Atlanta Falcons Host First Arete Intern for a Day

On Tuesday, December 8th, a select group of Atlanta-area high school students, representing Arete Scholars Fund and six different private and public schools, were given a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of an NFL team as part of the new Arete Intern for a Day program. It was a day to remember for everyone involved.

A morning breakfast and welcome started the day at the Flowery Branch, GA headquarters of the Falcons, with greetings from Arete President Derek Monjure and Atlanta Falcons Executive VP Greg Beadles. The team’s senior director of player affairs, Kevin Winston, addressed the group and explained the importance of working together and being prepared for every opportunity.

“Everyone needs someone,” Winston told the students. “No one meets their goals by themselves, but working together most anything is possible.”

Following Winston’s inspiring words, first year players Justin Hardy and Grady Jarrett shared stories of their upbringing, their dedication and work ethic, the challenges of being a professional athlete, and their hopes for life in the NFL and beyond.

After an extended Q&A session with the players, the students enjoyed time on the indoor practice field, posing for photos, tossing the football, and talking with players and team executives.

The Arete group then heard from Tameka Rish, Corporate Partnership Director, and Spencer Treadwell, Director of Logistics and Facilities. The students learned how the team partners with leading consumer brands to market itself in the community and also got a glimpse at the enormous effort required to take an organization on the road for games.

A guided tour of the campus gave the young scholars an inside look at a professional franchise and even offered them a chance to stage their own mock press conference in the media center.

The day concluded with a luncheon with Atlanta Falcons team president Rich McKay, who encouraged the children to develop their passions and follow their dreams. Lunch included a sneak peak at construction of the new stadium. The Falcons organization awarded a gift bag and backpack to each student.

The Arete Intern for a Day program offered a unique and enjoyable learning experience to the high school students. They discovered that operating an NFL franchise involves far more than what fans see on the field. Even more, that team is comprised of players, coaches, administrators, accountants, planners, marketers, editors, and so many more. Every child felt like their talents and interests were represented by some aspect of the Falcons organization.

This day was a huge win for everyone involved. A big thank you to the Atlanta Falcons for their hospitality, and we all look forward to exploring more of these wonderful learning experiences at other companies.

See more photos here.

The Arete Intern for a Day program is designed to expand life experiences, inspire professional and personal development, and ignite passion in students from underserved communities. If your company is interested in hosting the Arete Scholars, please contact Buck Alford at balford@aretescholars.org.