May 1, 2024

Spring 2024 Outstanding Graduate — Sean Snead

A love of athletic competition and strong feelings for Ferris State University came naturally for Sean Snead, who will graduate cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Communication on Saturday, May 4, at commencement exercises for the College of Arts, Sciences and Education. 

“Choosing Ferris was very intentional, you might say,” Snead said. “My grandfather, Ron Snead, got his degree here and is vice chair of Ferris State’s board of trustees in his second term on the board. My father, Jon, worked here early in his career, and we came to campus as a family many times when I was young for Bulldog football and hockey games. I was glad to pursue my academic interests in a familiar and comfortable place.” 

Having athletic involvement and academic pursuits is second nature for Snead, but he had a momentary pause in the combination after his days in the Hudsonville Public Schools. 

“I took Sports Marketing classes in high school and played varsity hockey for the Eagles, so both of those experiences really helped me define what I wanted to do going forward in my education,” Snead said. “I began at Ferris as a Marketing major, but my grandfather and his friend, Sports Communication program coordinator Sandy Alspach, encouraged me to consider this degree. The change was made, and I could not be happier about the opportunities that choice has brought for me.” 

Having college credits in hand from advanced placement studies in high school helped Snead maneuver through unusual times, with Ferris State athletic events calling for continual COVID-19 testing of athletes and empty arenas in his first year of involvement. 

“My freshman year, I hired in as a student worker with Athletics, which included unique experiences like running a camera for streaming broadcasts of Ferris basketball games from a nearly empty Jim Wink Arena,” Snead said. “Thanks to those AP classes during high school, I was able to learn on the job and meet my class schedule.” 

Snead continued in significant roles throughout the Ferris sports seasons that followed, serving as chief statistician for volleyball and football contests and assisting in outreach activities that brought Bulldog athletes and the community together. 

“I also became a member of the Sports Careers registered student organization, which presents great opportunities to develop community engagement skills,” Sean said. “We do ‘Red Out’ activities with the winter sports teams for February’s heart health awareness campaign and follow that with the ‘Heart to Heart, Hand in Hand Unified Special Olympics Benefit basketball game each April.” 

Progress in learning about the business of communicating for team sports continued in 2022, as Snead accepted a role as a public relations intern with the Grand Rapids Griffins hockey organization. 

“I had a number of duties during the 2022-23 season for the Griffins,” Sean said. “I was assigned to give support to visiting hockey scouts, to distribute and manage media passes and accommodate American Hockey League official teams who were handling statistics in the press box. One game presented an emergency for an AHL staffer, and I had to pitch in with their crew, which was a great experience. 

Being active in a campus organization was a significant part of Snead’s student life experience. He was vice president of the Sports Careers group. 

“All of that kept me very busy but these were valuable resources to build my experience,” Snead said. “I could have returned to the Griffins for their most recent season. Still, when Dylan Rider, a peer in Sports Communication, asked about that opportunity, I told him about all the facets of working with the team and management. I was glad to fill him in and felt good about his participating in that same experience.” 

Continuing in the Sports Communication program put Snead in contact with Ferris State hockey head coach Bob Daniels and a chance to further his university athletics experiences. 

“I had a class project where I was to write about athletic leadership, which called for an interview with Coach Daniels,” Snead said. “The program has a director of hockey operations role, and Bob asked that I consider taking that position. That led to a meeting with all the coaches, I accepted the opportunity and never looked back.” 

Snead was kept hopping for the close of the 2022-23 season and the Bulldogs’ 2023-24 campaign, completing his Griffins internship, beginning his role with Ferris’ hockey program, while continuing in the Sports Careers group and his studies. 

“I would have responsibility for posting all the game information that fans could access online from our home contests,” Snead said. “That would include posting shot opportunities, faceoff activity and statistics related to the team’s success in game situations. When the schedule put us on the road, I would work with Coach Mark Kaufman on trip logistics and assist Don Seaborn with equipment-related duties. During the games, I would be recording our success on faceoffs and passing those results to the coaching staff.” 

Snead enjoyed a hands-on experience as Ferris State joined other regional programs in the re-establishment of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. 

“I had hopes in my high school days of taking my hockey career further, but working with Ferris has been a one-of-a-kind opportunity, and coming to the end of this past season was bittersweet,” Snead said. “I was able to make friendships I never could have expected when I got to campus. I feel very fortunate to have had an experience unique for most Sports Communication students in terms of involvement and interaction with our players, coaches, and the media. This role allowed me to make a most valuable contribution to the program while investing in my professional future.” 

Though the hockey season ended for Ferris and for Snead in March, the rapid pace of activities in the Athletics and Sports Careers club continued. 

“Events like the Heart to Heart, Hand in Hand benefit are wonderful experiences to mesh with my university involvements,” Snead said. “They give me a chance, personally and professionally, to put what I have learned into practice, while giving of myself for important causes. I intend to make it clear how important these commitments are to those who consider me as a representative of their organization.” 

As commencement approaches, Snead is networking to determine the best choice for his next opportunity. 

“I know some kind of position that keeps me close to hockey would be my first choice, but I have been in touch with collegiate athletic departments about roles as a graduate assistant,” Snead said. “I have an eye on completing a master’s degree. A full-time job with an athletic department would also be great. I know that the wide range of experiences that have come my way through my studies and work experiences will serve me well in whatever path I follow.”