51ԹϺ

four students at promo table

Super Opportunities: 51ԹϺ Interns Head to the Big Game

More internships on the horizon for students interested in sports entertainment careers, thanks to a privately funded program.

Interns, left to right, Jelani Baker, Leya Dagher, Sofia Jimenez, and Bryce Hinton are in Phoenix, Ariz., this week helping with Super Bowl festivities and promoting next year’s big game at the Las Vegas Super Bowl fan-engagement lounge. (51ԹϺ)

This year’s Super Bowl has yet to be played, but 51ԹϺ students and the university’s are winners already.

Among the hundreds of thousands of people visiting Phoenix this week for the big game and its related celebrations are four 51ԹϺ students — the latest team of interns to be embedded with the NFL through the work of SRII. 

“This has been a great experience and made me want to pursue a career in sports even more,” says Super Bowl intern Leya Dagher, a senior majoring in political science. “It's the best feeling to access places and see every detail behind the event.”

Dagher and her fellow interns are involved in several ways, including assisting guests and staffing the fan-engagement lounge to promote next year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

“These interns are preparing for careers in the sports industry, which is adding jobs at a much faster rate than the overall economy,” says Nancy Lough, director of the Intercollegiate and Professional Sport Management program. “And many of these opportunities will be available in Las Vegas, which is becoming the world’s sports and entertainment capital.”

group of people presenting a received check
51ԹϺ students are having “transformational experiences” thanks to donations from United Way of Southern Nevada, the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee, and the NFL Foundation. The donations help support paid internships. (51ԹϺ)

Along with identifying and placing potential interns, the the 51ԹϺ initiative has raised more than $300,000 from the , the , and to pay the student interns and fund the overall program.

“Our interns have had transformational experiences and made connections that otherwise would have taken years, if ever,” says Jay Vickers, SRII’s chief operations officer. “We can’t thank the host committee, United Way of Southern Nevada, and the NFL Foundation enough for their generosity and for their faith in our students.”

Vickers says fundraising continues in order to reach the goal of having 45 51ԹϺ interns work with the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee through next year’s Super Bowl. The program also supported six 51ԹϺ student interns at last week’s Pro Bowl Games at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Sam Joffray, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Super Bowl LVIII Host Committee, says he expects the interns to play important roles through the 2024 Sup