SAN DIEGO- Aztecs Going Pro gathered student-athletes, companies, and donors on Thursday, August 14, at Snapdragon Stadium to recognize the student-athletes who participated in summer internal and external internships. The Internship Celebration marked the second annual event honoring the hard work and dedication of student-athletes over the summer.
“The Internship Celebration is one of my favorite events of the year because it highlights the incredible dedication of our student-athletes both in and out of sport,” said Danielle Kelly, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support Services. “We are so grateful to the supervisors and companies who open their doors to our student-athletes and provide these meaningful opportunities. Their support allows our Aztecs to gain valuable real-world experience, build professional skills, and represent SDSU Athletics with excellence.”
This summer was an outstanding period for the Aztecs Going Pro Summer Internship Program, with 34 student-athlete interns participating. Twenty-one student-athletes interned internally with San Diego State Athletics, while 13 gained experience externally with various San Diego companies, including Cetera and Palomar Insurance.
Student-athletes who interned internally:
- Academics: Cara Braun (Volleyball)
- Athletics Administration: Jo-Yee Chan (Women’s Tennis)
- Aztec Wellness: Ally Dueker (Softball) & Madison Corf (Volleyball)
- Development: Keira Herron (Volleyball)
- Facilities & Operations: Emily Van Valkenburg (Cross Country) & Aji Mbye (Track & Field)
- Human Resources: Emily Tenczar (Swim & Dive)
- LEADS: Ninon Martinache (Women’s Tennis)
- Legends: Karoline Lundstrom (Women’s Soccer)
- Marketing & Promotions: Samantha Wood (Cross Country)
- Media Relations: Shannon Cunningham (Softball)
- NIL: Gianna Bender (Volleyball) & Kaila Pollard (Softball)
- People & Culture: Sydney Gish (Water Polo)
- Strength & Conditioning: Olivia Hicks (Track & Field) & Madeleine Heller (Cross Country)
- Student-Athlete Development/AGP (Marketing/Programming): Edgar Vargas (Men’s Soccer) Tiaare Ahovelo (Water Polo) & Gloria Alogo (Women’s Tennis)
- Ticketing: Charlotte Sevin (Swim & Dive)
Student-athletes who interned externally:
Cetera
- Internal Audit: Jordan Korbus (Men’s Soccer) & Takiyah Blue (Track & Field)
- Controls: Charlie Gerson (Women’s Soccer) & Christian Jones (Football)
- RIA: David (DJ) Herman (Football)
- IT Planning Jr. Analyst: Lorenzo Hernandez (Men’s Soccer)
- Financial Planning: Dylan Presto (Men’s Soccer)
- HR Operations: Megan Holcomb (Water Polo)
- Project Management: Elizabeth Mulligan (Track & Field) & Gabriel Plasencia (Football)
Palomar
- Business Operations: Alyssa Jackson (Women’s Basketball)
Northrop Grumman
- Grace Goins (Women’s Soccer)
Harvey Construction
- Tyson Chavez (Football)
“Tangible work experience is a key component of our efforts to ensure student-athletes are competitive when they transition into the workforce,” said Brenden Hill, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and NIL. “This year’s cohort did a great job representing AGP and continued to raise the bar for the internship program.”
Supervisors and donors were also recognized for their ongoing commitment to the Aztecs Going Pro Summer Internship Program. Their support ensures student-athletes are provided with meaningful opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.
The Summer Internship Program serves as a cornerstone of the university’s comprehensive four-year student-athlete development initiative. This initiative is guided by three foundational pillars: personal growth, career development, and civic engagement. Through these experiences, student-athletes are equipped with the skills and resources necessary to achieve success beyond the playing field.
Check out our website or Instagram for more information and to stay connected with Aztecs Going Pro.