Graphic by: Djenebou Traore, Sports Business Conference Club Programming

By: Jalen Hunter, Staff Writer

For the second consecutive year, the Morehouse College Sports Business Conference is back. Since it can be difficult for HBCU students to find careers in sports, the Morehouse College Sports Business Association (MSBA) is organizing their second annual conference to help students network with panelists, other students, and various alumni.

The conference is free for all HBCU students and alumni and will take place on February 22 from 8:45 a.m to 5:30 p.m. It will also take place on Morehouse campus in the Bank of America Auditorium.

Students who are interested in sports have a chance to get employment in sports business thanks to this student-led event. Anthony George and M’kenzie Lumas-Harmon talk about how they want to make a difference and help AUC students gain these opportunities.

“I had the opportunity to do a lot of internships outside of the AUC, so I wanted to bring those connections back to the AUC to make sure everyone else has those same resources,” George said. “Morehouse does not have a sports management major so I wanted to bring the sports and business together.” 

Recently HBCUs have been gaining more recognition within the sports industry. Students throughout the AUC can obtain internships and jobs with the help of several sponsorships, including Nascar, the NBA, NFL, the NHL, and MLB. 

“We started off last year going through our organization (MSBA) and three morehouse alumni who currently work in sports connected us to help bring this conference to life,”Lumas-Harmon said. “They leveraged their connections and we leveraged our connections throughout the group to be able to reach out to so many different companies.”

“Your network is your net worth, I want attendees to learn we have people in the AUC that have these connections and resources,” George said. 

The goal of this event is to give students hands-on experience and knowledge about working in the sports industry. Attendees should be able to gain something from this conference, whether it is a relationship, an internship, or additional information.

“Students should be present in the moment and take in all the skills and knowledge that is presented to them,” said Lumas-Harmon. “Network as much as possible and show that you want to work in sports.” 

“You have to step outside your comfort zone,” George said. “You have to be open to ask questions to someone you may not know, sit with someone you may not know.”

Copy Edited by Rece Allen, Sports Editor