Student Spotlight: Julia Monkarsh

Program: Sport Management M.S.

Hometown: Tampa, FL

When did you first discover your passion for sport management?

Growing up, I played almost every sport and cheered the loudest at every sports game. To be honest, I even had my twin sister quiz me on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s roster on the way to school every morning. With this in mind, I truly discovered my passion for sport management during my senior year of high school, as I was fortunate enough to shadow the Tampa Bay Lightning game day operations and media department. This impactful experience left a lasting impression on me, as the fast-paced sports atmosphere was an opportunity I strived for in the future.

Tell us a little bit about your experience in the program so far.

When I first got into the sport management major, I was enthralled with Florida State University athletics and outside sport management opportunities. As a staff sportswriter for FSView, I publish weekly sport articles consisting of game recaps, previews, and athlete features by conducting student-athlete, coaches, and SID [student information director] interviews at press conferences. As a Florida State University Football Operations Recruiting intern, I worked with the Directors and GM of the FSU Football On-Campus Recruitment department to assist with operations, recruiting events, and recruit visits for players. In addition to this experience, I have developed the ability to multi-task while working in a diverse fast-paced environment through Seminole Productions, a professional live sports broadcasting and special event production department at Florida State University. I assist in producing live content and in-game hosting for the ACC Network by helping with camera, graphics, video shading, broadcast, and clips for SVE [sports venue entertainment] board shows. As a SEMINOLES.COM reporting intern, I created human-interest features that highlight Florida State Athletes. As a Florida State tennis PA, I am responsible for announcing Florida State women’s tennis matches. Outside of Florida State, I was an ambassador for the NHL All-Star Game where I assisted NHL players with media relations, red carpet check-ins, and their event schedule. Also, I was a PR intern for BenKennedyRacing (NASCAR K&N Pro Series team) which consisted of interviewing drivers, drafting press releases, and running all promotional social media outlets. In addition to this experience, I will be interning under the player operations role at the US Open this August.

What made you choose FSU for your degree?

When I toured Florida State University in the spring of my junior year of high school, I automatically fell in love with the campus and could see myself thriving for the next four years. In addition, the sport management program is ranked number one in the nation and that was a hard program to pass on as it provides resources that are unmatched across the country.

What would you like to do after graduation?

I plan to continue my education and pursue a master’s in Sport Management.

What is your favorite part of the sport management program?

My favorite part of the sport management program is the support from each professor as they all share the same passion for sports and truly want the best for each student. I genuinely feel I can come to any professor in confidence with any questions or advice.

What advice would you give someone interested in studying sport management at FSU?

My advice would be to put yourself out there and apply for every position, attend every meeting, and show up even when you aren’t asked to because that is what sets you apart from the rest. All of my experiences have given me a better understanding of how the sports industry operates and have allowed me to keep building upon my skills.

Anything else you would like to share?

The sports industry offers hundreds of career paths; therefore, you may not know which avenue you want to dive into in college. Invest in talking to individuals that are already working in the sports world in order to build your network and enhance your communication skills. To continue, work a couple internships so you can see what you excel in while also learning about yourself as an individual.