Two alumni from the Millersville University Sport Management master’s degree program Ron Kennedy ’07 and Jessica Shellenberger ’14 presented a one-hour panel workshop on Bullying and Hazing in Sport as part of Lancaster General Health – 9th Annual Coaches Clinic held March 8, 2014. Co-presenting with the Millersville graduates was Patricia Epps, Director of Athletics & Recreation at Franklin and Marshall College.
Ron kicked-off the presentation by providing the audience with current data about the crisis in sport involving bullying and hazing. He related the topic to a recent situation involving the Miami Dolphins professional football team, and then discussed a few of his experiences as the Athletic Director at Donegal High School and what he has learned serving as Chair of District III and PIAA Board Member. He did an excellent job garnering audience participation having the attendees share their personal experiences on the issue and by offering potential solutions for each of their situations.
Jessica followed next by discussing her experiences as a NCAA Division I student-athlete having been hazed during an initiation ritual when she played college sports. She described how those negative experiences in college helped shape her views in creating positive team-building strategies for all student-athletes. As the Head Field Hockey Coach at Donegal High School, Jessica did a terrific job in helping the audience better understand why it is so important for coaches to implement a plan that will prevent their athletes from being stigmatized.
Together with Ms. Epps, both Ron and Jessica provided the participants with several proven sport management approaches for addressing this key issue in athletics today.
Another alumnus of the M.Ed. in Sport Management program also having an important role in this year’s clinic was Lea Vandegrift ’11. Lea was the representative for Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster (OAL) with whom she is employed serving as an athletic trainer at Manheim Township High School. Lea staffed the OAL display area and answered numerous questions about sports medicine services available through her employer.
It was such a joy to observe and listen to my former students and advisee, having taught them in the WSSD 601: Organization and Administration in Sport Programs and EDFN 601: Research Methods courses. Seeing them giving back to the Sport Management profession and witnessing the strong and significant roles each of them is playing in the local community was quite meaningful.
