It started as a conversation between friends. A memory from the Ecuadorian Amazon. A question asked after a trip that left them curious about guayusa, a leaf long consumed by Indigenous communities for focus and energy. It had become months of supplier calls, product tests, faculty feedback, formulation decisions and late nights spent figuring out how to turn a shared vision into something real.

Now, the plant-based energy drink they built together is ready for distribution and is being sold at The Oak House at Elon.

For Vargas-Lopez and Chiriboga, the milestone carries them back to McEwen Dining Hall on campus, where their friendship began during their first year at Elon in 2022.

Chiriboga, an entrepreneurship major from Quito, Ecuador, and Vargas-Lopez, a sport management major from Austin, Texas, quickly connected over language, culture, soccer and a shared curiosity about the world. They became close friends long before they became business partners.

The idea for YAPA came later, after Chiriboga brought Vargas-Lopez to visit his home country during Thanksgiving break of their sophomore year. It was Vargas-Lopez鈥檚 first time in South America, and the trip included time in the Amazon rainforest, where the two were struck by what Chiriboga describes as the 鈥渋mmensity鈥� of the Amazon, from its abundance of life to the plants that have long shaped daily living in the region.

鈥淲e came back from visiting the Amazon forest and were just talking through the trip,鈥� Vargas-Lopez says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when the idea came out. What if we took one of those plants and built a drink around it?鈥�

That question became YAPA, a plant-based energy drink made from guayusa and a larger idea of giving people something more than expected.

The company鈥檚 name comes from an Andean expression. In Ecuador, 鈥測apa鈥� refers to a small token added with generosity. At a market, it might be an extra piece of fruit. At a family table, it might be a little more food on someone鈥檚 plate.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little extra you were not expecting,鈥� Chiriboga says. 鈥淭hat is what we want the product to feel like.鈥�

Building From the Ground Up

Once the idea took hold, Vargas-Lopez and Chiriboga began studying the beverage industry, talking with community members in Ecuador, seeking feedback from mentors and testing whether their concept could become a real business.

They were drawn to the growing interest in cleaner, more transparent beverage options.

鈥淚 think the issue we were looking at was the energy drink industry and what a lot of those products contain,鈥� Chiriboga says. 鈥淲e saw people looking more for clean-label, natural ingredients and more transparency in what they consume.鈥�

That focus helped define YAPA鈥檚 direction. They describe the drink as plant-based and made without preservatives, with an emphasis on ingredient transparency, quality and sourcing. Its ingredients include guayusa along with hibiscus, turmeric, ginger, prebiotics and electrolytes, each chosen with a purpose.

For the founders, the product also carries a connection to the place that inspired it.

We came back from visiting the Amazon forest and were just talking through the trip. That鈥檚 when the idea came out. What if we took one of those plants and built a drink around it?聽鈥斅燘ernardo Vargas-Lopez 鈥�26

In the Amazon, Chiriboga says, guayusa is traditionally consumed in community. People gather early in the morning, drink together and share their dreams before beginning the day. The leaf is associated with focus and energy, but not the jittery rush often linked with conventional energy drinks.

鈥淚t gives you that mental clarity and that energy that you need without being hyper,鈥� Chiriboga says.

Turning that inspiration into a company required more than enthusiasm. The two spent months working through sourcing, formulation, packaging, shipping, pricing and compliance while balancing college life.

They also made early decisions about where they would not compromise, even when higher standards meant harder financial choices.

鈥淲e decided there were a few strategic points where we would not go for lower quality,鈥� Chiriboga says. 鈥淪tarting from ingredients and sourcing, we were not going to sacrifice what the product stands for.鈥�

Asking the Right Questions

Both founders say their experience in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business gave them the confidence to approach YAPA not as a finished idea, but as something to test, refine and keep improving.

They turned to faculty members including Sean McMahon, professor of entrepreneurship; Elena Kennedy, associate professor of entrepreneurship; and Brittany Mercado, associate professor of management and chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship.

鈥淭he ability to communicate clearly with people who know a lot more than we do has been huge,鈥� Vargas-Lopez says. 鈥淭he Love School of Business does an amazing job of making professors approachable.鈥�

As YAPA developed, informal conversations became intentional. They stayed after class, brought specific questions to faculty and connected what they were learning in their courses to the choices they were making for the company. The feedback was not always easy, and that was part of its value.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 need people to just cheerlead,鈥� Vargas-Lopez says. 鈥淲e need people who will tell us what worked, what didn鈥檛 and how to improve. That鈥檚 what has really helped us move forward.鈥�

Their time studying abroad also shaped the venture. Chiriboga was in Japan while
Vargas-Lopez was in Australia, making day-to-day operations difficult, so they used the distance to listen.

鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 really work on operations, so the only thing we could do was talk to people,鈥� Chiriboga says.

They spoke with people in the Amazon, professionals at large companies and mentors in finance, gathering insight before returning to campus.

鈥淲e were sponges during that time,鈥� Chiriboga says. 鈥淲e just gathered as much information as we could.鈥�

A Friendship First

Before they were co-founders, Vargas-Lopez and Chiriboga were friends. They built the kind of trust that later became essential to starting a company together. When one person could not take on a task, the other stepped in. When the work became overwhelming, the friendship helped steady them.

鈥淚f I cannot do something right now, I know Juan Daniel can do it, and vice versa,鈥� Vargas-Lopez says. 鈥淭hat trust was built before the business.鈥�

Living together strengthened that rhythm. It also taught them the importance of boundaries.

鈥淲e鈥檝e gotten really good at knowing when to talk business and when not to,鈥� Chiriboga says. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 not working time, we try to focus on being friends and being present with other people.鈥�

For Vargas-Lopez, the partnership has been less about dividing every task evenly and more about sharing responsibility over time.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not always 50-50 all the time,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut we know we鈥檙e in this together, and that makes it easier to handle everything that comes up.鈥�

For Chiriboga, building YAPA with his best friend has been one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more grateful that my best friend is also my business partner,鈥� he says.

Now based in Austin, Vargas-Lopez and Chiriboga are carrying YAPA into its next stage. The venture that started as a conversation between friends has become something people can open, taste and share.

The process has changed how they think about risk, learning and what it means to build something from scratch. It has also reinforced the value of starting before everything feels certain.

鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to start,鈥� Chiriboga says. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 believe in yourself, no one else will.鈥�

Vargas-Lopez says the venture has taught him to stay open to what others know and humble enough to keep asking questions.

鈥淯se your resources,鈥� he says. 鈥淎sk questions. Learn from every conversation. We haven鈥檛 had a single meeting where we didn鈥檛 learn something.鈥�

The article, 鈥�,鈥� was published Sept. 8 in the Journal of Sport Management, a leading scholarly journal in the sport management field. Dabbs and Burton collaborated on the research with Jeffrey Graham of Texas A&M University and Anton Schulz of Texas Tech University.

Using in-depth interviews with 16 women NCAA head coaches, the researchers explored how coaches responded to unexpected career-defining moments, primarily termination or institutional investigations. Their analysis identified three interconnected themes: an abrupt and isolating separation from the professional world; an attack on personal and professional identity; and lasting consequences affecting finances, health, families and future plans.

Rather than viewing forced job loss simply as a professional transition, the research frames the experience as a broader life crisis and points to the need for more humane off-boarding practices within sport organizations, including compassionate communication and access to independent mental health, financial and career-transition resources.

鈥淭his topic is important to me because the experiences of women coaches following an investigation or forced exit are rarely discussed openly,鈥� Dabbs said. 鈥淭hese women entrusted us with deeply personal stories about losing not only their jobs, but also their professional identities, financial security, relationships, and sense of belonging.鈥�

Dabbs said she hopes the findings will draw greater attention to the experiences of women coaches and encourage sport organizations to reconsider how they handle difficult career transitions.

鈥淚 wanted this research to give them a voice, shed light on a serious problem within college coaching, and encourage sport organizations to develop more ethical and humane exit strategies,鈥� she said.

The publication also represents the culmination of a faculty-student research collaboration between Dabbs and Burton, who worked on the project while an Elon student. Burton played a pivotal role in the study鈥檚 qualitative data analysis, working with the 16 interview transcripts and collaborating with the research team to examine, code and organize the coaches鈥� experiences into the themes ultimately presented in the article.

Dabbs mentored Burton throughout the process, teaching her how to conduct qualitative data analysis and write the methodology section of a scholarly article.

鈥淗er careful engagement with the participants鈥� stories contributed meaningfully to both the rigor of the analysis and the development of the manuscript,鈥� Dabbs said.

For Dabbs, Burton鈥檚 involvement illustrates the value of providing students opportunities to participate directly in research. Such collaborations allow students to apply concepts learned in the classroom while gaining firsthand experience with how scholarly research is conducted and developed.

鈥淭hey learn to work carefully with evidence, recognize patterns, question their assumptions, and communicate findings responsibly,鈥� she added.

Another benefit? The experience can also reshape how students view their own place within an academic and professional community.

鈥淪tudents gain confidence from knowing that their work can contribute to meaningful conversations in their field,鈥� Dabbs said. 鈥淢entored research helps them see themselves not only as students, but also as scholars and professionals whose ideas and contributions matter.鈥�

A new chapter in 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 global sport education programming officially began Sept. 7 in Pistoia, Italy.

Five Elon students arrived in the Tuscan city as the inaugural cohort participating in the university鈥檚 partnership with Lumos Pistoia Basket 2000, a professional basketball organization, and the Accademia Europea di Firenze (AEF). Their arrival was marked by a from the club as the students prepare to begin a semester combining study abroad with hands-on experience in the professional sport industry.

As part of their initial visit, the students explored Pistoia鈥檚 historic center before making their way to LumoSquare, the 3,835-seat home of Pistoia Basket and a growing community hub. Accompanied by Professor Marco Bracci and Elisabetta Santanni, academic director of AEF/福利亚洲国产精品 in Florence, the group toured the facility, met members of the club staff, and received a personal welcome from Pistoia Basket President Joseph Mark David.

The visit offered the students their first look at the organization, where they will soon become part of the day-to-day operations. Beginning in mid-September, they will work alongside Pistoia Basket staff on projects involving sport management, marketing and social media.

鈥淭his experience is over a year in the making and couldn’t have come together without the amazing work of our partners at AEF, especially Elisabetta Santanni and Marco Bracci,鈥� said David Bockino, professor of sport management. 鈥淎s we launch the partnership this semester, we’re already discussing how to make it accessible to more students moving forward. The reception on campus has been great 鈥� we have students lining up to participate in the future.鈥�

A global professional experience

Announced last fall, Elon鈥檚 partnership with AEF and Pistoia Basket was developed in collaboration with the Department of Sport Management to expand experiential learning opportunities for students studying in Florence. It combines two hallmarks of an Elon education 鈥� global engagement and professional experience 鈥� placing students inside a European professional sport organization while they study abroad.

鈥淭his experience was the logical next step as Elon grows its sport-related experiences,鈥� Bockino said. 鈥淎s a university, we’re great at study abroad and at helping our students get internships. Why not put those two together? When these students eventually hit the job market, they’ll arrive with a true resume differentiator: an internship with a professional Italian basketball club that allows them to better understand sport from a global perspective.鈥�

As part of a mentored, two-credit internship with Pistoia Basket, students will spend approximately 10 hours each week gaining practical experience in event operations, fan engagement, marketing, communications and social media. Their responsibilities will be tailored to their academic backgrounds and professional interests.

For example, students interested in media analytics may evaluate the club鈥檚 social media performance, while students studying sport management or strategic communications will work to increase Pistoia Basket鈥檚 visibility among college students studying abroad in Florence. Participants will also meet regularly with accompanying professors and complete applied and reflection-based assignments.

The cohort will also contribute to a video storytelling project designed to introduce Pistoia Basket to new audiences in the United States. Funded by the Elon Innovation Council and coordinated through Elon鈥檚 Sports Media Lab and Elon Sports Vision, the project will use footage captured by the students to tell the story of Pistoia鈥檚 2026-27 season. According to Bockino, the resulting videos are expected to appear on Elon social media channels and during Elon Athletics broadcasts.

This fall鈥檚 inaugural cohort includes Robbie Pataky ’28, a strategic communications major; Amelia Weaver ’28, a sport management and media analytics double major; Riley Greenwald ’28, a sport management major; Olivia Tichnor ’28, a marketing major; and Max Edelstein ’28, a sport management major.

can vividly remember the exhilaration of running onto the field this past weekend with the University of Pittsburgh football team, gimbal in hand, as more than 40,000 fans roared around him.

What happened next is a little hazier.

鈥淚 essentially blacked out on adrenaline for the first 10 minutes of game action,鈥� Henneman laughed.

It was Henneman鈥檚 first game day working on the sidelines for Pitt football 鈥� and a surreal introduction to his new role as the program鈥檚 assistant director of creative content.

The Elon alumnus was there to capture an up-close look at Pitt鈥檚 season-opening 59-14 victory over Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 5. Once the final whistle sounded, his responsibilities only grew. Henneman took the lead editing 鈥溾�� Pitt鈥檚 long-running video series that tells the story of a victory through behind-the-scenes content.

For Henneman, the assignment represented another milestone in a professional journey that has moved quickly.

His path to Pitt began shortly after his May 2025 graduation from Elon, where he majored in journalism and built a portfolio that stretched well beyond traditional reporting.

As a student, Henneman worked with Rising Phoenix and Elon Athletics video production. He also spent nearly two years interning with The Burlington School, chronicling its high-level prep basketball program. Following graduation, he continued sharpening his skills as a videographer with the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Those experiences ultimately led him to Pittsburgh.

In January, Henneman initially joined Pitt Athletics as an assistant director of video production, creating content across the university鈥檚 athletics programs. After six months, he accepted a position supporting Pitt football. But Henneman wasn鈥檛 quite ready to give up basketball.

He negotiated a hybrid role that allows him to remain the secondary video contact for Pitt men鈥檚 basketball.

鈥淚 couldn’t get myself to leave my basketball roots behind,鈥� Henneman said.

Being a major content contributor for both programs, he said, is a 鈥渄ream come true.鈥� It has also brought considerably more responsibility.

While the football staff was away during July, Henneman filmed basketball summer workouts, helped lead the rollout of new NIL initiatives for Pitt Athletics, and traveled to New York City to cover volleyball standout Olivia Babcock at the Collegiate Women Sports Awards.

Then came football season.

When fall camp opened in August, Henneman鈥檚 days regularly stretched from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. He produced short-form content from daily practices and longer-form mic鈥檇-up features while documenting the weeks leading into the season.

“Practically living in the facility gave me an eye-opening perspective of the upper echelon of college athletics.”

鈥� Cap Henneman 鈥�25

Amid that demanding schedule came one of his biggest opportunities.

At the end of fall camp, Henneman spent a week shooting and editing the 鈥溾�� his first true 鈥減assion project鈥� since arriving at Pitt. The finished video was shown at the program鈥檚 kickoff luncheon and student bonfire pep rally, played on the stadium scoreboard before the season opener, and released on social media.

Creating a longer, storytelling-driven piece reminded Henneman of the projects he pursued at Elon.

鈥淚t was refreshing to create a storytelling-centric piece that I could be proud of,鈥� Henneman said.

That same approach carried into his first football Saturday.

After documenting Pitt鈥檚 season-opening victory, Henneman shifted almost immediately from capturing the story to assembling it. For 鈥溾�� he storyboarded the video and constructed its game-action sequences, working alongside colleagues who handled the introduction, graphics, color grading and sound effects.

There was also a tighter turnaround. The popular series, previously released on Wednesdays, was now due Monday.

鈥淒espite the lack of social life and free time that football season brings, I can confidently say I am doing something that I truly love,鈥� Henneman said. 鈥淚 feel like I have found my footing within the creative team, and look to keep improving as the season moves forward.鈥�

The students have already been immersed in their new city, where they met alumni at the Queen City Connections ice cream social and heard from local alumni about living and working in Charlotte. Several former Study USA Charlotte participants attended, some of whom now work full-time for the organizations where they interned as students in the program.

Students completed a scavenger hunt to familiarize themselves with the Queen City, public transit and major landmarks. They also conducted test runs to their internship sites, many of which are located along the light rail, which provides easy access from South End to Uptown, and into the university area.聽Since many students are living in an apartment without a meal plan for the first time, they participated in a cooking class to learn meal preparation basics.

Cara Picariello ’28 sees this fall as an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.

鈥淟iving in a city is something that I have never experienced before, so I wanted to take聽full advantage of the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and experience a different lifestyle,” said Picariello. “In addition, Charlotte is a rapidly growing sports hub with many career opportunities, and I wanted to build connections and gain experience in the area before graduating.鈥�

Aidan Sweeney ’28聽also understands聽the many benefits of this program. 鈥淚 wanted to experience living in a big city while also working and furthering my career. I came in knowing very few聽people, but I’ve already became friends with everyone by exploring the city together or finding a room to chat in with people.鈥�

Five classes are offered this fall: Sport Sales and Promotion, College Athletics Administration, Sports and Media,聽Event and Venue Management, and an internship course. Students are required to complete 320 hours at their internship.

Students are interning with a variety of organizations including the Big South Conference, NASCAR, Sports Business Journal, Charlotte Knights, Charlotte Checkers, the National Junior College Athletic Association, the Atlantic Coast Conference and more.

Daniel Towery ’28 signed up for the Study USA Charlotte Sport and Community聽Experience program because 鈥渋t’s the perfect way to combine classroom learning and real-world experience in the sports industry. I am especially excited to intern with both the Charlotte Knights and the ACC Football Game Day Operations Center to continue to develop my hands-on professional skills. Exploring the city and making memories with my cohort has already made this semester unforgettable.鈥�

Griffin Conway ’28聽is聽excited about the聽program because it gives him the聽鈥渙pportunity to get an early start on my professional career, while balancing academic courses and living in a city.鈥�

鈥淚’m looking forward to my internship with ACC’s Student-Athlete Programs and getting to learn the ins and outs of how a big organization works,” Conway said. “Over the past week since I started, I have met and networked with so many wonderful people through events that Elon has provided, and I’m very excited for the rest of the semester!鈥�

Components of a fall Study USA experience include housing, academic courses, internship, enrichment activities and networking opportunities with alumni and industry professionals. Contact Study USA with any questions at global@elon.edu, 336-278-6700 or www.elon.edu/studyusa. Applications for the inaugural spring Study USA Charlotte program are currently open, while applications for fall 2027 are accepted Sept. 1-Dec. 1. Enrollment is limited. Non-Elon students are invited to apply.

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While many students are away for the summer, July remained a busy month at 福利亚洲国产精品. Student researchers shared the results of projects driven by curiosity and purpose, high school students experienced campus through summer programs and the university continued to welcome visitors for camps and community events. Take a look back at some of the month鈥檚 highlights through the eyes of the staff in University Communications.

Elon Engage

The Engage program at Elon provides an opportunity for incoming students to spend a week on campus before their first semester, learning more about the university and volunteering in the local community. It is聽one of Elon鈥檚聽First-Year Summer Experience (FSE)聽programs, which聽gives incoming Elon students a preview of the university during the summer before their first semester

Adventures in Leadership

Another FSE program, Adventures in Leadership, allows incoming first-year students to explore the outdoors across North Carolina.

A combined College Coffee

Elon faculty and staff visited Queens University for a day of collaborative learning, professional development and Queens’ first-ever College Coffee event fostering connection and community between both institutions.

Research together

More than 50 福利亚洲国产精品 and Queens University of Charlotte students came together for the annual Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations on July 23 in Schar Hall.

The largest Odyssey

福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚聽Odyssey Program welcomed its largest cohort in history during Odyssey Week, a collection of events that introduces the students to the scholarship program and college life.

Phoenix Summer

福利亚洲国产精品 hosted its inaugural Phoenix Summer residential camp this month for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in preparing for the transition to college.

Twenty-six students participated in Phoenix Summer, held July 6-17 on Elon鈥檚 campus, where they immersed themselves in hands-on, college-style academics while fostering curiosity, community and independence.

Off-the-Court

Seven incoming first-year students explored careers in the sport industry this summer through the Off-the-Court First Year Summer Experience, an immersive program designed to help students discover where they fit in the business of sport before declaring a major.

Led by sport management faculty members Cara Lucia and Khirey Walker, participants toured Elon Athletics facilities, connected with alumni in Charlotte, toured Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights, and visited organizations such as the Carolina Core Elite Training Center and the Burlington Sock Puppets, gaining firsthand insight into the many career paths within the sport industry.

Calling the biggest fan of 鈥淭he Joe Murray Show,鈥� 98.5 The Sports Hub鈥檚 weeknight program, might be an understatement. The sport management major estimates she tuned in to the Boston-based program nearly 300 times last year. So, when the station offered her an internship this summer, she knew it was the perfect fit.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a really well-rounded internship, and that鈥檚 what I think is truly going to help me,鈥� the aspiring sports broadcaster said.

While Marchand鈥檚 shift at the radio station doesn鈥檛 start until 6 p.m., she has her hands full with a wide range of duties the rest of the night. She answers incoming calls from listeners, assists with the station’s YouTube stream and creates graphics for social media. But what excites her the most is the chance to go live on the air.

鈥淭hat’s probably the biggest opportunity I’ve had,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s really nice that they trust me to go on the radio with thousands of people listening.鈥�

Early in the internship, the show’s producer wrote an entire segment for Marchand, giving her the chance to discuss the New England Patriots on the air. A few weeks later, she was helping the station’s social media team cover one of the most consequential days in Boston sports, following the Celtics’ blockbuster trade of Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Those opportunities grew from a connection Marchand had pursued long before the internship began.

Because internships at 98.5 The Sports Hub aren’t publicly posted, Marchand said networking is essential. In fact, when Marchand initially sent Joe Murray a message on LinkedIn during her freshman year, securing an internship wasn鈥檛 on her mind.

鈥淔unny enough, he left me on ‘read’ the first time I messaged him,鈥� Marchand said. 鈥淎 year later, I reached out again and said, 鈥楬ey, I waited a year. I’d still love to find time to chat. I know you’re really busy.鈥� The second time, he answered.鈥�

When he finally responded, Murray asked a question that changed everything.

鈥淒o you know Katie Bennert?鈥� he wrote back, referencing the 2024 Elon graduate who both interned and worked at the station. Marchand had never met the Elon alumna, but had heard positive things about her from friends involved with Elon Sports Vision. That shared Elon connection prompted Murray to invite Marchand to tour the studio over Winter Break. That鈥檚 when he offered her a spot to join his production team.

鈥淚 decided that this would be the best opportunity for me, working at a major market Boston sports radio station, and it’s been amazing,鈥� she said.

While her internship began this summer, Marchand is no stranger to sports broadcasting. During her first two years at Elon, she has contributed to more than 50 Elon Sports Vision broadcasts as a play-by-play announcer, sideline reporter and more. This past year, she became the youngest of three student hosts to call Elon Division I football games on the radio and co-hosted her own sports radio show with Scott Katz 鈥�26. She has also worked more than 90 shifts with Elon Athletics, gaining additional behind-the-scenes experience in game-day operations.

鈥淏eing able to have that on my resume at just 19 years old, where a lot of people may not have those opportunities 鈥� I think that that’s really what Elon has helped me with,鈥� Marchand said. 鈥淚 don’t think I would have gotten those opportunities anywhere else.鈥�

At Elon, Marchand has sharpened her on-air delivery and become comfortable working in a studio environment. Now she’s learning how to be more creative producing content centered on sports conversations rather than live competition. She’s also learning to separate her professional responsibilities from her passion as a fan.

Growing up just an hour outside Boston, Marchand has been a fan of the city’s professional sports teams since she was young. In August, she’ll attend Patriots training camp to capture photos and create content for the station.

“You do have to separate being a fan from your professional work, so I can’t fangirl over them when I’m there,” she said. “I have to be professional.”

While Marchand’s own initiative opened the door at 98.5 The Sports Hub, she credits the guidance she received at Elon with helping her walk through it. Assistant Professor of Sport Management Khirey Walker, in particular, played an important role in her internship search.

鈥淗e is just one of the most passionate, hardworking, selfless and kind people that I know at Elon,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e will literally drop anything to help any of his students.鈥�

This fall, Marchand will continue her journey through The Sport Experience in Charlotte, where she’ll live, intern and study while expanding her experience in one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports business markets.

Over the past two decades, the Elon alumna has built a career at the intersection of sports, philanthropy, entrepreneurship and social impact. She began in professional sports, working with the U.S. Golf Open and in hockey before joining the Commissioner’s Office of Major League Baseball. She later helped drive scale and impact for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, served as Chief Operating Officer of the Tory Burch Foundation, and ultimately founded Future Waves, a nonprofit program dedicated to helping children discover the power of nature, entrepreneurship, and active living, and most recently wrote a children鈥檚 book: 鈥淥cean Superheroes.鈥�

鈥淭he whole premise of the book is to remind kids that you can never be too young or too old to get involved with what’s happening in the world,鈥� said McGee.

Raymond McGee started Future Waves because she noticed a gap in getting kids outside and giving them a voice to come up with entrepreneurial solutions in the world. The organization now hosts a program where children identify a problem the planet is facing, and they pitch their ideas to a 鈥渇riendly shark tank.鈥� Past judges have been former Apple CEO John Sculley, filmmaker Luca Mart铆nez, and Sylvia Earle, the first chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Raymond McGee鈥檚 childhood hero. Raymond McGee works with Earle on global conservation, and she helped inspire the organization and book.

鈥淚 wrote 鈥極cean Superheroes鈥� because it was the book I wish I had when I was a kid,鈥� Raymond McGee said. 鈥淭he ocean is full of sea creatures that have superpowers that protect us and keep us healthy. And we also have superpowers that the ocean needs to keep our planet healthy. We’re interconnected and protecting the ocean is a team sport, and we all need to get involved.鈥�

Her educational journey has also included that same 鈥減urpose.鈥� After graduating from Elon with a degree in sport management, she earned a master鈥檚 degree in non-profit management and public policy from New York University and, a year ago, earned another master鈥檚 degree from The Wharton School of Business鈥檚 first global MBA program.

At Elon, her time as an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow heavily shaped many aspects of her life, including her focus of community. Founded in 1989 by聽Isabella Cannon聽鈥�24, the former Mayor of Raleigh, the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows program is a nationally recognized leadership development program designed to strengthen each student鈥檚 leadership skills and ability to impact themselves, their communities and their world.

鈥淥ur whole mission is to bring kids together so they can develop entrepreneurial solutions to real-world challenges, and so much of what I learned through the Fellows program has shaped the way we design our Future Waves programming,鈥� Raymond McGee said. 鈥淚 chose Elon because of the Fellows program, but I also chose it because there was an incredible sense of purpose, optimism and community. From the moment I visited campus, I could feel that students genuinely cared about one another and wanted to make a positive impact. That spirit of collaboration and service is what has always made Elon so special to me, and it’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my career.鈥�

鈥淥cean Superheroes鈥� is through Tiny Torch Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Readers can purchase individual copies or donate books to Title I schools, with 100% of net proceeds supporting Future Waves programs.

For Raymond McGee, the book is one chapter in a lifelong mission to help young people discover their potential. This fall, she’ll return to the two fields that first shaped her career鈥攕ports and entrepreneurship with the opening of Moonlight Graham, a sports boutique in South Florida designed to celebrate the joy of sports, collecting and community.

“I want every child who walks through our doors to see themselves reflected in the sports cards, collectibles and stories we share,” Raymond McGee said. “Whether they’re a baseball fan, a tennis player, a surfer, a dancer, or just discovering a new passion, I want them to feel welcomed, inspired, and connected to a community that encourages them to dream big. I hope that Moonlight Graham becomes more than a store; it becomes a place where families gather, friendships are formed, young people discover new passions, and our community is strengthened through the timeless values that sports teach.”

As thousands of soccer fans streamed toward San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, draped in national flags and chanting hours before kickoff, the energy was palpable.

Swiss fans dressed as cows rang cowbells, Australian fans carried enormous inflatable kangaroos, and Jordanian supporters congregated early outside the gates, waving oversized flags and singing in unison. Together, they created the spectacle that makes the FIFA World Cup unlike any other sporting event.

For , those moments were part of her daily routine during the tournament鈥檚 opening stages.

As a ticketing operations manager for FIFA, the 福利亚洲国产精品 graduate spent several months helping fans enjoy the FIFA World Cup. While much of her work happened behind the scenes, Cirby handled everything from validating each seat in the stadium and accessible seating requests to one of the tournament鈥檚 toughest challenges: helping fans who unknowingly purchased counterfeit tickets.

鈥淭he more games have been played, the more variations of fake tickets have come out,鈥� she explained.

While resolving ticket issues is part of the job, it represents only a fraction of Cirby’s experience. For all six Bay Area matches 鈥� including Team USA鈥檚 Round of 32 win 鈥� she served as the stadium ticketing manager and welcomed more than 410,000 fans to the region she grew up in.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the World Cup,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 once in a lifetime to be able to be part of an event like this.鈥�

Cirby joined FIFA in January after nearly six years with the San Francisco Giants, where she built a career in ticket operations and services with her hometown team. But the opportunity to work the World Cup was one she couldn’t pass up.

鈥淚 was just kind of looking for jobs casually, just to see what was out there, and I threw in an application 鈥� and then it worked out,鈥� Cirby said.

Her responsibilities have stretched far beyond match days. Cirby helped hire local stadium staff, prepare cross-functional training for various departments, and ensure FIFA’s ticketing spaces were ready before fans arrived. Once matches began, she moved between entrances and ticket offices, supporting staff and assisting fans whose tickets would not scan, who needed accessible seating accommodations, or who could not locate their tickets.

The role also gave Cirby a front-row view of the tournament’s global fan culture.

鈥淚t鈥檚 mesmerizing to see these fans and the passion that they have,鈥� Cirby said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 get to see the full fan marches, but I get to see them arrive at our entrance and go through our turnstiles, and they鈥檙e still chanting and cheering.鈥�

Cirby’s path to FIFA began at Elon, majoring in sport management. She fondly remembers attending MLB’s Winter Meetings with her classmates, where she placed resumes in the mailboxes of organizations with job openings.

鈥淚 probably put 20 to 30 resumes in and got a couple of interviews, but that鈥檚 how I got my first job with the Atlanta Braves right out of college,鈥� Cirby said.

That first role with the Braves eventually led to opportunities with the Giants and, ultimately, FIFA. Looking back, Cirby encourages students interested in the sport industry to cast a wide net.

鈥淗onestly, just apply,鈥� Cirby said. 鈥淧utting yourself out there and applying can make a real difference.鈥�

Her World Cup assignment also demanded resolution. For nearly two months, Cirby was based at a hotel in Santa Clara with other FIFA staff because of the long hours and the proximity to the stadium. The work has been especially demanding because Cirby has been doing it with a torn ACL, an injury she sustained this spring playing in a rec league kickball game. After consulting with doctors, she decided to postpone surgery until after the tournament.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really funny to be like, 鈥楴ot only am I working the World Cup, but I鈥檓 walking like 25,000 steps a day on a torn ACL,鈥欌�� Cirby laughed.

With surgery scheduled for late August, Cirby is looking forward to a well-earned break 鈥� and where her career will take her next. But this experience has reaffirmed why she chose a career in sports.

鈥淚 grew up playing soccer through high school, and I鈥檝e continued to be a big fan,鈥� Cirby said. 鈥淪eeing supporters from so many different countries bring that passion to every match has been the best part of the job.鈥�