Twelve Seahawks are going to Super Bowl LIX.
The New Orleans-bound Wagner College squad won’t be on the gridiron; rather, they’re sports administration students participating in the National Football League’s Ambassadors program, gaining behind-the-scenes, big-league experience.
“This is a great opportunity for our students and our institution,” said Professor Margaret Wilkins, director of the sports administration program, who will join her students at the event. “I am very grateful to the NFL for this amazing opportunity. The group that we have going, I have no doubt, will represent Wagner College very well. This is what it’s all about — creating opportunities for the next generation.”
The students — many of them Division I athletes at Wagner — will be paid for their work, which includes assisting guests at hotels and airports, arranging signage and events, and managing the other off-screen tasks that make attending the big game a lifelong memory for fans.
And yes, they’ll be in the Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9 for the annual clash of titans.
“I am most excited to go and witness one of the biggest game days in the entire country, especially as a sports administration major,” said Kayla Renwick, a Wagner triathlete from Barbados. “Not just watching a game, but being able to get firsthand insight behind the scenes of operations, marketing, and everything — especially since I want to work in the sports industry.”
“I think the event will definitely bring recognition to Wagner College and highlight the athletic teams here, as well as the students who show a passion for sport,” said George LaManna of Staten Island, who competes in track and field. “It is a huge step toward bigger and better things for this [sports administration] program.”
Wilkins learned about the NFL Ambassador program from one of her mentors, a professor at Grambling State University, whose students will also be participating, along with groups from schools such as UNLV, Arizona State, and Florida State.
Wilkins said the Wagner students will have an unforgettable experience. “I am beyond excited for them,” she said.
Donors during Wagner’s annual Day of Giving, on Dec. 2, can direct donations to the sports administration program at www.wagner.edu/dayofgiving.
Wagner Students Attending Super Bowl LIX
- Devin Bailey, Philadelphia (field hockey)
- Hailey Bianchino, Hillsborough, N.J. (field hockey)
- Hawa Balde Camara, Spain (basketball)
- Rebecca Desidero, North Caldwell, N.J. (field hockey)
- Riley Fitzgibbons, Staten Island
- George LaManna, Staten Island (track and field)
- Kayla Renwick, Barbados (triathlon)
- Samantha Russo, Staten Island
- Nicholas Rutigliano, Brooklyn
- Anthony Sblano, Staten Island
- Natalja Stiller, Denmark (fencing)
- Sydnie Trujillo, Moreno Valley, Calif. (softball)
