WSU Sport Management Hosts the First Annual
Kansas Sport Summit
The inaugural Kansas Sport Summit was held on Thursday, March 28 at the Rhatigan Student Center, Wichita State University. The Summit was a resounding success, attracting over 155 enthusiastic attendees comprising 110 students from 4 high schools and 5 colleges in Kansas and Nebraska and 45 esteemed practitioners from 15 national and regional organizations. The keynote speaker, Mr. Kevin Saal, the Director of Athletics at WSU Athletics shared insight and knowledge in leadership amid challenging intercollegiate athletics. The Summit served as a dynamic platform for sharing insights, trends, and innovations in the realm of sport and related industries. Attendees engaged in a wide array of discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, fostering valuable connections and partnerships.
We are grateful to the College of Applied Studies for providing a grant to develop the Summit as well as other partners: WSU Athletics, WSU Undergraduate Admission, WSU Career Accelerator, and Shocker Store. The 2nd Summit is tentatively scheduled for April 2025 to serve students, practitioners, and faculty in sport and related fields in Kansas and surrounding areas.
Mark Vermillion, Kansas Sport Summit
Opening Statements
Guest Speakers (L to R) Madison Stein-Mason,
Korey Torgerson, Hans Nickel,
Amber Feldman, and Clay Stoldt
Jeff Noble, Sales and Corporate Sponsorship in Sport
Wichita State University
Keynote Speaker
Panelists for "Trends and Issues in Professional Sports".
Greyson Allen, Brian Hargrove and David Kirk
Panelists for "Sales and Corporate Sponsorship in Sport"
Kansas Sport Summit Career Fair & Networking Event
In addition to hearing speakers discuss the latest topics pertaining to sport, students and attendees were given the opportunity to meet with sport organizations at the Kansas Sport Summit Career Fair and Networking Event. Representatives from 15 local organizations met with students to discuss potential employment opportunities. Peak Sports, Wichita Open, Wichita Wind Surge and Derby Recreation Commission were among those represented.
Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission
Megan Leach
Events Coordinator
Wichita Sports Commission
WSU Sport Management Alumni Highlight: Megan Leach
What is your current position and give a brief overview?
I currently am the Events Coordinator at the Wichita Sports Commission. I am responsible for planning and executing various events that we put on for the community. Our main events are the Prairie Fire Race Series, Wichita Corporate Challenge, NBC Baseball World Series, Greater Wichita Sports Banquet, and the Wichita Turkey Trot. My day-to-day responsibilities include planning event operations, coordinating facilities, recruiting event volunteers, and overseeing developing timelines to execute a successful event.
Was this career path on your radar since you graduated? If not, speak on how you came across this position.
My main goal during college was to secure a job in Event Management/Operations. During college, I was able to work for the Wichita Open where I learned to love the operational side of sports. From planning the event months ahead to getting your hands dirty setting up the event, I quickly found that my passion for sports was in Operations. Read more
Mark Vermillion named CAS Service Award Winner
Mark Vermillion, who serves as the Chair of the Department of Sport and Leadership Studies, has been named the winner of this year's Service Award by the College of Applied Studies. This award acknowledges the activities and initiatives that have a significant impact on the university and educational community, ranging from the departmental to the national level. Congratulations Dr. Vermillion on this well-deserved recognition!