"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should accomplish with your ability."
- John Wooden

Students

Patrick Abts

 I grew up in Auburn, WA and have been involved with sports from an early age. Playing in numerous youth athletic programs and eventually golf in high school reaffirmed my love of sports. I attended Washington State University for my undergrad years completing a double major of History and Anthropology. Coming to Seattle University my goal is to gain a firm understanding of and experience in the world of Sports Administration. A job in the sporting world has always been a dream of mine and now I’m gaining the tools to turn this dream into reality. Besides wanting to work in the field of sports I’m also a huge sports fan, with the Seattle Seahawks and Washington State Cougars being my favorite teams.

Ryan Brown

 Growing up in Mount Vernon, WA I always had a passion and interest in sports. I have a well-rounded athletic career having completed in soccer, baseball, basketball, cross-country, and golf up through high school. I was then a part of the nationally ranked men's club lacrosse team at Pacific Lutheran University while earning my bachelor's degree in history. I continue to play for a local men's club team and have coached for Stanwood and North Sound Starz Lacrosse teams. Following my time as a project engineer at a local construction company, I enrolled in the MSAL program to follow my passion in sports. I would like to pursue a career in sports information or sports communication for a university or professional franchise.

 Tyler Buckingham

 I was born and raised in Issaquah, WA, and have been a sports fanatic from the time I was able to walk. I played basketball and tennis in high school, and taught tennis lessons during the summers. I received my B.A. in Economics from Seattle Pacific University and participated in intramural football, basketball, and softball each year. During my time at Seattle Pacific, I was fortunate enough to coach a Select Basketball youth team in the Eastside Traveling League, as well as join the Boys' Basketball coaching staff at Bishop Blanchet High School. I absolutely loved my coaching experiences and decided to pursue a career in coaching, ideally at the Division 1 level. I hope the knowledge, experience, and connections that Seattle U and the MSAL program provide will empower me to turn my dream into a reality quicker than I ever could have imagined. I'm a huge Seattle sports fan, so you'll find me rooting for the Hawks, Mariners, Sounders, and Storm, as well as any professional or collegiate athletes from the Seattle area.

Emily Chun

I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and played competitive soccer for most of my life. Soccer was my outlet, it allowed me to express myself creatively on the field and was the avenue in which I developed my longest lasting friendships. During my freshman year of college, I walked on to the University of Hawaii Women's Soccer team. In 2010, I graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Sociology and Business minor. After graduating, I worked for two years in the non profit realm, teaching sports classes and mentoring students at Boise Eliot School in inner city Portland. Because of my passion for sports, my belief in the empowering nature of athletics and my experience serving children and the community of Portland, I want my career to fuse service and sports and believe the MSAL program will help me achieve my goals.

Russell Cleveland

Growing up in Montana, I had the pleasure of having the great outdoors in my backyard, something that is hard to find in many other areas of the country. I grew to love hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, and most of all sports. Stevensville Montana stood as a tough competitor in varsity sports in Western Montana, of which I competed in Football, Basketball, and Track & Field. After high school I continued my sports career in Football at Montana Tech as a wide receiver, and studying electrical engineering. Two years passed before I decided to put my academic studies on hold, and serve in United States Navy, later being stationed in Norfolk Virginia with Helmineron Fourteen as an Aviation Electricians Mate 3^rd Class. It is there that I found my love for fitness and nutrition, finding a dire need for both during a painful recovery of being involved in a rollover accident, fracturing three vertebrae. I bounced back though, and after being honorably discharged in 2009, I worked hard to become certified as a Master Fitness Trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association, as well as to finish my bachelor's degree at the University of Nevada Reno in Nutrition-Dietetics. After working with clients for several years there at Anytime Fitness, I knew I was in the field I belonged in, and began falling back to my teenage dream of owning my own fitness franchise and in turn deciding to continue my studies in sports management. What better place to do so than in the great city of Seattle, close to my home and in undoubtedly one of the best programs in the country! Before moving, I dedicated my summer to riding my bike coast to coast, raising money for the prevention of childhood obesity with a fundraiser I created called Pedal4Prevention. 3300 miles, and nearly $5500 raised later, I found my way back to Seattle Washington, where I began work as the Graduate Assistant for Fitness Programming at Seattle University's Eisiminger Fitness Center in August 2012. I have since revamped the URec training program and brought everything digital, allowing people to now sign up for training and classes all online, or through our MemberMe App for smart phones! I look forward to what the future holds here at Seattle University, and am incredibly excited to get started

Dan Cox  

On the very first day of kindergarten my mom dropped me off and went to introduce herself to my teacher. After the formalities she went looking for me so she could say goodbye but I was nowhere to be found. She left without a hug or a kiss farewell. To this day, my mom still recalls that episode of my life as “the moment she knew I wouldn’t stick around.” It’s sad, I know, but she hit the nail on the head. Since graduating high school I’ve been to Michigan for college, overseas for a year of travel, back home for a summer, and then up here to Seattle, where I’ve been for just over a year; that’s longer than any other place since I left the nest. It’s not that I dislike my family or don’t like spending time with them. On the contrary, I love them to death and could spend years and years playing games, going hiking, or talking about life. My leaving had more to do with my restless nature and itch to do something new and exciting…constantly. I’ve bungee jumped from the world’s original site in New Zealand. I’ve scuba-dived on the Great Barrier Reef and swam with sharks. I’ve climbed half dome three times. I’ve white water rafted, ocean kayaked, hiked in five different countries, and countless more adventures. The thing about my list though, is that for every adventure I scratch off, there are five more I tack on. It’s ever-expanding, ever-multiplying. And I love it! The MSAL program is another such opportunity and experience that I’m looking forward to. I chose to get my masters in sport because it will give me an incredible opportunity to work in sports and impact the lives of youth for the better. Through my career I hope to inspire kids to live their lives one adventure at a time, just as I was inspired from an early age!

Lauren Dascenzo 

  Since day one I have been involved with sport.At the age off 3 i began playing soccer, basketball and softball year around and I did not stop until i graduated high school. I am the first female at  Issaquah High School to earn 12 varsity letters. After high school I chose to continue my soccer career at Gonzaga University. I got my undergraduate degree in Broadcast Communication and I am currently using that degree as the Equipment/Video Coordinator for the Seattle University Athletic Department. I also am a club soccer coach at Eastside Football Club. 

Rebecca Fick

 I was born in Centralia Washington where my family introduced me to hiking, backpacking, and other outdoor activities at an early age. This is what incited my love for activity and non-traditional sport. During my years at Whitworth University, I competed in Jiu-Jitsu while getting degrees in Athletic Training and Kinesiology. I have a passion for exploring news way of being active and am thrilled that I get to study sport for my graduate education.      

Allon Freiman

I am a graduate of Willamette University in Salem Oregon, and am concurrently pursuing a master's degree at SU for Nonprofit Leadership. I was raised in Seattle, and am a life-long basketball enthusiast. In 2010, I founded Homecourt Hoops, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life of youth in Ghana, West Africa through education and basketball. Utilizing my professional experience and educational background, I hope to expand upon my personal and professional commitment towards youth development and sports.              

Kat Haywood

 I grew up in Darrington WA; a small logging town in the foothills of the Cascades. Growing up in a rural town gave me the opportunity to experience ample amounts of sports and recreation. In college, I was able to pursue a degree in Athletic Training, which allowed me to reinvest my love of sports in a professional way. While in college I found and fell in love with roller derby by way of a small league in Salt Lake City. After I graduated I moved back home to be closer to my family and work in my chosen field. During the course of events, I was fortunate enough to continue my participation in roller derby by joining the Rat City Roller girls, Seattle's premier flat track roller derby league. Through my participation with Rat City, a DIY sports organization, I found I had a real interest in sports management. I was lucky enough to be admitted to Seattle University and to be able to invest in my interest in sports management through the MSAL program. 

Stacy Howard

Sports have played a major role in my life, since a young age. With a dad who ran marathons, climbed Mt. Everest and bicycled from North to South Vietnam, being active was mandatory.
But I chose my own path, which included primarily competitive roller speed skating (I trained with Apolo Ohno), soccer and tennis. During my undergraduate years at the University of Washington, I worked at the now extinct Kingdome, for the Mariners and managed the Seahawks Team Store. I currently hold the position of media relations specialist at Seattle University, where I'm responsible for public/media relations and crisis management. Prior to this role, I was the public relations director for The Salvation Army, Northwest Division. In that position, I served as the organization's spokesperson locally and internationally, in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Before entering public relations, I worked at KOMO TV News as an assignment editor, writer and field producer for several years, and also spent time as a newspaper reporter at the South County Journal and West Seattle Herald. I'm excited to be part of the MSAL program, to enhance my knowledge of leadership in the sport and business world.
Fun fact: My daughter is named Payton, after the one and only best point guard of all time! Go Sonics!  

Sarah Jennings

 Growing up in Spokane, WA I played sports for as long as I can remember. If I wasn't playing sports then I was watching them, whether it was the NFL on Sundays with my dad and brother or trips down to WSU with my mom to watch her Alma Mater. At Gonzaga Prep High School I focused on basketball and soccer, and I still look back on that time as some of the best memories of my life. I had offers to play basketball at some smaller schools, but I had my heart set on moving to Seattle and attending the University of Washington (which my mom just about disowned me for). My junior year in college I was lucky enough to land a dream internship with the Seattle Mariners, and that's where I heard about the MSAL program at Seattle University. Before then I hadn't really entertained the idea of working in sports as a career path, but I knew it was something I could see myself doing. As I finished my degree and pursued a career in another field, I knew something was missing. I didn't have the kind of passion in that field as I did for sports, and that's when I figured out that I wanted to turn my passion for athletics into a career.  I'm working towards achieving my ultimate goal-a career in intercollegiate athletics-and I'm looking forward to my future in this industry and hoping to make a positive impact within a sports organization.

Jessica Khoshnood 

 I was born and raised in Bellevue, WA. A competitive gymnast throughout high school, it was my dream to become a college athlete. After graduating from Newport High School in 2006, I moved to northern California with a full-ride scholarship to San Jose State University.  While competing as a Spartan, I enjoyed nothing more than being a part of an intercollegiate family. I graduated in 2010 with a business/accounting degree and moved home to Washington. I realized that athletics is where my passion lies and that although I can no longer be an athlete, I can still be involved. I am excited to begin my journey at Seattle University and continue my education. GO REDHAWKS!

Alexandra Krous

I am a twin, born and raised in Yakima, WA. At the age of five, I started playing soccer, softball, and basketball. I continued all three sports through my freshman year at Eisenhower H.S. My sophomore year, I switched from fastpitch to track and field, while continuing to play soccer and basketball. I pursued my dream of playing college soccer by attending Walla Walla Community College. After playing for the Warriors for two years, I continued my education and athletic goals at the University of Maine. As a Blackbear, I played two more years of soccer as well as three years of track and field where I threw the javelin. I have been a full-time intern with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) for the past year and will be continuing the internship through June of 2013 where I help manage the social media of the association as well as advise the L.E.A.P. Committee. This school year, I am the Co-President of the Arts and Sciences Graduate Council (ASGC) as well as the Vice Chair for Finance and Strategic Planning for the Graduate Student Council (GSC). I hope to fulfill the Seattle University mission of creating and developing the whole person by being involved with both councils. As far as the MSAL program is concerned, I have loved sports since I was a little kid and I'm looking forward to completing my Masters in Sport Administration and Leadership this year at Seattle University and moving ahead toward my goal of being a collegiate athletic director someday. As a former athlete, I will continue to use my determination, hard work, and perseverance to obtain my personal goals. Go Mariners, Sounders, and Celtics!

Molly Lindahl

I was born and raised in Chico, California, and have been involved in and fascinated by sports for as long as I can remember.  In 2006 I received a BA in Psychology from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, where I was involved in the intramural sports program both as a participant and committee member.  After five years of working as a manager in a variety of retail settings, I decided to run with my enthusiasm for athletics and pursue a career in the sports industry!  I hope to combine the knowledge and experiences that I gain in the MSAL program with my background in customer service and management techniques in a career in interscholastic athletics or community sports programs. 

Carson Locke

Growing up in Seattle with a family comprised of mostly University of Washington alum and fans, I began rooting for Husky athletics at a young age.  I was fortunate enough to attend UW for my undergrad and graduate from the Foster School of Business with a concentration on Marketing.  During my undergrad, I came to realize that I wanted to be involved in sports in some way as I had participated in all different sports my entire life.  Along with regular participation in recreational sports, I coach youth basketball with the Seattle Chinese Athletic Association.  These experiences led me to want to combine what I had learned with my undergraduate degree with my lifelong passion in sports.  My goal upon completing the MSAL program is to be involved in a local program or organization's marketing aspects.

Kristin Mahoney

 My Dad always told me, "If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life." I didn't truly understand his advice until I began to feel the day-to-day struggles and monotony of my first career after college. Even in my compensated job, it could not compare to the enjoyment I experienced interning for the Seattle Mariners, even with unpaid 60-70 hour work weeks. After being one of the only girls to enroll in a 'Sports Marketing' class at McMinnville High School, I decided to pursue a degree in business at Oregon State University. Through my five years at OSU I interned for the Sports Marketing department, specifically for the Beaver's football, baseball, basketball and gymnastics programs; studied abroad at the University of Technology Sydney, joined Chi Omega sorority and helped manage the technology sector of a million dollar portfolio for the OSU Investment Group. My double degree in Business and Education; with a double option in Marketing and Finance, have proven to be one of the proudest accomplishments of my life. Never did I think I would return to school, but when I discovered the MSAL program at Seattle University, I knew it was where I was supposed to be. It has been an honor to be accepted into the program with so many impressively qualified candidates, I know that graduation from this program will be yet another extremely proud day in my life. Thanks to my Dad, and my Mom, for supporting me, and teaching me to 'Love what I do'. 

Lauren Mandler

 I graduated from Seattle University with a BS in Sports and Exercise Science. I grew up in Orange County, CA and Spokane, WA. My concentration through high school was softball until I blew out my arm, which stopped me from pitching and playing altogether. I have had jobs in athletics as a youth softball coach and as a personal performance trainer. I believe that the MSAL program will enable me to succeed with a career in athletics.

Andy McCullough 

 I was born and raised in Edina, Minnesota, where I began playing multiple sports at a young age and became an avid fan of our twin-cities' sports teams. My passion for sports continued into high school, where I played football, ice hockey, and baseball. I received my undergraduate degree in Asian Studies - Chinese Language Emphasis at Occidental College in Los Angeles, and played intramural sports and participated in a public men's ice hockey league in Pasadena. I worked as a Legal Clerk in LA after I graduated in 2010, but the long days in the office sparked my search for a future in the field I love. I enjoy traveling, and I would like to be able to use my Chinese skills in some way in a future job. I am hoping the MSAL program will give me the abilities and resources I need to make a career in the sports industry

Chris Mendonca  

Growing up in Idaho I was exposed to many outdoor activities from an early age. As a kid I was always obsessed with sports and loved watching them on TV and memorizing as many facts and statistics about my favorite teams and players as possible. I participated in a number of sports, but baseball was always my favorite. During the winter of my freshman year of high school I injured my shoulder in a snowboarding accident, and decided I wanted to explore areas of interest other than sports. I did my undergraduate work at Boise State University, getting my degree in International Business, and spent the next three years working in the TV and Film Industry in the Southeast. During this time the passion I felt for sports during my childhood slowly started to make its way back into my life. Also during this time, I began to realize just how important it is to find a career path that you really find interesting. While I gained some valuable experience working in the Film Industry, I knew it wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I am very excited to start the MSAL Program and gain some skills and experience that will help me find a career in the sports industry that I can not only succeed at, but also enjoy for the rest of my life.

 Scott Micinski

 I was born and raised in South Bend, IN.  Growing up in South Bend, I took a strong interest toward Notre Dame athletics at a young age.   I also became enamored with the Cincinnati Bengals and my love for athletics took off.  This led to me playing football and baseball in high school before moving on to college.  I graduated with a degree in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Communications from IPFW (Indiana-Purdue University of Fort Wayne).  Upon graduation, I took a job as a branding consultant.  It was here that I began to realize that I wanted to work in a field involving my passion for sports.  Thus, I decided to go back to school and found Seattle U.  It gave me the perfect opportunity to spend some time in a different part of the country while being able to continue my education toward a career in athletics. 

Dave Nyikos

I was born in South Bend, Indiana, and my family moved around quite a bit before settling in Noblesville, Indiana, just north of Indianapolis. For high school, I attended Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis where I played both baseball and football. I graduated from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois where I played baseball my freshman year until a ligament tear in my elbow ended my career, at which point I got involved in student government. Upon graduating with my B.A. in Communciations, I began a decade long career in retail management. I began as an Assistant Store Manager for Target in Wheaton, Illinois before becoming a Store Manager for Office Depot in Skokie, Illinois. While with Office Depot, I relocated to the Seattle area and where I became a District Trainer and Property Manager for Public Storage.  Currently, I am a Graduate Assistant in University Recreation here at Seattle University where I oversee the Sport Clubs program. Sports have been a large part of my life ever since I can remember. I began playing baseball at the age of five, and I was hooked. My favorite personal sports moment was when, at the age of 13, my dad coached our baseball team to a State Championship. Each year, my dad and I get together for a baseball related trip. I was in attendance for Kerry Wood's first start back from elbow surgery and for Phillip Humber's Perfect Game.  With the MSAL program, I hope to obtain an internship at the Baseball Hall of Fame, a career in a baseball front office or turn my Assistantship in University Recreation into a career. I am a diehard fan of the Chicago Cubs, Indianapolis Colts and Notre Dame football with an extensive sports memorabilia collection. I live in Kent, WA with my wife Siobvan, a Chicago White Sox fan with a Master's from USC, and our Rottweiler-Retriever mix Jericho, named after Chris Jericho.  We enjoy exploring the Northwest through hiking and wine tasting, and have the goal of seeing a game in all thirty MLB stadia. Jericho is a registered therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International (TDI) who goes on bi-weekly nursing home visits to see his adopted grandmas.  

Claire Penhale

I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, to parents who are passionate Mariners fans. I was six weeks premature. Three weeks later my parents were able to bring me home from the hospital, with strict instructions from the doctor that I was to remain at home in order to protect my underdeveloped lungs. The next day my parents ignored the doctor's orders and brought me to a Mariners game. Over the years sports have played an integral role in my life and have shaped my personal and professional goals. I have played soccer since kindergarten and rowed crew throughout high school. I led my boat to consecutive National Lightweight Championships as a stroke and as a coxswain. During the four years I spent attaining a double major at the University of Washington in History and Law, Societies, and Justice, with a minor in Art History, I dedicated all of my free time to being an avid Seattle sports fan. During this time I realized how much sports meant to me and defined who I was and what I was interested in. Once I graduated from the University of Washington I tentatively looked into careers in law. However, I knew in the back of my mind that I always wanted to work in the sports industry, which is what led me to Seattle University. I am participating in the MSAL program with the hope that it will provide me with the education, experience, and direction I will need to pursue my dream of working for a professional or collegiate Seattle sports team.   

Wesley Phillips

 I was born in Atwater, California, but I am originally from O'Fallon, Illinois. As a military brat, I have lived in a number of different places and visited countries across the globe. Sports have always been a passion of mine since I was little, and I always wanted to have a profession that involved sports and helping others. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southern Illinois University of Carbondale with a degree in Kinesiology/Exercise Science with an emphasis of Pre-Chiropractic.  I attended chiropractic school for a short time, but soon realized my true passion was in sports performance.  Over the last two years, I have been blessed with opportunities to work with elite athletes in the private sector, collegiate level, and at the professional level. With internships as a sports performance professional at Athletes Performance and Stanford University, and a seasonal job with the Miami Marlins, I have been able to accumulate a large amount of experience in short amount of time from a wide variety of sources. I am excited now to be at Seattle University to continue my education with the MSAL program and work as a strength and conditioning coach with some of the athletic teams. I work specifically with Women's Basketball, Men's Soccer, and both Men's & Women's Tennis teams. 

Kelli Rodriguez Currie

Born and raised in California, Kelli developed a love of sport and the outdoors at a young age.  Having spent most of her youth in the pool, she fell in love with cycling at age fifteen when she crested the continental divide on a tandem with her father. Since then, Kelli has dragged her husband through 320 humid miles of the 2002 Washington, DC AIDSRide, conquered two one-day double centuries, and finished four full marathons. 
Currently a dual-degree student studying at the Seattle University School of Law, Kelli plans to leverage her training in both law and sport leadership to pursue a career in higher education and collegiate athletics.  Kelli graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in Sport Management, and is a staff member of the Seattle Journal for Social Justice.  When she's not in school, Kelli continues to work as a certified personal trainer, specializing in pre and post-natal fitness; she lives in Seattle with her husband and two young children. 

Susan Salem 

 I received a BA in broadcast journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2005.  I explored a lot of different opportunities after I graduated.  I worked in radio, television news, documentary film and even spent a couple years as a veterinary technician.  I knew that I wanted to go to graduate school, but couldn’t stay in one city long enough to make up my mind! When I moved to Seattle last year, a friend of mine was just finishing the MSAL program.  She suggested I check it out and I decided to apply.  I’ve been involved in sports since I was a kid and was a competitive horse back rider through college.  The competition, drama and passion that go hand in hand with sports is exciting and is something I would like to be a part of.  For the past year I have been working in academic support at a high school in Bellevue, WA.  I enjoy working with students and am lucky to have a job that I enjoy.  After I finish the program, I would like to continue working in education.

Kyle Scholzen 

 I’m a Seattle-area native, having lived in Kent for 16 years.  One of my earliest memories is of the Mariners’ magical run to the playoffs in 1995, and I’ve been hooked on sports ever since.  In high school, I started photography and found my way onto the yearbook staff, quickly discovering a passion for sports photography.  I photographed my way through the University of Washington, working for the school’s student newspaper for three years and having the best seats in the house for the biggest games in UW sports from 2007 to 2010.  While photographing for the paper, I worked alongside the athletic communications staff, got to know them and their jobs, and came to the realization that my future lies not in photography but in sports information and media relations.  The MSAL program gives me the best hope for working in the sports information field, and I can’t wait to spend my next two years learning and working at Seattle University.  

Trace Seaton

I have been involved in sports for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Hillsboro, Oregon I played baseball in the spring and basketball the rest of the year. I attended the University of Oregon where I majored in business with a concentration in sports marketing. Upon graduation I worked in the retail industry and quickly became bored. I knew that the path I was on would not take me to where I wanted to go. I knew I needed to be involved with sports, and that is when I found the MSAL program at Seattle University. I know this program is going to get me started on the right path and help me find a career in the sports industry.

Tanner Swanson

 During my childhood years in Roslyn,  a rural coal-mining town of one thousand residents on the east slope of the Cascade Mountains, I learned the meaning of compassion and the importance hard work largely through athletics. These values provided me the competitive drive to pursue baseball after high school and beyond. After a string of junior colleges, I finished playing at Central Washington University and received a degree in Physical Education. From there I began teaching and coaching at the high school level and eventually landed back at CWU teaching in the Physical Education & School Health department and coaching at my alma mater. Currently, I am entering my first year as the head baseball coach at Green River Community College and am continuing to progress through the MSAL program. I have strong aspirations to coach at the Division I level and am looking to extend my professional network within the athletic administration and coaching fields.

Heidi Tilicki

I grew up in Oregon, yet spent the last five years in Fairbanks, Alaska. I was fortunate to swim competitively all through high school and receive an athletic scholarship to swim at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF). At UAF, I obtained a degree in political science with a minor in law. I served on the Student Athletic Advisory Council and helped my team maintain an Academic-All-American Status. Last year, I worked part-time as the Compliance Assistant in the Department of Athletics at UAF. During my time in this department, I realized that this was the place I wanted to work; this was the career I wanted to pursue.  My experiences as a student-athlete have driven me to pursue a career in athletic compliance. To me, sports are more than small talk about how someone executed a play, or just winning and losing. Interacting and participating in sports is a lifestyle. I learned that a person's true nature and character can be defined by how they play the game. I want to devote my career to enhancing a positive student-athlete experience at any level, high school or college. My goal is to create an effective and lasting method to communicate NCAA by-laws to student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans. After graduation, my goal is to become a compliance coordinator for an athletic institution.

Nicholas White

I have had a strong passion for sports ever since I can remember. Growing up, I was extremely blessed to have the combination of a supportive family system and incredible coaches, who served as role models and mentors to me as a youth. The relationships and life lessons I've learned through the competition and camaraderie of sports has enhanced my development and maturity tremendously. My participation as a youth in sports and as a leader implementing sports programs in Seattle community centers has been extremely powerful. This has helped to define my career path and shape my professional interests. I know firsthand that these types of programs hold the potential to make an important impact on participants. The resources that professional sports organizations possess is remarkable, and I believe they hold a strong obligation and responsibility to develop events and programs that help to make their communities better places to live. Through my own experiences and other related testimonies, I know that sports can be used as a distinct vehicle that has the unique ability to transform people's lives in a positive way. I am a community driven individual that realizes the importance of accessibility for all, especially when it comes to providing youth with opportunities to succeed. I look forward to the foundation of education and the wealth of experiences I will receive from the MSAL Program, which will in turn, prepare me for my future career as a leader in the world of sports.