Utah Tech University’s “active learning. active life.” philosophy provides students with engaging opportunities every day, setting them up for success in their future careers and endeavors. Thanks to the hands-on practice that they have had so far pursuing a master’s degree in athletic training at Utah Tech, three Utah Tech students were able to show their talents as athletic training interns at three separate NFL teams’ camps this summer.
Utah Tech University’s students intern with NFL, applying “active learning. active life.” dynamic
By Jake Harber
Meet the Interns
Alex Foster (West Valley, UT)
Tennessee Titans
Bausten Rasmussen (Roosevelt, UT)
Miami Dolphins
Chandler Jones (Sandy, UT)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Each student is in their second year of Utah Tech’s Master of Athletic Training program, and thanks to the hands-on approach that the program offers, all three students scored highly competitive internships with NFL teams.
Utah Tech University students showcase skills, going 3/3 in competitive internship selection
These internship opportunities are facilitated by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Association, and students are required to submit resumes, cover letters, and letters of recommendation to be considered. All three Utah Tech students who applied were accepted and flown out by their respective teams to participate in these internships.
What did they do?
These internships weren’t just about standing on the sidelines – the interns worked long days, assisting in setting up practice, running players through their treatments, and helping with the athletic training staff’s needs. Here, the interns learned about what a day in the life looks like or an NFL athletic trainer, getting a full taste of life in the pros.
Real-world lessons
While the experience was incredible, not everyone walked away wanting to work in the NFL full-time.
“Anyone who wants to work in the NFL should just take the shot,” Jones said. “I genuinely didn’t think I was going to get an NFL internship when I applied, and even though I now know that the NFL is not the path I want to take, I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t applied myself. No matter what job or opportunity you’re chasing, you must take a chance on yourself.”
These internships helped each student fine-tune their career goals and discover what they love (and don’t) while gaining extremely practical experience.
“These NFL internships create an invaluable learning and networking experience for our students as they get ready to begin their careers in athletic training,” Dr. Dillon Hyland, athletic training clinical education coordinator at Utah Tech, said. “It also prepares them to go onto their clinical immersion experiences in their second year of our program where they’re essentially on a full-time internship with other practicing athletic trainers.”
For more information about Utah Tech University’s Master of Athletic Training program, please visit https://health.utahtech.edu/master-of-athletic-training/.