JESSICA WIGER
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES—SPORT, HOSPITALITY & ENTERTAINMENT MANAGEMENT
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA (2012 – 2013)
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION SCIENCES—PUBLIC RELATIONS
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT—MEETINGS & EVENT PLANNING
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA (2008 – 2012)
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
SPORT, HOSPITALITY & ENTERTAINMENT MANAGEMENT
The University of Alabama Sport, Hospitality & Entertainment Management Graduate Program, located within the College of Human Environmental Sciences, is a 30-hour graduate level program designed to give prospective professionals a solid foundation for success in a variety of career functions in the industry. The University of Alabama Sport, Hospitality & Entertainment Management Graduate Program has met the rigorous curriculum standards for Master’s level curricula set forth by the Sport Management Program Review Council (SMPRC). Additionally, the program is endorsed by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM).
I served as an Executive Council Member in the CHES Sport Management Society. Together, the council operates to further the graduate program by organizing and implementing activities including but not limited to the following:
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Professional growth and development
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Mentoring and networking with sport professionals
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Career & job placement
The program holds a unique partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee. The former Director of the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, Glen Werner Roseboom, serves as an adjunct professor in the program teaching the course, “Strategies in Management.” In addition, credits are offered for those who choose to participate in the program’s annual interim term at the U.S. Olympic Committee National Headquarters in Colorado, for a course called “Trends and Issues in Sport Management.” This study of the USOC is an opportunity for students to learn about the Olympic Movement through presentations on international games preparations, sports partnership teams, USOC training center daily operations and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
The program hosts several distinguished lecture series each year to aid students in professional growth, networking and career placement. The series has included professionals from the Dallas Cowboys, NASCAR, Under Armour, U.S. Olympic Committee, Crimson Tide Sports Marketing, NCAA, The Colonnade Group and many more. As a council member, I had the unique privilege to interact with these professionals on a personal level. In addition, the program executes an Annual Sport Management Auction Event to raise funds for the program. I held authority over the “Crimson Area” which included the highest bidding packages. Some of the hot items were authentic signed memorabilia from professional athletes, NFL and MLB season tickets, and media passes for various stadium tours and events.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN
PUBLIC RELATIONS
“Public relations is a proactive, strategic function that strives to mesh the interests of an organization and its publics. Public relations professionals build and maintain those relationships that are essential to the organization’s success—or failure—by applying strategic thinking and effective writing.”
The University of Alabama PR program is one of only 32 university programs in the nation to be Certified in Education for Public Relations (CEPR) by the Public Relations Society of America, the leading professional association.
[For the fifth consecutive year, The University of Alabama’s public relations program is one of five finalists for PR Education Program of the Year, according to national awards compiled by and published in PRWeek magazine. UA’s PR program has been recognized as a finalist all five years PRWeek has included a PR education category in its annual awards program that honors the best corporate, nonprofit, agency and education teams in the industry. The other schools among the five finalists include American University School Of Communication; Georgetown University, School of Continuing Studies; New York University; and Syracuse University.]
During my undergrad, I was involved for several semesters in a campus organization called Capstone Agency. Capstone Agency is The University of Alabama's student-run public relations firm. As a member, I worked with student organizations, local businesses and private parties to better the client's organization both internally and externally. Capstone Agency's services include public relations, communications, advertising, event planning, marketing, crisis management, branding, promotions, fundraising, company management, campaigns, special events and media relations. Through Capstone Agency, I was selected by PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) to represent The University of Alabama in the 2012 Bateman Case Study Competition. The Bateman Case Study Competition is PRSSA's premier national case study competition for public relations students, and the 2012 campaign was on childhood obesity. With strategic planning, our team implemented an effective, positive and empowering campaign called “It’s your move!” that proved to be replicable within our community. We placed top 15 out of 100+ schools and received an honorable mention on the PRSSA website.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
MEETINGS/EVENT PLANNING
The Meetings/Event Planning concentration in the Hospitality Management program offers a variety of courses designed to develop the skills and abilities required for a career in meetings/event planning. The curriculum prepares the student for careers in meeting, convention, and special event management, hotel event services, convention and visitors bureau sales and services, convention center operations, marketing and sales operations.
In the late fall of 2010, I was selected for a scholarship to attend the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Annual Leadership Meeting 2011 in Las Vegas. PCMA is recognized in the meetings industry as the leader in providing high quality education, and represents more than 6,000 meeting industry leaders including corporate and independent meeting professionals, as well as industry suppliers, faculty and students. At the conference I was exposed to the latest industry trends, winning strategies, innovative resources and networking opportunities.
UA Public Relations Campaign Competition Project (PDF)
I Am Second Media Kit (PDF)
As one of our major requirements for my Public Relations Writing course, we were asked to produce a public relations plan and materials for a client of our choice. This media kit I produced for my client, I Am Second, includes: my initial client contact letter, situational analysis, SWOT analysis, press releases, pitch letters, fact sheet, feature press outline, keyword research/search engine optimized web copy, plan for special event and a brochure.
Under Armour Social Media Analysis Project (PDF)
For an assignment I did in my Social Media course, I constructed a comprehensive social media analysis for the organization of my choice, Under Armour. This project includes: organization background, current communication initiatives, social media monitoring through Twitter Advanced Search, Technorati, Google Alerts and various message boards, and a SWOT analysis.