Northwestern University Athletics
From Front and Center to Behind the Scenes
8/18/2015 11:47:00 AM | Football, General, Softball, Women's Basketball, David G. Kabiller NU for Life Program
By Jen Yamin, Northwestern Fencing
Four Wildcats student-athletes with diverse career aspirations found a shared professional outlet during the summer of 2015, securing unique internships all at the same company in an industry that keeps them close to the world of sports they love.
Northwestern student-athletes Brianna LeBeau, Anna Peterson, Joe Jones and Lauren Douglas landed summer internships in 2015 with Wilson, one of the leading sporting goods companies in the world. Each student-athlete has a different focus within the company, applying their Northwestern education and practical knowledge gained from playing the games they love.
LeBeau, a softball player, is interning with Wilson's marketing department. She has traveled to softball tournaments across the United States, collecting data on the products players are using.
"I've been to Colorado, Georgia and Florida, applying grassroots marketing, research and sales to determine what the softball players like about our products and where we can improve," said LeBeau, a communication studies senior.
Wilson has also afforded the interns the chance to branch out and take on tasks outside their daily responsibilities. In addition to touring softball tournaments, LeBeau is working on the digital and creative side, making banners for the website and sending out email blasts. While LeBeau gathers feedback on Wilson products after they have been purchased, her on-the-field teammate is improving the equipment before it is ever released.
Peterson has been working alongside the golf-innovation team, using the skills gained from her mechanical engineering major and her pursuit of a certificate through the Segal Design Institute.
"I've primarily been doing measurements and analyses of different design aspects of club heads to understand what makes it so successful and what will help a golfer do his or her best," she said.
Like LeBeau, Peterson worked on a project that was outside of her niche, helping to format and write the fitting guide for Wilson's S5 clubs, which will be released in a few months.
Jones didn't take a huge step away from the gridiron in his position as a commercial and product intern with the football department. Working in his first internship, the communication studies and economics double major learned quickly the importance of speaking up.
"Obviously as an intern you have the spot lowest on the totem pole, so a lot of the other interns are hesitant to speak up," Jones said. "I've spoken up to the boss and saw how valuable that was, it's probably one of the biggest takeaways I've gotten so far."
Working with the basketball marketing division, Douglas feels that her internship will contribute to her future internships and jobs.
"I've learned that some of the best lessons come from mistakes," the senior women's basketball player said. "Because my boss has given me so much freedom to figure out assignments on my own, I've been able to mess up and it's OK because I've learned from it for the next time."
LeBeau echoes those feelings.
"It's taught me to be a doer," she said. "If you get small specific instructions, you have to be able to take them on your own and be an independent worker."
These student-athletes were fully prepared to take on their new roles as interns thanks to the assistance of Northwestern Athletics' NU for Life program.
NU for Life is a unique program dedicated to the professional development of Northwestern student-athletes. It provides student-athletes the opportunity to explore professional possibilities by capitalizing on the knowledge and network of former student-athletes, friends of Wildcat Athletics and companies looking to invest in the most talented recent graduates.
Scott Koenning, assistant director of career enhancement and employer relations, summed up NU For Life's role.
"NU for Life helps prepare our student-athletes for success in their internship and job applications as well as in the workplace once on the job," Koenning said. "We also assist in connecting these phenomenal young people with great companies like Wilson."
LeBeau, Peterson, Jones and Douglas acknowledge the benefits of the NU for Life program.
"NU for Life provides so many resources for student-athletes," Peterson said. "I've been fortunate to participate in the Professional Boot Camp where I learned various aspects of the professional world. I have been able to apply that knowledge to my internship with Wilson, and it has been such a positive experience."
"I think the biggest value of NU For Life is that it helps us get experience in the real world," Jones noted.
"We are so proud of Anna, Bri, Joe, and Lauren and happy to have been able to play a small part in their path to these summer internships," Koenning said.
Four Wildcats student-athletes with diverse career aspirations found a shared professional outlet during the summer of 2015, securing unique internships all at the same company in an industry that keeps them close to the world of sports they love.
Northwestern student-athletes Brianna LeBeau, Anna Peterson, Joe Jones and Lauren Douglas landed summer internships in 2015 with Wilson, one of the leading sporting goods companies in the world. Each student-athlete has a different focus within the company, applying their Northwestern education and practical knowledge gained from playing the games they love.
LeBeau, a softball player, is interning with Wilson's marketing department. She has traveled to softball tournaments across the United States, collecting data on the products players are using.
"I've been to Colorado, Georgia and Florida, applying grassroots marketing, research and sales to determine what the softball players like about our products and where we can improve," said LeBeau, a communication studies senior.
Wilson has also afforded the interns the chance to branch out and take on tasks outside their daily responsibilities. In addition to touring softball tournaments, LeBeau is working on the digital and creative side, making banners for the website and sending out email blasts. While LeBeau gathers feedback on Wilson products after they have been purchased, her on-the-field teammate is improving the equipment before it is ever released.
Peterson has been working alongside the golf-innovation team, using the skills gained from her mechanical engineering major and her pursuit of a certificate through the Segal Design Institute.
"I've primarily been doing measurements and analyses of different design aspects of club heads to understand what makes it so successful and what will help a golfer do his or her best," she said.
Like LeBeau, Peterson worked on a project that was outside of her niche, helping to format and write the fitting guide for Wilson's S5 clubs, which will be released in a few months.
Jones didn't take a huge step away from the gridiron in his position as a commercial and product intern with the football department. Working in his first internship, the communication studies and economics double major learned quickly the importance of speaking up.
"Obviously as an intern you have the spot lowest on the totem pole, so a lot of the other interns are hesitant to speak up," Jones said. "I've spoken up to the boss and saw how valuable that was, it's probably one of the biggest takeaways I've gotten so far."
Working with the basketball marketing division, Douglas feels that her internship will contribute to her future internships and jobs.
"I've learned that some of the best lessons come from mistakes," the senior women's basketball player said. "Because my boss has given me so much freedom to figure out assignments on my own, I've been able to mess up and it's OK because I've learned from it for the next time."
LeBeau echoes those feelings.
"It's taught me to be a doer," she said. "If you get small specific instructions, you have to be able to take them on your own and be an independent worker."
These student-athletes were fully prepared to take on their new roles as interns thanks to the assistance of Northwestern Athletics' NU for Life program.
NU for Life is a unique program dedicated to the professional development of Northwestern student-athletes. It provides student-athletes the opportunity to explore professional possibilities by capitalizing on the knowledge and network of former student-athletes, friends of Wildcat Athletics and companies looking to invest in the most talented recent graduates.
Scott Koenning, assistant director of career enhancement and employer relations, summed up NU For Life's role.
"NU for Life helps prepare our student-athletes for success in their internship and job applications as well as in the workplace once on the job," Koenning said. "We also assist in connecting these phenomenal young people with great companies like Wilson."
LeBeau, Peterson, Jones and Douglas acknowledge the benefits of the NU for Life program.
"NU for Life provides so many resources for student-athletes," Peterson said. "I've been fortunate to participate in the Professional Boot Camp where I learned various aspects of the professional world. I have been able to apply that knowledge to my internship with Wilson, and it has been such a positive experience."
"I think the biggest value of NU For Life is that it helps us get experience in the real world," Jones noted.
"We are so proud of Anna, Bri, Joe, and Lauren and happy to have been able to play a small part in their path to these summer internships," Koenning said.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
IF
/ SoftballNorthwestern | Class of 2020
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