Student Spotlight
鈥淚 really wanted to work for the Chiefs because I have always like them and enjoyed
going to their games,鈥� says Chandler Kowalski, a senior in Sport Management. Chandler is interning with the Kansas City Chiefs
under the Director of Cheerleaders. She has worked for both the Wichita Thunder and
Wichita Force in the past.
Chandler's first chance to network with the Chiefs came at the that Sport Management Student Association (SMSA) attends each year. Chandler was
able to meet the Human Resources Coordinator and give her a copy of her resume. She
was encouraged to apply for their internships through . A few months later Chandler was contacted for an interview. Although Chandler had
never cheered before, she was seen as a strong candidate for the cheer internship,
which she was later hired for.
Chandler's duties as an intern include receiving, organizing, and scheduling appearance
requests for cheerleaders, as well as dealing with the financials for appearances/events.
She also works with youth teams at three YMCA locations by managing all the communication
with parents and team members. On game days, she creates the most efficient way for
the six Ambassador Cheerleaders to visit all of the VIP suites.
Chandler has had the opportunity to attend many exciting events as a Kansas City
Chiefs intern. Her favorite experience thus far was a Kickoff Luncheon. 鈥淚t was a
very high profile event that was attended by the whole football team, the coaches,
the general manager and the president of the organization. The guests were some of
the top CEOs and presidents from our sponsor companies.鈥� Another memorable experience
was when President, Mark Donovan spoke at a staff meeting and she was able to see
how devoted he was to the organization. Chandler also talks about Leadership Luncheons,
which allow the interns to have lunch with a director of a department. Through the
luncheons, she was able to meet high-level executives and receive first-hand advice
on how to succeed in the industry.
Chandler is trying to take in and learn as much as possible during her internship
by helping out in many different departments. She notes that working in a professional
organization requires dedication and a strong adherence to a strict set of rules and
regulations. For students who want to pursue working in a professional sports organization,
she suggests getting involved both on campus and in the community. She noted working
as game day staff is a great way to 鈥済et your foot in the door鈥� and not have too much
of a time commitment, similarly to how she worked with the Thunder and Force. At the
conclusion of her internship, Chandler is considering either beginning her career
in professional sports or pursuing a master's degree. Chandler's ambitious approach
has set her up for a great start to wherever she chooses to go next.