Even a four-year college athlete and star student can use someone in their corner. For AaronSmith, that person is MaryBeth Lennox-Levins.
"We are lucky enough in this Athletic Leadership program to have a coordinator and professor like Marybeth. She strives every day to help us and her undergrad students be set up to find employment in the sports industry," Smith said. "Having someone like her in my corner gives me all of the confidence in the world to apply to any job that I feel is within reach."
Smith grew up in Middlebury and earned a bachelor's degree in Sports Administration with Coaching and Business minors in 2018. He said he had always wanted to play baseball at Castleton and knew it was the perfect fit when he saw the incredible Sport Management program.
Smith has always felt incredibly comfortable at Castleton. Seeing familiar faces each day and the personal learning experiences make him feel his voice is heard.
"I have created long-lasting friendships with people all over campus, and for me coming back to Castleton was an offer that was just too good to pass up," Smith said. "Looking back, as my final year is coming to a close here at Castleton, I can say with confidence that this institution gave me the highest chance to succeed in the sports industry and I look forward to pursuing all of my goals in this profession."
Now, Smith is a graduate student in the Athletic Leadership program. He said that the fully online schedule of the Athletic Leadership program fits into his busy schedule, making it a convenient option.
"We have professors in this program who work collectively to provide students with the best experience in post-graduate education," Smith said. "The program does not have in-person classes or set class Zoom meetings like an undergrad program. The workload is manageable but challenging and gives any student a full scope of how every area of an athletic department runs."
Smith highly recommends that graduates continue their education.
"To someone who is looking into the idea of graduate school, I would say that if you can find a program that continues your education to absolutely go for it. If you have an opportunity to become a graduate assistant somewhere, it is an experience that one shouldn't pass up. It will lead you perfectly into the professional world and give you the connections necessary to pursue the career you're hoping for."
For Smith, his six years at Castleton have been marked by hands-on experience, whether it was undergraduate internships or working games as a graduate student.
"The opportunities to learn from all areas of athletic departments have been my favorite part about my time at Castleton. I have learned so much and been mentored by so many knowledgeable leaders within the industry," Smith said. "I hope that people who follow my footsteps through the Castleton undergrad and graduate programs have the same experience that I have had. I owe all of my future successes in this industry to Marybeth Lennox-Levins, Deanna Tyson, and all of the other mentors I have been lucky to learn from."