Seven Elon University students and two faculty mentors represented the Department of Sport Management at the 2026 Applied Sport Management Association Conference in Philadelphia, presenting original research alongside peers from leading programs across the country.
Elon University’s participants at the 2026 Applied Sport Management Association Conference might avoid the term “three-peat” – since it is a registered trademark owned by former NBA coach Pat Riley – but the sentiment fits all the same. For the third consecutive year, an Elon student captured the top prize in the conference’s Undergraduate Student Research Competition, continuing a remarkable run of national recognition for the Department of Sport Management.
Seven Elon students and two faculty members traveled to Temple University in Philadelphia for this year’s ASMA Conference, held Feb. 11–13, joining more than 300 academics and industry professionals for three days of research presentations, panels and case study competitions. All seven students presented original research, with four competing in the undergraduate research competition against peers from top sport management programs across the country.
This year’s top honor in the undergraduate research competition went to Meghan Logue ’26, who earned first place for her project, “Does Conference Realignment Pay? Evidence from NCAA Division I Institutions,” advised by Assistant Professor of Sport Management Alex Traugutt. Logue’s win follows first-place finishes by Lena Gunn ’25 in 2024 and Sarah Dawkins ’25 in 2025, marking three straight years atop the competition.
For Khirey Walker, assistant professor of sport management, the sustained success reflects more than strong results – it signals a culture of preparation, curiosity and confidence among Elon students.
“There is something truly special about watching our Elon students compete at the ASMA Conference and present research they have genuinely poured themselves into,” said Walker who accompanied the students with Traugutt to Philadelphia. “You can hear it in their voices when they present – this is not just any project to them, it is a reflection of who they are as future sport management professionals. To then see them compete in the research competition against some of the strongest sport management programs in the country and take home top honors three years in a row … that doesn’t happen by accident.”
Walker credited the students’ success to a culture of curiosity and the program’s high standards for undergraduate research.
“That’s a testament to the intellectual curiosity these students bring into the classroom and the standards set within the Elon sport management program,” Walker said. “Dr. Traugutt and I are extremely proud of this group and excited to continue bringing our students to ASMA.”
The 2026 conference offered Elon students a professional stage to present research on topics ranging from NIL policy and international student-athlete experiences to minor league hockey attendance patterns and the impact of conference realignment. The seven Elon presenters included:
- Maddy Baird, “Are MLS Teams Spending Wisely? An Empirical Analysis of Player Performance and Salary Allocation” (advised by Traugutt)
- Charlie Eldredge, “Beyond Borders: NIL Rights and the International Student-Athlete Experience” (advised by Walker)
- Lindsay Ferretti, “Building the Fan Base: Season Ticket Holder Perceptions and Attendance Motivations in Minor League Hockey” (advised by Traugutt)
- Meghan Logue, “Does Conference Realignment Pay? Evidence from NCAA Division I Institutions” (advised by Traugutt)
- Lucy McAfee, “The Transfer Portal Era: Crowding Out High School Opportunities in Power Four Football” (advised by Traugutt)
- Sam Miller, “International Student Athletes in NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer: Motivations, Aspirations, and Issues” (advised by Walker)
- Anabella Shpak, “From Transactions to Insights: Modeling Attendance Patterns in Minor League Hockey” (advised by Traugutt)
For students, the conference offered more than a platform to present research — it provided meaningful professional exposure and a chance to connect classroom learning with real-world conversations in the field.
“ASMA is more than a poster presentation,” said Anabella Shpak ’26, a sport management and business analytics double major. “It’s about networking with others in the field, listening to dissertations and presentations of professionals in their area of interest. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity, and if any student has the opportunity to do undergraduate research and attend ASMA in the future, I would highly recommend it!”
Lucy McAfee ’26, a sport management and exercise science double major, said presenting at a national conference as an undergraduate helped her better understand the professional relevance of her work.
“I valued the opportunity to engage in conversations with professionals in the sport industry and learn from other researchers’ work,” McAfee said. “And I am extremely grateful that Elon – specifically the Department of Sport Management – promotes opportunities like this for students.”
For Maddy Baird ’27, the competition and feedback process reinforced her academic and career interests.
“Engaging in meaningful conversations, receiving thoughtful feedback, building connections, and learning from fellow students and faculty as they presented their research made this conference both inspiring and impactful,” the sport management and data analytics double major said. “Experiences like the ASMA Conference continue to fuel my passion for sport management, data analytics, and research.”