Teresa Resch
Class of 2004
Hometown: Lakefield, MN

Major: Communication/Business
Minor: Journalism

Current Place of Residence: Orlando, Florida
Current Graduate School: St. Thomas University
Current Position and Employer: Sports Event Management Intern - Disney Wide World of Sports

You graduated with honors from Augustana in May of 2004. What have you been up to since then?
After an internship with the North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Augustana's governing athletic conference) I began graduate school at St. Thomas University in Miami for an MBA with a concentration in sports administration. While in this program I had the opportunity to complete not-for-credit internships with the Orange Bowl Committee Media Relations Department, University of Miami Sports Marketing Department, and Collegiate Images (centralized rights and licensing agency for collegiate still and moving video). Additionally, I was able to volunteer for Dolphins Stadium, the Florida Marlins, Ford Championships at Doral (golf), and also worked events and Miami Heat games at American Airlines Arena throughout my time in South Florida. After successfully completing my classroom requirements for the degree, I accepted a year-long internship position with Disney Wide World of Sports. My internship consists of facilitating AAU tournaments held on the complex and utilizing off-site facilities. I will also assist in the management of Disney-created and other third-party events held on the Wide World of Sports Complex.

How did you choose your Business/Communication major at Augustana?
Initially, I wanted to go into broadcasting. As every college student knows, plans change, and I refocused on a career in sports administration. Business is a huge part of this field and combining the communications classes with core business classes was a perfect fit.

You were also a member of Augustana's volleyball team (including the NCAA Division II national runner-up team in 2000). Was it difficult to balance academics and athletics at Augustana? What was your favorite part about being a student-athlete?
I cherish the time I spent as a student-athlete at Augustana. A lot of the wins and losses are blurry, but the memories that I share with teammates remain vivid. It is a wonderful feeling knowing that hundreds of people in one small area (the Elmen Center, where volleyball games are held) want nothing more than for you to succeed. I found that my involvement in athletics made me a better student. I was forced to study during the free time I had, and procrastination was not an option. I was blessed to be welcomed into Augustana by a magnificent group of upperclassmen who taught me volumes about the game of volleyball and the nuances of being a college student.

What other activities were you involved in?
One of my favorite aspects of Augustana that I experienced while a student was the opportunity to grow outside the classroom. I was involved in numerous activities and was always met with enthusiastic support. The opporunity was there, I just had to seek it out. I was a member of Youth Outreach Ministry, attended FCA, and Thursday Throwdown, helped with the yearbook, was involved with the business fraternity, and as many intramurals as they would let me compete in.

Did you receive any scholarships to attend graduate school?
Yes, the NCAA Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics, and a Graduate Assistantship with the Sports Administration Department at St. Thomas.

What is your ultimate career goal after you're done with your master's degree?
To work with NCAA championships.

What do you miss most about Augie?
My friends and everything we shared. I sincerely miss the kindness of the Augustana Community. It seemed as though everyone genuinely wanted you to succeed and their actions reflected it.

Which other schools did you look at before choosing Augie? What made you decide?
I'm not ashamed to admit that I chose Augustana for the volleyball program. Only after I arrived, did I acknowledge that if I had based my decision on a whole myriad of different criteria, Augustana still would have been my number one choice. Now, after attending a different institution, I really appreciate the kindness and genuine compassion for a student's best interests that is shared by the faculty, staff, and student population that is the Augustana Community.

Who was your biggest influence on campus?
A large number of faculty and staff influenced me while attending Augustana, but the biggest influence came from my peers. The wonderful friendships I made at Augustana are lifelong, and I learned so much from interacting with fellow students. Everyone has a unique viewpoint and story to share, and when I finally began to listen I learned so much.