As Isaac Hopewell (’26) walked beneath the arena seats, he could hear the crowd of nearly 20,000 fans cheering above him.

Behind him walked country singer Luke Bryan, that night’s national anthem performer. Hopewell led his guest inside, the lights of Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena flashing around him.

This has become a typical day for Hopewell since accepting an internship with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League, allowing him to put into practice what he’s learned in The Master’s University’s sport management program.

Prior to his time in Tennessee, Hopewell had the opportunity to work with Formula 1, CONCACAF Gold Cup and Champions Cup, and the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, an organization focused on maintaining the iconic stadium’s status through improvements and upgrades.

His current role with the Predators, as stage manager, includes organizing the color guard, escorting anthem singers, and picking contestants for in-game entertainment, among other things.

“I am a huge fan of hockey, so to see these players on game day is very cool to me,” Hopewell said. “I get to see the away team warm up by playing soccer and throwing footballs in areas no one is allowed to go. I also get to watch morning skates from both teams, which isn’t open to the public.”

Dr. Wayne Rasmussen, chair of TMU’s sport management department, champions the idea that opportunities such as Hopewell’s are a crucial component of career preparation for college students.

“At TMU, students get a great Bible foundation, general education, and a solid knowledge base in sport management,” Rasmussen said. “But you have to go out and apply those things. Isaac has been very good at doing that.”

Hopewell agrees that his time at TMU has helped him succeed in these areas.

“Without my previous internships and opportunities, I would not be where I am,” he said. “Through TMU, I’ve received connections that have helped set the stage for this role.”

Even more importantly, Rasmussen believes that TMU prepares sport management students to represent Christ well when they enter the workplace.

“Sport business in America is a marketplace,” Rasmussen said. “It is vibrant and active but full of people who never darken the door of a church. It gives us at TMU a great opportunity to work in that world and be great professionals who are reliable, really good at what we do, and carry the gospel with us.”