Erin Nappi has always loved sports. Now, she’s planning to turn that passion into a career with a sports and entertainment management concentration from Centenary University. Nappi has been named the Centenary University 2019 Hackettstown High School Scholar, a designation that recognizes outstanding academic achievement and a commitment to community service. The award covers full tuition for four years of study at Centenary.

A 2019 graduate of Hackettstown High School, Nappi grew up participating in youth league basketball, as well as soccer, which she played into high school. While she didn’t want to continue her athletic career beyond high school, Nappi began to explore college programs in sports management. Her search led to the renowned sports and entertainment management concentration within the Business Department at Centenary University—right in her own backyard.

“I knew that I wanted to go into the business aspect of sports, and Centenary has a really great program,” said Nappi, who last spring attended the University’s annual Sports Management Conference, a student-run event featuring representatives from a wide variety of professional sports teams. There, she met David Perricone, associate professor of sports and entertainment management, and a group of Centenary students and graduates working in the field.

“Professor Perricone made me feel like I was already part of the program,” Nappi recalled. “The graduates were all saying how Centenary really set them up for their careers.”

Centenary sports and entertainment management students routinely earn internships and post-graduate jobs in the sales, marketing, and operations divisions of professional sports teams, including the New York Jets, New York Red Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils, New York Mets, and many more. Through the University’s educational partnership with the New York Jets, students across all majors also have unique opportunities to experience the business operations of this world-class NFL franchise.

In August, Nappi began her studies at Centenary with an eye toward a future career working in professional sports. “I know I want to work in the NFL or MLB someday,” she said. “Centenary will get me there.”