For Zach Miller, sports have always been about more than the action on the field or court. This summer, the PennWest Clarion student is gaining a firsthand look at everything that happens behind the scenes to make collegiate athletics successful.

Miller, of Baden, Pennsylvania, is entering his senior year at PennWest Clarion, where he is majoring in sport management studies with a minor in marketing. A graduate of Ambridge Area High School, he is completing an internship supporting athletic camps at the University of Pittsburgh while learning the day-to-day operations that help athletic programs run smoothly.

His responsibilities include registering campers, managing merchandise sales, tracking inventory and revenue, organizing event materials and preparing facilities for camps and special events. The experience has also allowed him to build relationships with professionals across multiple areas of athletics.

Those connections led to another exciting opportunity. After beginning his work with the camps program, Miller was offered and accepted a second internship with Gatorade, where he is working alongside athletic trainers and athletics staff to gain additional experience supporting collegiate sports.

“This internship has helped me put a lot of my coursework into practice,” he said. “I've been able to market myself, apply what I've learned in the classroom and develop real-world skills.”

Working alongside coaches, athletic trainers, operations staff and other professionals has also given Miller a broader understanding of the teamwork required behind every successful athletic program.

“This internship has opened my eyes to what it's really like to work in sports. I've seen the behind-the-scenes process and how every department works together to support the teams,” he said. “I think this will help me with my education by allowing me to apply real-world experience to my schooling and make me a better student. It will also help me understand how I need to go about researching and reaching out for jobs in a way that the sports industry understands.”

Miller believes internships are among the most valuable experiences students can pursue because they offer opportunities to learn, network and discover whether a career path is the right fit.

“It is very important to get your name and your experience out there in the industry you want to work in,” he said. “You can learn important skills and lessons that can't be taught in the classroom. For me, it's about the experience, marketing, relationships and seeing if I will like the industry that I will be going into. I can firmly say that I will love working in sports based on this internship.”

Outside of his internships, Miller serves as president of the Clarion Men's Club Volleyball team and will serve as a student manager for the PennWest Clarion women's volleyball team during the upcoming academic year. Those leadership roles, combined with his internship experiences, are helping him build a strong foundation in athletic operations, event management, leadership and sports marketing.

After graduating in 2027, Miller hopes to pursue a career in collegiate athletics. Whether working in athletic administration, game-day operations, recruiting or coaching football or volleyball, he is eager to continue making an impact through sports.

Through PennWest's commitment to experiential learning, students like Miller graduate with more than classroom knowledge – they leave with practical experience, professional connections and the confidence to succeed in competitive industries.