Left to right: Connor Barry, senior sports management major; Dylan Sims, senior recreation administration major; and Justus Kowalski, senior exercise science major.Three seniors in the Division of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER) at Delta State University have earned internships to fulfill their capstone projects: sports management major Connor Barry, exercise science major Justus Kowalski, and recreation administration major Dylan Sims. Here’s a bit about them.
Connor Barry
Senior sports management major from Poplarville, MS
Internship: Tahoe City Parks and Recreation Department
Excited about: “It’ll be interesting and a good opportunity for me, especially as a paid internship and lodging will be provided, so I can just worry about being in the moment in my internship and not about rent, housing, etc. I felt that a job in parks and recreation, within a sporting culture, might be a more stable career choice, and certainly an interesting one. This opportunity, I’m hoping, will provide me new professional growth experiences and outlets and contacts for future career choices.”
HPER influence: “Taking outdoor recreation courses has helped prepare me for the introduction to teaching aspect, group dynamics, and also the hard skills of backpacking and kayaking. I’m not as nervous being outside and doing these kinds of things. The outdoor recreation program has allowed me to be confident in these types of adventure activities.”
Justus Kowalski
Senior exercise science major from Marks, MS
Internship: Mississippi State University Athletics, strength and conditioning program (soccer, volleyball, track and field, tennis, golf, and softball)
Excited about: “I’m passionate about sports and wellness, so this is an awesome fit. I’m a huge Bulldogs fan, and this is a dream internship come true, besides the fact they are a large-scale strength and conditioning program for a DI university. I’m really excited about working with the athletes at MSU and getting a chance to see the behind-the-scenes involved with athletic strength and conditioning programs at the highest collegiate level.”
HPER influence: “I’ve enjoyed working out and this program has helped me learn and understand the fundamentals behind the need to be fit and healthy. My opportunity to internship for MSU was a goal of mine and I was able to reach the right person and make it happen. I couldn’t be more excited for this and am glad DSU exercise science helped.”
Dylan Sims
Senior recreation administration from Oxford, MS
Internship: North Idaho College Outdoor Pursuits
Excited about: “I am excited about the depth of knowledge I will be walking away from this internship with. I recognize that this is a rare opportunity to build upon my skills and experience, and I intend on immersing myself in the culture and energy of this program to ensure I will learn and develop the most. I am nervous, but excited, about the exposure I will receive in winter sports; being from the deep South, I’ve never had this experience yet.”
HPER influence: “While many of the trips that I will be leading and preparing for NIC are different than DSU, the structure is very similar to my current role in work study for the outdoor recreation program. I believe that my current experiences at Delta State have provided me with the passion and energy to seek out opportunities such as the one I am about to undergo.”
