Oct. 18, 2013
What started out as a joke, ended up as a perfect internship for senior softball player Jackie Miller this past summer.
The outgoing utility player was looking for an internship following her junior year at North Texas. At a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.) event during the school year, Miller ran into Jamie Adams, the assistant athletic director at North Texas for marketing and promotions, and told him that she needed an internship for the summer, and they both laughed.
"A couple weeks later, I saw him again and asked him about it, and Jamie said he would send me an e-mail about their internship program, "said Miller. "And, it magically worked out."
Miller worked at the Mean Green's summer outreach events: Twilight Tunes at the Denton Square, Freshman Orientation and poster distribution. She also was in charge of the department's Pinterest account.
"Jackie is very good with people," said Adams. "As a student-athlete, we really wanted to get her in front of as many students and parents as possible."
Miller said she learned hands-on-experience about the distribution and promotion world of marketing.
"I learned about how different people are," said Miller about her experience. "Not every student is the same. I learned you are not going to get everyone, but you have to try. There is no point in not trying."
Despite the start of the school year and fall softball, Miller has continued to help out in the athletic department. She worked at the recent Basketball Madness event and plans to work some basketball games. The senior is hoping the experience and the connections she has made will help land her a sports marketing job.
She still has her senior year of softball to look forward to. Over the last three years, Miller has seen time at six different positions, and is loving the current fall season.
"It's awesome," said Miller about the fall. "We are all exhausted, but I don't think I've ever seen this group work harder or be more excited about softball now and for the spring. We are buying into what the coaches are saying."
Miller and the softball team will play a doubleheader on Sunday, Oct. 20 against NCTC at 1 p.m. at Lovelace Stadium.
