Luke Elliot

During my time with the New York Islanders, I worked on a variety of tasks related to community relations, fan development and the Islanders Children’s Foundation. However, my main project focused on strengthening the team’s kids club, community events tour, and street hockey and street league programs. At the conclusion of my internship, I produced and presented a report that demonstrated the research I performed across all 31 other NHL teams. As part of the report, I offered suggestions of program growth opportunities and potential corporate partnerships. In addition to my primary project, I worked with other programs related to community relations and fan development. These include the military hero of the game, Hockey with a Heart, reading leaders, fan mail, the 16th Annual Golf Outing presented by UBS benefiting the Islanders Children’s Foundation and more.

Having only previously worked for a minor league team, I was surprised by the scale of the Islanders office. I learned a great deal about the collaboration it takes between many people with different backgrounds and interests to provide robust and effective programming. I was also able to learn more about the essential nature of community work for private businesses both with the Islanders and with external stakeholders I was able to work with. This solidified a lot of the things I have learned in both my citizenship and civic engagement and my public relations classes here at Syracuse.

This internship program confirmed my desire to continue working in the sports industry. Something we are tasked with as students – particularly in the CCE program – is how to balance finding work that brings out our passions, supports our livelihoods and benefits our communities. Regardless of where I end up in the next few years, I have a better understanding now of the possibilities that can come from partnerships between a variety of private, public and nonprofit stakeholders. I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to explore all three of these aspects as I prepare to begin my last year at Syracuse University.