A Good Sport
An internship opportunity at the Pro Bowl landed Sara Bianco on the football field and gave her firsthand exposure to the field of sports management.
Sara Bianco comes from a sports-loving family and spent lots of time demonstrating her school spirit as a high school cheerleader. “I grew up watching all kinds of games on the field and on television,” recalls Bianco. “My family members are big fans of all New York sports teams.”
After taking a college-level course in sports management while in high school, Bianco searched for a comparable program when applying to college. “TU’s size and program offerings made it a great fit,” says Bianco. “The bachelor’s degree in sports management was the perfect program, especially with a business administration minor.”
“ The internship allowed me to connect a real-world experience to my sports management major. ”
It was a dream come true for Bianco when Professor Jacob Bustad helped her arrange an independent study and receive credit for an internship with the Disney College Program in Orlando, Florida. Bianco scored big on her assignment — she was selected to work at the ESPN Wide World of Sports for the Pro Bowl. “I was right there on the field, watching the NFL teams practicing and working in guest services for the event,” she describes. “The internship allowed me to connect a real-world experience to my sports management major.”
Bianco has channeled her positive attitude to help lead the Towson All Star Cheer Club. As a safety officer and secretary for the club, Bianco has planned fundraisers and scheduled competitions. “You don’t go to a trainer for competitive cheerleading; you learn to push yourself to do better,” she explains. Her drive helped the Cheer Club capture first place in a national all-star cheerleading competition.