Jason Petro '17 and Summer Roberson ’17 won the Patrick K. Thornton Memorial Award, which is an award presented each semester to students who perform the highest in the SMGT 364 (Sport Law) class.
The Patrick K. Thornton Memorial Award is given in honor of Patrick K. Thornton, who prior to his death was one of the prominent Sports Law authorities in the United States. He was a very loved and respected professor and lecturer at Rice University in the Rice University Sport Management department from 2003-2012. He taught Sport Law and Intellectual Property Law in countries all around the world such as Russia, Australia, and Vietnam. This award is dedicated in memory of his hard work and devotion to the Department of Sport Management at Rice University and the Sport Law community.
Petro is a senior at Rice University double-majoring in Sport Management and Mathematical Economics. His passion for sports, strategy and analytics has led him to take on experience that blended these interests. He previously worked for the Houston Rockets, Major League Baseball Commissioners Office, Houston Astros, Horizon Media and Nike consistently taking on strategic and analytical roles.
“I work hard because I enjoy what I do and am fortunate to have gotten the opportunities that I have at Rice” said Petro.
After graduation, Petro will be working in Nike’s headquarters as a Business Planning Analyst. When asked about his future plans, “I see myself staying with Nike for a few years and then possibly getting an MBA,” Petro said. “I plan on taking the GMAT and talking with people I know who have already gone to business school.”
He plans to stay with Nike for a few years and then pursue an MBA. He has started preparing for the GMAT and has already started talking to people who have already gone to business school.
Eunjee Kang, a senior from Seoul, Korea and Manila, Philippines, is double-majoring in Sport Management and Psychology.