on support – gaining invaluable learning and networking opportunities.

Fast-paced learning environment

For some sport management students, like Jordyn Becker '27, the opportunity will be their first Super Bowl. The Milford, New Jersey, resident has a few career pathways in mind — event planning, special events, fan engagement and brand ambassadors. She is hoping the experience will help her fine-tune which ones suit her best.

Other students, such as Preston Caicco '26, are making their second Super Bowl appearance. The sport management major from Ravenna, Ohio, has career aspirations to work for the NFL, preferably in the equipment realm.

"The status of the event is awesome. Not many people can say they have worked at the Super Bowl. This experience can show employers that you can work in one of the most diverse and fast-paced environments," he believes.

"I hope to make connections. The dream is that I make such a strong impression on a company or someone at that company that they want me to come work or intern with them," he added.

Caicco believes the best part of immersion experiences is the unknown. "You learn how to problem-solve fast and expect the unexpected. Another great aspect of these types of trips is the people.

"You meet people in the industry but also get to know your classmates on a deeper level. Working with different companies and your peers for up to 12-14 hours a day, you really get to showcase your talent and abilities," said Caicco.

Outstanding career preparation

Like Caicco, Ryan Clinger '27 is a veteran of this year's Super Bowl. The sport management major from Cardington, Ohio, wants to be in sports broadcasting.

"Being able to communicate with strangers and convey information is an integral part of being a broadcaster. Working the Super Bowl is all about communicating with people and making sure the experience of the fans is top-notch," explained Clinger.

"I really enjoyed going to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX. I had never been there before, so not only did I get to learn new skills and grow in my career preparation, but I got to see a new place," said Clinger.

"I am very excited to be with my classmates this year," remarked Clinger. "It is a massive event, and being a part of it does make you feel somewhat important."

Building an impressive career portfolio

While the Super Bowl may be the BW sport management program's longest-running destination, it is just one in an impressive list of high-profile opportunities that are a hallmark of studying the major through BW's Carmel Boyer School of Business.

Each year, the sport management club sponsors approximately 15 trips, with last year's selection featuring the College Football Playoff National Championship, NHL Draft, Daytona 500, U.S. Open Golf Championship and the MLB Little League Classic.