Chelsea Smith was making her Christmas wish come true last December, earning her way to an immersive paid mentorship opportunity as she advanced to the interview stage for the National Football League’s Select 25 Teammates for Super Bowl LX (SBLX Teammates.)
She says her participation is a true testament to the adage that “your network is your net worth” and to the power of friendship.
“I learned about this opportunity through a friend, who received the information from her mentor. Since the opportunity did not align with her field, she kindly passed it along to me,” said Smith, a junior Sales and Marketing major from Atlanta.
“My interview took place three days before Christmas, where I was asked about my previous experiences, career interests, and passion for working in sports and entertainment.”
Smith was one of two students selected. Terrance Jordan also represented Tuskegee. SBLX Teammates, held for the first time in Santa Clara, California at Levi’s Stadium February 3-9, is a professional development program designed to provide students with hands-on experience and exposure to career opportunities within the NFL. The NFL defines it as an “experienceship.”
Participants interacted with professionals from a variety of sectors, including NFL business leaders, current and former players, EA Sports, GitHub, LinkedIn, Microsoft, professors, and others, learning valuable skills and insights through hands-on experiences and professional development within the Super Bowl environment.
“On Super Bowl Sunday, I was assigned to Stadium Fan Services, where I helped ensure that special guests, players, and media personnel could navigate the AFC tunnel efficiently. It was a high-pressure environment, with constant coordination of technical elements and quick set changes to ensure perfect timing and prevent mistakes. There were over 300 people working through the tunnels,” she recalls.
“From the outside, it may seem like events are only about players and performance, but I learned that countless roles in logistics, operations, technology, marketing, and entertainment are essential before a game or live event can even begin,” Chelsea added.
According to the NFL, the SBLX Teammates programs with its goals to strengthen the NFL’s commitment to partner with HBCUs and to intentionally develop the NFL talent pipeline by providing educational opportunities that showcase career opportunities within the NFL.
For Smith, this experience is another reason she says the decision to attend Tuskegee was an easy one.
“Everyone truly welcomed me with open arms. The Atlanta Tuskegee Alumni Club supported me every step of the way during my decision process. Tuskegee valued my commitment to pursuing higher education and afforded me the opportunity to attend on a full-tuition scholarship. From that moment on, the rest has been history.”
