September 1, 2021
US Open Serves Up Career Experience for Centenary University Student
Internship at national tennis championships prepares Chelsea T. Estacio of Dover, NJ, for career in sports and entertainment management.
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Sept. 1, 2021—Centenary University student Chelsea T. Estacio is rubbing elbows with some heavy hitters as an intern at this year’s United States Open Tennis Championships, which will be held through Sept. 12 at the US Tennis Association’s Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens. A business major with a concentration in sports and entertainment management, Estacio provides support to players and helps to create a positive experience for guests.
The Dover, NJ, resident is a Centenary University junior majoring in business administration, with a sports and entertainment management concentration. A goalkeeper for Centenary’s women’s soccer team, Estacio said of her experiences at the US Open: “Being a part of this tournament is such an incredible experience. I’m meeting a lot of new people and learning a lot. I’m overjoyed to be a member of such a fantastic team. I love being able to provide outstanding service to each player and contributing to the creation of a pleasant environment. Most importantly, I enjoy being behind the scenes and witnessing the audience have a great experience.”
Estacio grew up participating in sports and looked up to professional athletes as role models. Today, she is the director of marketing for the Centenary University Sports and Entertainment Management Association and assists in planning the annual student-run Sports and Entertainment Management Symposium on the Centenary campus. The event brings professionals from a wide range of major and minor league franchises to campus to discuss careers in the field with area high school and college students.
Centenary University’s sports and entertainment management concentration emphasizes experiential learning and professional internships in the United States and abroad beginning freshman year. Faculty who are pros in the field, along with alumni mentors, provide guidance as students gain the practical experience needed to pave the way for job success with professional sports organizations like the New York Yankees, New York Jets, New York Mets, New Jersey Devils, New York Red Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Philadelphia Phillies, as well as many minor league franchises.
“Centenary University has been a tremendous asset in assisting me in getting this position,” said Estacio, pointing to Associate Professor of Sports and Entertainment Management David Perricone as a big influence on her career. “Centenary has an outstanding program. For starters, it allowed me to interact with alumni, who provided me with great career advice. Prof. Perricone encouraged me to gain as much experience as possible and to seize every opportunity, no matter how minor. Most significantly, it taught me what to do and what not to do in the world of professional sports.”
ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix provides an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world. The University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township. The University also offers degree and certificate programs in Parsippany, as well as online and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.