As part of Elon in Charlotte: The Sport Experience, the sport management and strategic communications double major will serve this fall as a marketing intern with NASCAR and a gameday operations intern with the Atlantic Coast Conference.
On the heels of a productive first year as an Elon undergraduate, Lauren Winslow ’27 was recently named a recipient of a student scholarship from the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), a national accrediting body that promotes and recognizes excellence in sport management education.
The Cherry Hill, New Jersey, native has immersed herself on Elon’s campus as a sport management and strategic communications double major, effectively balancing both areas of study. In addition to becoming a valued member of the university’s student-run strategic communications agency, Live Oak Communications, and working with clients like Olde Forest Racquet Club, Winslow also earned the Department of Sport Management’s 2024 Rising Phoenix Award for her strong academic performance.
Her contributions in the classroom as well as the school’s extracurricular activities have garnered the attention of School of Communications faculty members, including Associate Professor of Sport Management David Bockino.
“Lauren was a model first-year undergraduate: a prepared and attentive student who produced fantastic work while taking advantage of Elon’s many opportunities outside the classroom,” said Bockino, who helped recruit Winslow to campus in his role as director of the Communications Fellows program. “She has incredible potential in the sport industry.”
The rising sophomore said COSMA’s recognition “reaffirmed my decision to pursue a degree in sport management,” noting that the field is largely male dominated. “This scholarship has validated that my skills and work ethic are significant and valued,” she added.
Winslow will continue to study the intersection of the sport and media industries this fall as part of Elon in Charlotte: The Sport Experience, serving as a marketing intern with NASCAR and a gameday operations intern with the Atlantic Coast Conference. Elon’s Charlotte campus launched last fall with great success, placing 12 undergraduate students with internships – largely sports related – across the Queen City.
Winslow credits the mentorship she has received from ElonComm faculty and staff for making a significant impact during her time on campus and setting her up for success. She thanked Abby Igoe, assistant director of multimedia projects, for her support while serving as the marketing and communications strategist for Turner Theatre, as well as Bockino for consistently pushing her in the classroom and providing advice and direction outside of it.
Additionally, Winslow said she values the many experiences she already enjoyed as an Elon student. This list includes working with Elon Sports Vision, where she took on new positions and expanded her skill set, as well as the Communications Fellows program’s annual trek to Florida, visiting media outlets and communications organizations in the Sunshine State.
“Being a member of the Communication Fellows has been amazing,” Winslow said. “Going to Florida for the Winter Term trip really exposed me to so many facets of the communications field and made me realize just how many opportunities there are for someone pursuing a degree in communications.”
COSMA
The Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) is a specialized accrediting body that promotes and recognizes excellence in sport management education in colleges and universities at the baccalaureate and graduate levels. Elon University’s Department of Sport Management was granted COSMA accreditation in spring 2023. The COSMA Student Scholarship & Grant are awarded annually to students enrolled full time at a COSMA-accredited program.