12 | INNOVISION MAGAZINE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT CHASE SPENCER Chase Spencer, Sport Management major and Coaching and Athletic Administration minor, is President of the Men’s Soccer Club. Since he was six years old, Chase’s passion has been soccer. When he was a teenager, he played recreationally in his New Jersey hometown, Mays Landing, where he fell in love with the sport. When he decided to major in sport management, the decision was easy. “I just love being hands-on and having the opportunity to mold and change things right in front of you. As soon as I grasped that, I knew this is definitely what I want to do.” PRESIDENT OF MEN’S SOCCER CLUB Elected as president his freshman year, Chase has led the team by planning practices, scheduling games, and setting up fundraisers and volunteer events. When he joined, there were only a handful of members who played in a pickup game style. Now, he has grown the club to 25 members. “This club has shown me true responsibility and given me the chance to be a leader in a field I aspire to be in long term,” he said. “When I first took this role, I didn’t have much guidance or support. As I continued to lead, I learned to have respect for myself and, in a way, demand respect from my peers for the work I was doing to help the club grow. Soon after, others followed and aided me in our common goal.” He knows this is an experience few people get and offers opportunities for other team members to take leadership positions. “Seeing the club grow has been so rewarding, and when there are roles for other team members to build their character and have a strong identity with the club, I try and give them those opportunities.” INTERNING FOR KUTZTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Looking for the next step in his coaching career, a friend told Chase about an Assistant Soccer Coach internship opening in the KU Area School District. With his soccer background, he knew it would be a great fit to coach for the girls’ soccer team. Starting his internship in late August and finishing in November, he is thankful for the experience. “I learned patience with this age group,” he said. “I tried to implement the idea that fundamental skills and movements will always be fundamental and key for the sport. It was amazing to see the team really grasp what I was teaching on and off the ball and improve on their own, step by step.” Chase has also secured an internship in Event Operations with KU Athletics in Spring 2024. He is excited about the opportunity and looks forward to helping set up events. FUTURE GOALS In the future, Chase would like to coach collegiate level soccer. He knows his resume gives him a steppingstone towards his career goals. “I’m grateful for the opportunities that I have taken on, especially with the Men’s Soccer Club. It may have been a lot to do, but looking at the club and seeing how much it has grown and how much potential it still has after these four years brings me a lot of joy. I’m proud of myself and it has been so worth it.”
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