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Tucker Gains Valuable Experience During Summer Internship with NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets

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

Elliot TuckerStudents are participating in various internships in a variety of locations this summer. Meet Elliot Tucker:

Who: A senior from Holland majoring in Sports Marketing

Internship: Columbus Blue Jackets, a National Hockey League team based in Columbus, Ohio.

What he’s learning: Tucker’s responsibilities with the Blue Jackets include sponsorship activation and working at various events, such as a team tent at block parties around the city to promote the Blue Jackets’ presence and offer merchandise giveaways. At larger events, he can be seen officiating a street hockey game, manning the bounce house or running “enter-to-win” contests for season tickets.

“I am learning how a professional sports team is run and how they use marketing,” said Tucker, who is completing his internship unpaid. “I am also learning the importance of data collection and measurable results, where I am able to take what I learned in a data analysis class last spring and see how it is applied in the sports industry directly.”

How he’s benefitting: Interacting with fans at events has helped Tucker develop a more natural way of approaching and speaking to people. He has also benefitted from observing and interacting with people who work in the sports industry.

“Hearing where those in the sports industry have been and what they did to get there gives me an understanding of what I have to do to gain success in the career of sports,” he said.

Goal for the future: Tucker will pursue a marketing position in the professional sports industry after he graduates, preferably with the National Basketball Association.