story by Ashley Hohmann
Sport Administration Master’s Student
Students in the College of Education & Human Development’s sport administration program worked at the Focused Health 250 and Quaker State 400 events at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 7-8.
As part of this experiential learning opportunity, students assisted with event operations at the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ opening event weekend. Undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students volunteered together and served as ticket scanners for the mega-event.
“Volunteering at the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 was an exhilarating experience that combined high-speed racing with community spirit,” said sport administration master’s student Ajit Bezbaruah. “As a member of the Georgia State University sport administration volunteer group, I had the opportunity to be part of a dynamic team that ensured a seamless experience for thousands of guests. I’m grateful to our department for introducing me to the world of NASCAR and fostering connections with fellow students from diverse programs.”
Bezbaruah was joined by sport administration undergraduate students Devin Green, Garrett Nipple and Sitta Berete and graduate students Josh Webb, Taylor Strickland, Nikkel Powell, Marina Colominas Martinez, Thibault Villetorte and Ben Zipay. Doctoral student Colt Wang also worked at the race.
The volunteer group was led by Natalie Bunch and Jackson Sears, Georgia State Ph.D. candidates and graduate teaching assistants.
“I love bringing students to Atlanta Motor Speedway to work NASCAR events,” Sears said. “Working major events like these in Atlanta’s backyard is one of the many things that sets Georgia State’s sport administration program apart from other programs.”
“One reason I love volunteer experiences like these is because it brings our students from the bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs together to work toward a common goal,” Bunch added.
The sport administration program prepares students to work in the sport industry, and this ticketing experience served as another opportunity for students to enhance their skills and resume while being part of a large-scale event.
Sport administration alum Mckenzie Watson (B.I.S. ’23) facilitated the volunteer experience for students. During his time at Georgia State, Watson worked as an events intern at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Upon his graduation, he turned that internship into a full-time position as an event coordinator. He is now responsible for parking and traffic, gate operations and volunteer groups for events at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The sport administration program is housed in the College of Education & Human Development’s Department of Kinesiology and Health. It offers a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in sport administration, a Master of Science in Sport Administration and a Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a concentration in sport administration. The M.S. program was ranked No. 12 in the U.S. by Sport Business International in 2023. The program is home to the Center for Sport and Urban Policy and the Rankin Cooter Bureau for Sport Business Research.
For program information, contact [email protected]. For the latest information, follow the program on Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram at @GSUSportAdmin.