The Student Success Summit was held in the Chamberlain Student Center and featured three sports communication & media students who shared inspiring stories. 

The students that spoke were Sam Prince, Zion Cruz, and Allan Wylie who talked about how their path got them to where they are today. 

Prince spoke early in the morning and Cruz and Wylie spoke later on in the day to an open public.

Zion Cruz, a senior sports communication & media student who grew up in the Camden area, started out as an exercise science major and switched to being a sports communication & media major, which then developed into him being a multimedia content creator. 

Cruz switched his major in his second semester at Rowan University. He will be entering his third year as a digital content producer for the Delaware Blue Coats this upcoming season. For the last six months, he has been a digital video intern for NBC Sports Philadelphia. In the fall, he was chosen to lead a six-person creative/social media team for Rowan football. 

Cruz seemed to find something that interested him and he has had major success throughout his time being in the sports communication & media program. 

“Honestly, just being myself and letting my work show,” Cruz said. “It was also motivation knowing that I want more from myself, knowing that I want to be the best person I can be and grow as a person.”

There were students who showed up and saw what Cruz had to say, including Antonino Ardizzone, a freshman exercise science major at Rowan University.

“So I was definitely really inspired, he definitely inspired me to get out of my comfort zone,” Ardizzone said. “Try to make a lot of relationships because these people can help you build your future.”

Another student, who is also from Camden like Cruz, was also in attendance. Dylan Francis is a senior journalism major. He has known Cruz for a very long time. 

“The way he dedicates his time to his craft,” Francis said. “We went to the same high school, same middle school, and elementary school. For me it’s happy to see a fellow friend go out and succeed.”

Freshman Allan Wylie from northeast Ohio is another sports communications & media major who was born blind. By the time he was 11, he decided to pursue a career in sports broadcasting. Wylie has gotten a variety of experience as a color commentary analyst for high school and minor league sports. He has been a radio color analyst for the Cleveland Charge, which is the Cleveland Cavaliers G League affiliate, and the Lake County Captains, which is the Cleveland Guardians High A affiliate. Earlier in the week, he was chosen as one of the radio broadcasters for the Delaware Blue Coats internship opportunity. 

Some people might be wondering how he is able to do this. Wylie has his way of how he prepares for games. 

“For example, when I would do West Lake games, I would try to do as much research and find as many articles about their opponent as I could so I could create the most informative speech or conversations on the other team as I could,” Wylie said. “It’s a lot of listening, a lot of listening to other people’s broadcasts, like different radio broadcasts from different periods, and taking what they do and then putting my own little twist on them.”

One of the people in attendance for Wylie’s story was Kevin George, who is the director of the Department of Campus Recreation.

“Allan’s just really inspirational, but it’s not just about his disability, he’s just a very talented individual and I think seeing the support that he has here at Rowan University was set up with the System of Accessibilities services,” George said. “It also makes me think of my job and other jobs on campus, how we can make universal designs a priority because I feel like we cater to the majority and we also need to be mindful of how we can be inclusive to all individuals.”

Mike Garrett, a graduate student who works as an employee for the Academic Support Programs, was also in attendance for Allan Wylie’s story. 

“What really comes to mind is just not being afraid to just put yourself out there and having the courage just to take that first step, because that’s pretty much what Allan does over and over,” Garrett said. “He just goes for it and opportunities open up for him because he makes the effort and he puts himself into positions to be successful…that’s what I think people struggle with is just taking that first step to pursuing their passion. Really all it takes is committing.”

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