Day 2-Learning about Work Study's

Pictured at the scores table is Cassidy Bonito (RED) a work study during the 2019-2020 school year. Photo Credit: Abbey Athletics

First official day of getting down to business. I find myself working with Brooks Leger the Coordinator of Creative Media and Athletic Communications. Brooks actually shares an office with me on a regular day (prior to covid-19 and its new 6 feet social distancing requirements). Mr. Leger is a Belmont Abbey Alum as he played baseball here during his undergrad. After graduation Brooks was hired as a GA at William Patterson prior to returning to The Abbey as a full time member of the athletic department. Since his return, he has been in charge of 35 work study students for the past 5 years.

Brooks is an extremely busy man as he does the athletic departments social media pages, works as a SID and also announces and broadcasts games. These roles put him at every home game, and has provided him lots of knowledge on the needs and uses of work studys around the department. During our meeting I was informed that the 35 students are broken into many different roles including; team managers, laundry and weight room attendance, official scorers, ball runners, and even DJ's at games. Each student has the opportunity to sign up for given positions, and in order to be work studies, they must be cleared by human resources and meet the needs of the federal work study program. The program is federally funded and pays students to work for the department at no cost to the school. This relationship is mutually beneficial for the school as it helps staff many vital positions while also allowing students to gain work experience and more importantly, money.

The more I talk about the new role, the more excited I get thinking about the management opportunity. Along with it comes the chance to meet 35 new people many of which are athletes at the school. I look forward to the relationships I can build during the wonderful role!