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November 1, 2017During the summer, Tia Hopkins ’19 spent 10 days at Fordham University in New York City participating in an international program with the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC), an organization for high school students to educate and help them look deeper into their prospective career.
There are numerous divisions in the program ranging from nursing to theatre. Tia was the only student from the entire state of Ohio to participate in the Sports Management program.
At a very young age, Tia was fascinated with sports management and it became her ideal career. She was invited to participate in the program after an anonymous referral had been sent on her behalf. Instead of finding this internship, it found her.
“They sent me a letter asking me to come,” Tia says. “They said I had been referred to go from someone connected to the company. I still do not know who referred me and I would love to find out so that I may thank them for allowing me to have this experience.”
Even though she had been accepted into the program, Tia still needed to complete the application process. She wrote three essays, collected teacher recommendations, and submitted her transcripts. She was very thankful for the opportunity and looked forward to taking advantage of the experiences and connections she would gain.
The program consisted of lectures, field trips, simulations, and workshops. Within the Sports Management program, students were given the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a sports agent, including managing events and exploring sports psychology. Though she came into the program without knowing anyone, she was introduced to 100 other ambitious students from all over the world with the same passion to succeed.
“I made lifelong connections and friends that I still talk to everyday,” Tia says. “It has forever changed the way I view the business of sports management. I believe it has better prepared me for the future and allowed me to build connections for more opportunities in the future.
Now that the program is over and Tia is back in school, she is focusing on her academics, athletics, and extracurriculars, and she is involved in many. She is a member of Academic Scholars, Chef’s Club, Student Council, National Honor Society, Peer Ministry, GEM, and the Boy’s Football manager. She is also involved in Track and horseback rides as a hobby.
In addition to all of her aforementioned activities, Tia, alongside Dana James, somehow found the time to plan a fall fundraiser to benefit VASJ’s football team.
“As football managers, we wanted an event where younger kids and families could get involved… I think that it’ll be successful,” Tia says.
And it was. The Fall Festival took place on October 29 at VASJ and included carnival games, trick or treating, raffles, a haunted house, and food.
Though her decision is not official on a college, Tia’s top choices include The Ohio State University, NC Chapel Hill, and Michigan State. Once she graduates, she plans to get her undergraduate degree in Sports Management with a minor in Business, Communications, and Finance. She plans to go on to get her law degree in Tax and Sports Law.
“I want to get a job being a Sports Agent,” Tia says. “The road will take a lot to get there, but I will do what I can to make my dreams happen.”
Hailey Barnett is a senior at VASJ. She is the President of PR Club and a member of the National Honors Society, Ambassadors, Peer Ministry, and Catholic Schools for Peace and Justice. In her free time, she enjoys to write, sing, and explore. After graduation, Hailey plans to attend Howard University where she will major in Communications and minor in Spanish.
