Shane Power's Inaugural Fashion Show

We are pleased to host the inaugural Shane Power fashion show to raise money for Special Olympics, raise money for educational field trips and opportunities, and to try to provide every student in Sports Communication/Sports Administration with a suit to wear on their job interviews. A recent photo shoot of the undergraduate students resulted in more than 30 students indicating that they or their family did not possess a business suit. Such is extremely detrimental in the job search process when facing other candidates in professional attire.

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Each fall and spring SPORTS will host a regional Special Olympics event on the campus of MSU. Special Olympics, along with the Boys & Girls Club, are the primary benefactors of proceeds raised through events hosted by SPORTS.

Suits and Jackets for our Students

As noted, students not in possession of professional attire are at a substantial disadvantage in their career pursuits. Through this event, we hope that apparel partners will donate their business suits or gift certificate and sebsequently students can apply to earn these through a competitive application process that includes an interview.

Auction

Please arrive early as there will be a silent auction starting at 6 pm. See press release number two for a complete listing.

Our Partners - The All-Americans

Avant Guade Salon                                             Julie W. Brown (Attorney at Law)

Morgan Construction Company                        Bell Building and Supply

Barnes & Nobles Bookstore                           Columbus Orthopedic Clinic

Sister's Clothing                                                   The Sundial

JC Penny's                                                            Reeds Clothing

Deville                                                                   MSU Fashion Board

Justin Couvillion & Molly Gee Wagner Private Apparel

thanks to:

Involved MSU students and faculty, Dr. Chromiak and Dr. Blackbourn, the Department of Kinesiology and the College of Education, Dorman Hall,our partners and all those involved in this special event.

Students wanting to pursue a career in the sports industry need more than a college degree. They need to advance themselves outside of the classroom with educational opportunities that are conducive to networking and meeting experts in the sports industry. All the while enjoying what makes sports so great. The people. While textbooks are valuable the industry of sports management evolves daily. So texts are outdated the moment they leave the press. To combat that aspect SPORTS is a student organization that represents Students Professional Organization for Research and Training in Sports. Whether you are an undergraduate student or a graduate student, a communication major or pursuing the MBA, a freshman or a doctoral student, we welcome you should you meet select criteria. The state of Mississippi may not have as many resources in sports management relative to Florida, Tennessee or Georgia, but that is no excuse. SPORTS is about helping you to create your own opportunities and getting ahead of your competition in the industry. The same way coaches and players watch film, go through repetition in practice and pursue excellence on gameday, you too can pursue excellence in your pursuit of a career in sports management. Regardless of the area of sports management you hope to pursue or your lack of experience in the field, we welcome you to join this organization to further your career pursuit.

The benefits are numerous but the highlights are two-fold. Overnight trip to area metropolitans to meet with the experts as well as the opportunity to operate your own events in sports management in your own backyard here in Starkville. The 2005-2006 year saw overnight trips to Atlanta, Memphis and Birmingham, where students visited with representatives from the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Octagon Sports Marketing, Atlanta Thrashers, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Chick-fil-A Bowl, Profiles Sports (player representation), Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Redbirds, Birmingham Barons and the Southeastern Conference headquarters. It also saw students host two Special Olympic events to improve their event management skills. Members also designed and implemented a tennis tournament to hone sponsorship experience, sales skills and publicity efforts. Students also initiated a 5K race as well with over $1,000 being raised and donated to area charities. Events that are planned for the 2006-2007 year include a Graduate School Night, Career in Sports Night, more overnight field trips, further design and implementation of events on campus and more. But it only happens when pinnacle students come together and make the most of the opportunities. The organization is nothing without the collective efforts of its members.

Part of being involved in SPORTS means "being involved" in SPORTS. While the trips are fun and speakers are fantastic, what separates students during the job search process is the opportunity for a student to sit down before a potential employer and state "Through SPORTS I directed my own sporting event" or "I sold over $1,000 in sponsorships" or "I handled media relations for a student organization that ran numerous events" as you hand them your portfolio with samples of your experience. The traditional cover letter and resume are nice, but think about it...Atlanta is a great city, New York is a great city, Chicago is a great city, Memphis is a great city. And who wouldn't want to work in professional sports, college sports, NASCAR, the PGA Tour or the likes. Getting a foot in the door is very difficult and extremely competitive. That is why SPORTS exists to help provide you opportunities to pursue your dreams with experiences that are rewarding and enjoyable. You are not conducting brain surgery. You are creating and running your own events in sports management just like the professionals.

One of the cornerstones of SPORTS is the College Speaker Series. Mississippi State University is part of the Southeastern Conference, the premier athletic conference in Division I-A athletics. When the opportunity presents itself, we invite administrators from visiting schools or representatives from the sports industry to share their expertise on campus. The 2005-2006 year saw Bill Curry from ESPN, Tracy Wolfson from CBS Sports, Mitch Barnhart - Director of Athletics at the University of Kentucky and Mike Hamilton - Director of Athletics at the University of Tennessee share their knowledge. And 2006-2007 should experience even greater heights.

Going to class, socializing and getting the most out of the college degree is great. But to whom much is given much is expected. There is more to life than the library and partying. Students are young and in their mental and physical prime. They are the leaders of tomorrow regardless of the community they reside. Part of being involved in SPORTS means being involved in giving back to those less fortunate. It might be in the form of picking up trash, working in a soup kitchen, volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club, assisting with charity work and more. Students have found that in addition to being intrinsically rewarding, the community service aspect of SPORTS provide a relief from the stress of academics and a mental break to put life in perspective. It also affords the opportunity to meet new people and gain a sense of duty and responsibility as you grow older. The PGA Tour's mission is a Drive for a Billion with money given back to the community where events are held. What are you doing to make a difference today?