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As a result of the ongoing pandemic, the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) entered 2021 the same way that 2020 ended – without sporting events. However, everything changed on March 3 when the conference announced its return to play statement – and two Curry College student interns were at the forefront of the announcement.
“When the CCC announced its return to play for spring sports, I had the opportunity to learn the new procedures and rules that were put into effect in order for spring sports to safely compete,” says Kuda Muhlauri ’21, a business administration major minoring in sport and recreation management. “Under the direction of the CCC Commissioners and Athletic Directors, I participated in key conversations about how they were planning on solving some of the issues they were anticipating facing come competition time.”
In order to safely compete, the CCC implemented a strict no spectator policy and advised each institution to follow proper testing protocol.
In a traditional year, the sports industry operates at a constant and fast-paced level. In an unprecedented year full of challenges and changes, that level is amplified through new guidelines, restrictions, and regulations. “Crisis management is a significant part of managing an athletic conference,” says Sport and Recreation major Andrew Gregory ’22. “The pandemic has taught me to deal with constant changes, and my internship with the CCC has taught me how to implement different strategies to deal with ongoing crises caused by the pandemic.”
Through the Sport and Recreation program, both Gregory and Muhlauri have gained valuable life skills that will directly impact their respective future careers. “The Sport and Recreation program has helped me prepare for my career goals through the wide variety of course requirements,” says Gregory. “Through my courses, I’ve learned how to develop risk management strategies, and these strategies are especially important during the pandemic as I have learned through my experiences with the CCC.”
“During my time with the CCC, I have learned a lot of new things that will help me in the future, such as NCAA regulations across all divisions,” says Muhlauri. “We focused on the most important regulations that every coach and the athletic director must know to carry out their job successfully. The knowledge I’m gaining from the internship will carry over into my career, as I aspire to be an athletic director at the collegiate level.”
Housed within the College’s Business department, the Sport and Recreation Management program offers the unique management, marketing, and strategy curriculum to succeed in the businesses of sport and recreation. The career-focused curriculum encourages students to pursue internships to gain invaluable on-the-job skills and trains students to be critical thinkers, capable of effectively managing and marketing sport and recreation enterprises across an array of markets.
Muhlauri will continue his education at Endicott College next semester as a candidate for a Master’s Degree in Sports Leadership. “With the help of my professors and the Curry College community, I’m now able to reach a point in my life that seemed impossible to reach four years ago.”