Syracuse Sun

The Detroit Sports Commission and Visit Detroit enlisted the help of six female students from Falk College’s Department of Sport Management for the 2024 NFL Draft held in late April. The selected students were Aryssa Hopps ’25, Grace Froehlke ’26, and Alivia (Ava) Uribe ’26 from Sport Management, along with Anna Pierce ’25, Madelyn (Maddy) Forster ’26, and Claire Patin ’26 from the Sport Analytics program.

During their three-day stay in Detroit, these students undertook various volunteer roles, engaged with female executives from the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and networked with Syracuse University alumni at a dinner hosted by David Katz. Katz is the chair of the Visit Detroit Board of Directors and a parent of a Syracuse University student. The trip was organized by Sport Management Internship Coordinators Beth Perez and Aaron Knighton.

Perez explained that the idea for this trip originated from a conversation between Falk College Dean Jeremy Jordan and Katz. Jordan suggested that this experiential learning opportunity be reserved for female students to promote female leadership within the sport industry. Perez supported this initiative, stating: “There’s a push for female leadership and providing opportunities for females in the sport industry... we wanted to make it a point to bring the most students we could to get this experience.”

Aryssa Hopps shared her experience working at Teammate Headquarters during the draft: “I was able to have an impact on every individual... Whether it be offering a warm greeting or just chatting about our favorite teams.” She noted that her interactions with volunteers left a lasting impression on her perception of Detroit.

Claire Patin described her role at an autograph signing tent where she assisted fans meeting players like Frank Ragnow of the Detroit Lions. “It was fun to see fans so excited to meet him... I feel really lucky that I not only got to experience it myself but also be part of the positive experience for the fans,” Patin said.

Following their return to Syracuse, Perez and Knighton began planning future opportunities for both female students and all students in Sport Management. They are considering potential experiences such as attending the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four in Detroit in 2027.

Perez emphasized their commitment: “We definitely have the mindset of how can we provide more of these experiences for all of our students?”

For more information about Falk College's Department of Sport Management and its programs, visit their website.