Students get a behind-the-scenes look at sports careers—from digital media to investigations—grounded in clean sport and strong values
Youth sports build more than strong bodies. They build skills that can shape a future. On March 25, TrueSport and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will host Hillside Connection’s Spring Break Business Immersion Day 3 in Colorado Springs to help students link what they learn in sport—like teamwork, discipline, and fair play—to careers across sports and sport-adjacent fields.
“Sport should help young people grow into good people and successful citizens, not just better athletes,” said Travis T. Tygart, Chief Executive Officer of USADA. “TrueSport gives families and coaches tools to teach values like respect, courage, and leadership, and with this immersion day, we’re showing students how those same values support real jobs in sport.”
The program held at USADA headquarters will give students a “peek behind the scenes” at the team behind the team. Students will rotate through six short and interactive sessions led by local professionals from USADA, El Pomar Foundation, and Children’s Hospital Colorado.
“Hillside Connection is all about helping young people see what’s possible—on and off the court,” said Liz McMearn, Program Coordinator at Hillside Connection. “Opportunities like this show our students that the same discipline, teamwork, and integrity they practice in sport can open doors to meaningful careers. That’s the kind of connection that can change lives and strengthen our community.”
Sessions will cover digital media and photography, business and financial management, investigations and problem-solving, leadership development, and sports medicine, as well as communication, teamwork, and human resources.
“Leadership is not a title. It’s how you show up in the world,” said Stella Hodgkins, Senior Vice President and Elevating Leadership Development Program Officer at El Pomar Foundation. “Through sport, students learn how to lead with respect, confidence, and self-control. They learn that teamwork is a key to success and that, by lifting up others, the whole team succeeds. These lessons are then carried into school, work, and their communities.”
The sessions will also highlight health-focused careers like physical therapy, where students can turn their love of sport into work that helps others stay active and safe. “Young athletes understand the importance of practice to help prepare for competitions, but do not often think about other training strategies to improve their performance and reduce the risk of injury,” said Shane Noffsinger, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, physical therapist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “There are many ways to incorporate additional training that can help athletes learn how to improve their strength and movement patterns, and this training experience can translate to a career of helping others stay healthy and active in the sports and exercise that they enjoy.”
By the end of the day, students will leave with a clearer view of the many careers that support sport, as well as a core message from TrueSport and USADA: healthy choices and strong character matter in every role, not just on game day.
