During “Owl Days” at Rice University, the Rice Sport Business Society (RSBS) hosted a panel for prospective students titled “Houston: America’s Hottest Host City” to take an inside look at what goes on behind the scenes of a major sporting event.
The panel, moderated by RSBS Vice-President Pax Kaplan-Sherman ’18, featured special guests that helped organize Super Bowl LI, the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four, and the Copa America Centenario – events that were all held in Houston in the past year. These special guests included Kevin Cooper (Super Bowl LI), Callye Dannheim Emmons ’07 (Super Bowl LI, Copa America), Diane Crossey (Copa America), and Doug Hall (Super Bowl LI, NCAA Final Four).
The panel addressed topics such as the attractiveness of Houston to event organizers, the most challenging and rewarding parts of putting on the events, the impact of these three events on the city of Houston, and roles that student interns and volunteers were able to play in the successful execution of the events.
Prospective Rice students were able to learn more about the Rice Sport Management Department, Rice Sport Business Society, and opportunities that would be available to them as Rice students. This Owl Days panel was a deciding factor for some prospective students in their decision to attend Rice.
“My biggest concern before committing to Rice was trying to find a major that fit my interest since business is not offered,” said Catalina Santamaria ‘22, an Owl Days attendee who will be attending Rice in the fall. “After listening through what the four panelists had to say, I knew I wanted to pursue Sport Management as a primary interest.”
RSBS is a student-run organization whose mission is to create opportunities in the sport industry for members. In addition to a panel for prospective students during Owl Days, they also host other events including monthly breakfasts with sport industry members, mixers, and a welcome reception during Families Weekend.
Lindsey Hodge, a junior from Roswell, Georgia, is majoring in Sport Management and minoring in Business.