Article by Linda Relyea
Photo courtesy of Samuel Bilderbeck
Adams State University alumnus Samuel Bilderbeck graduated in December with degree in sport management with a minor in business administration and will earn his Master in Business Administration (MBA) in May. His next step toward his professional goal will be attending the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State. "I would love to be a sports agent, but think as long as I work in the industry and the business of sports I will be extremely happy."
An Alamosa High School graduate, Bilderbeck will spend the summer working for Ingenuity Sun Media Raceway, a technology company which currently owns the raceway formerly known as Phoenix raceway. He attended a job fair in Phoenix over spring break and "hit it off" with the ISM Raceway recruiters. As an ISM ticket sales account executive he will help market the raceway. "It is cool to see all my work coming to fruition. This is what I have worked for and what I wanted to achieve, and I made it happen. I am from the San Luis Valley and Adams State is in my blood. It makes me happy to have received two degrees from this amazing school in five years."
Bilderbeck appreciates the guidance and support from Human Performance and Physical Education Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. Michael Stocz. "I honestly would say I could not have done it without Stocz and the sports management team at Adams State. I walked into Stocz’ office and told him what I wanted to do and he helped make it happen. In one year he has presented so many opportunities for me."
Stocz approached Bilderbeck last fall about co-authoring an article for the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. The article is a how-to-guide for what not to do with weight training in middle school athletics. Stocz appreciated Bilderbeck’s assistance with presenting the application-based materials in a more technical way. "My background is in the legal side of risk management. Samuel has a broader background in exercise science and exercise science terminology." Bilderbeck appreciates the experience. "It is a big deal to be published at my age."
Along with the article, Stocz guided Bilderbeck with the application process for law school, as well as writing a letter of recommendation, and told him about the job fair in Phoenix. "Samuel will do fantastic. His work ethic and his strive for perfection is something I can’t teach, only encourage."
Bilderbeck will pursue his second master’s degree at the Arizona State law school, in sports law and business. This 36-credit hour degree will equip Bilderbeck to understand the sports market and the regulatory forces at play in the U.S. and globally. "I won’t earn a law degree but I will have the opportunity to take law courses with law professors and some of the greatest minds in sports." His advisor is a sports agent for the NFL. "My passion is the sports industry. It is what I want to do for the rest of my life," Bilderbeck added.
According Stocz, many students looked at the HPPE program as the easy A, instead of a career opportunity. "Sam shows what hard work and determination can do. He was accepted into a prestigious program at Arizona State and is now connected with ISM, which owns one of top five biggest sports. It does not matter where you come from. Adams State can get you where you need to go as long as you put forth the effort."
