Super Bowl Bound

SPRINGFIELD, OH - A group of 14 Wittenberg students will be heading west this week to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California as the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots battle it for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Students will fly from Columbus to San Francisco on Thursday, Feb. 5 and return on Monday, Feb 10. During their time, each will help with event operations and guest services at a variety of Super Bowl functions. Some of their activities include game-day training on Friday, working at the Bart Starr Award Breakfast on Saturday, and then supporting fan services on game day.

"This opportunity provides students with hands-on experience in event operations, sport management, and professional engagement at one of the largest sporting events in the world," said Alan Ledford, associate professor of sport management and director of Wittenberg's Master of Sport Administration program, who coordinated the event for the students. "The students participating in this experience have been selected and prepared in advance, and their involvement aligns with experiential learning goals tied to professional development within sport and event management."

Students participating in the trip include:

• Tyler Bast, class of 2028 and sport management major from Noblesville, Indiana;
• Allison Browning, class of 2028 and sport management major from Hillsboro, Ohio;
• Taylor Butts, class of 2028 and management major from Cedarville, Ohio;
• Drew Dossman, class of 2028 and sport management and finance double major from Amanda, Ohio;
• Benjamin Glassman, class of 2028 and communication and digital media major from Woodbridge, Connecticut;
• Devora Godfrey, class of 2026 and sport management major from Columbus, Ohio;
• Mason Labrecque, class of 2028 and sport management major from Palm Harbor, Florida;
• Andrew Owen, class of 2028 and sport management and accounting double major from Springfield, Ohio;
• Hannah Peterson, class of 2028 and management major from Cedarville, Ohio;
• Earl Pope, class of 2026 from Springfield, Ohio, pursuing a master's degree in sport administration;
• Kennedy Reed, class of 2028 and marketing and sport management double major from Lewis Center, Ohio;
• VJ Shaw, class of 2026 and sport management major from Saint Louis, Missouri;
• Reagan Voigt, class of 2028 from Hilliard, Ohio; and
• Olivia Witman, class of 2027 from Springboro, Ohio, pursuing a master's degree in sports administration.

At the Bart Starr Award Breakfast, the students will primarily be assisting with event operations and guest services, which typically include registration and check-in, seating assistance, directional support, and helping event staff as needed to keep the program running smoothly. On game day, their duties are more fan-facing and operational.

"Students help with guest engagement, crowd flow, information services, credential support, and general event logistics across the NFL Experience campus," Ledford said. "It gives them a strong look at large-scale event management and customer service in a major sports setting. The Bart Starr Awards Breakfast is a very professional environment and will give them great exposure to a high-profile, philanthropic NFL event. Students often encounter former and current NFL players, coaches, executives, and media members throughout the week, especially at events like the Bart Starr Breakfast and various NFL-sanctioned functions."

About the Game: This will be the first Super Bowl in Santa Clara since Super Bowl 50 in 2016 between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. In the battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy, both teams enter the contest at 14-3 on the season in a rematch of Super Bowl 49. The game will air on NBC. Throughout the week, people enjoy events such as Opening Night and the Super Bowl Experience with immersive opportunities for fans of all ages.