By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Clare Coniglio’s first job was at Hitchcock Pool in her hometown of Omaha.
She started working there at age 15, unknowingly taking the first step toward a professional career.
As she moved up the ranks within Omaha Parks and Recreation, Coniglio began thinking more and more about her long-term plans. That’s when she realized: “There are people who actually make a living running summer programs and pools.”
“It really interested me to not have a desk job and to be active and make a difference in that way,” she explained.
Coniglio is currently a junior at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she’s among the 80-plus undergraduate students enrolled in the sport and recreation management program. Part of the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences, this recently revamped program offers options for students interested in a variety of careers related to athletics and recreational and outdoor activities.
“A lot of the skills that it takes to succeed in these careers are the same – marketing, management and finance, to name a few – and many of the core classes already overlapped,” said Rachel Silverman, an assistant professor and program coordinator. “So, we were able to merge sport and recreation management into a single program that continues to serve the needs of our students and their future employers.”
The new sport and recreation management program includes two bachelor’s degree options. Students can pursue a comprehensive degree and choose one of three emphasis areas: management, sport media or recreation. There are also sport management, recreation management and event management minors, as well as a sport and recreation management major that allows students to select a minor from outside the program.
“At UNK, we want students to select a path that aligns with their goals,” Silverman said. “We give our graduates a wide variety of skills so they’re fully prepared to enter any area of the sport or recreation industries that they’re interested in.”
LEARNING BY DOING
Hands-on, experiential learning is a major focus within the program.
Every student completes an internship before graduation, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. These experiences are available locally, through program partners such as Kearney Park and Recreation, Kearney Family YMCA, Tri-City Storm hockey and Nebraska Game and Parks, and there are also opportunities to work for athletic departments, sports teams, state and national parks and recreational facilities throughout the Midwest and across the country.
“There are so many different options,” Silverman said. “We definitely encourage students to spread their wings and branch out if they can.”
On campus, students can assist in sales, marketing, social media, event planning and facilities management with UNK Athletics and there are classes that include experiential learning components. Last semester, students planned and hosted a Family Getaway at The Archway event featuring food trucks and a variety of fun activities for families. They also organized a fundraiser for youth scholarships at Kearney Combat Sports.
Coniglio, who is managing Miller Pool in Omaha this summer, really enjoys these hands-on experiences.
“Most of my classes don’t even feel like I’m actually going to class,” she said with a smile. “You don’t really see many classes where you can go paddleboard for three credits. Everything in this program is a lot more fun.”
BUILDING A NETWORK
In addition to her summer job, Coniglio works as a facility attendant for UNK Campus Recreation during the school year.
She also serves as president of the SpRec Club, a student organization within the sport and recreation management program. The club hosts a variety of social events for members throughout the year and raises money for trips to regional and national conferences.
UNK students recently attended the Kansas Sports Summit in Wichita and a Campus Rec and Wellness Expo hosted by NIRSA (formerly the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association) in Phoenix, Arizona. They’re hoping to go to the Sport and Recreation Law Association annual conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, next spring.
Those events, along with others organized by NIRSA and the Nebraska Recreation and Park Association, give students a chance to present their research, network with professionals and discover internship and job opportunities.
“Recreation is a lot of events and it’s a lot of communication. It’s really who you know, not what you know. So, it’s really important to have those meaningful conversations,” said Coniglio, who already has an internship with the Nebraska Recreation and Park Association lined up for next year.
Eventually, Silverman would like to see the UNK program earn accreditation from the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), a worldwide organization that recognizes excellence in sport management education. UNK would be the only college or university in Nebraska with that recognition, which comes with additional opportunities for research grants, scholarships and other resources for students.
“I think that would really help our program grow,” said Silverman, who serves on the COSMA Board of Directors.
Coniglio has her sights set on a career as a municipal parks and recreation director, a position that would allow her to share her active, outdoorsy lifestyle with others.
“Life is not fun if you don’t have your leisure time and your recreation time,” she said. “All work and no play is not a life to live at all.”
