Sports has always been a passion for Davenport University senior Courtney Drew. So much so, she built involvement into all aspects of her college experience, from coursework to student athletics to internships to extracurricular and volunteer activities. Her tenacity paid off. When she graduates in May, Drew will be starting her dream job as an inside sales account executive for the Detroit Lions.

Drew grew up in Milford, Michigan, cheering on the local teams with her family. “We all loved going to events,” Drew said. “A gift would be going to a Tigers game.”

Her love of sports influenced her college decision. “When thinking of colleges, I knew I wanted to play college sports,” Drew said. “Coach Joe White at Davenport reached out to me. I loved how close Grand Rapids was to my hometown, and it would allow me to continue playing soccer and get an education in marketing.”

A marketing and entertainment class in high school showed her how she could turn sports into a career.

“When I was young, I went to one Lions Thanksgiving Day game when my grandpa had season tickets,” Drew said. “It stuck with me. There were special effects and fire on the field, and I was scared. An employee gave me a stuffed lion. It made my moment. I now get to make moments for others.”

In addition to playing on the women’s soccer team during college, Drew reached out to professional and semiprofessional sports teams in the area to job shadow positions. By her sophomore year, she had internships with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Grand Rapids Rise and Grand Rapids Gold, selling tickets and coordinating fan experiences such as organizing T-shirt tosses to pulling fans into on-ice or on-court contests.

 “I had to get involved,” she said. “I loved it. I realized you can get paid to be part of that atmosphere and create those experiences for other people.”

A normal day for Drew was class, practice, then Van Andel Arena for one of her internships. “It was a great experience, and I loved the front office staff. I realized I could see myself doing this full time.”

She also embraced extracurricular activities, serving on the student-athlete advisory committee, working with fellow athletes to improve the student experience and give back to the community; serving as president of Davenport’s marketing association, a group that helps students connect with business leaders in the West Michigan area; and as events coordinator for Recreational Outdoors at Davenport (ROD), an outdoor activity club that organizes hikes, bouldering and a pickle ball tournament. 

During the summer, Drew participated in Davenport’s study abroad program in Paris, London and Dublin, which was the highlight of her year. 

“London was my favorite,” she said. “Obviously, I’m a big soccer fan. My friend and I wanted to go to an England game, but ended up going to a pub instead and watched with England fans. I learned a lot by meeting with business owners and saw how they do things differently than in the U.S.”

She realized that with those summer credits and a hefty course load, she’ll be able to graduate a year early – this May. And because she wanted a job secured before graduation, she started applying in November.

“I probably applied for a hundred jobs before getting the offer to work for the Lions,” Drew said. “There were times when I’d make it to the final round, then someone else would get the job. I learned to stress my ‘why’ with the sports industry. I love marketing and the sports industry because I want to make an impact for somebody. I remember the moments when an employee made my moment and made my day.”

Drew shared that marketing professor and supervisor of the marketing organization, Bill Ward, ‘had her back’ during her three years at Davenport, including writing her a letter of recommendation for the Lions position. 

“Courtney Drew perfectly illustrates why the best time to start your career is long before graduation,” said Ward. “By engaging with the Davenport University AMA Collegiate Chapter, students gain exclusive access to professional networking and high-level learning events. When you pair that involvement with a marketing internship, you’re not just earning credits – you’re gaining a competitive head start. Since recruiters often spend only six seconds scanning a resume, seeing ‘AMA member’ and ‘marketing intern’ serves as an immediate signal that you are proactive, experienced, and ready to contribute.”

In her new role, Drew will focus on growing the season ticket member waitlist, handling group sales, including hospitality and suites and assisting with Ford Field concerts. It’s a one-year associate program that has the potential to lead to a permanent role within the sports and entertainment industry.

“My teammates and roommates have been so supportive throughout my job search, celebrating my highs and lows, and my mom and dad have been my biggest supporters on this journey.” 

In her new role, Drew will focus on growing the season ticket member waitlist, handling group sales, including hospitality and suites and assisting with Ford Field concerts. It’s a one-year associate program that has the potential to lead to a permanent role within the sports and entertainment industry.

Drew’s advice to other students is to get involved. “Davenport is a small school, but there are so many ways to meet new people. It’s a huge bonus.”

“My grandpa was a season ticket member way back when the Lions played at the Silverdome,” Drew said. “I’m now going to be part of the history of the Lions and work for the hometown team. It’s been a dream of mine since I was little.”