鈥淪ports is a male-dominated industry, and one without many women of color in leadership,鈥� Morton said.

Recognized for her aspiration to change the sports industry, Morton has received the Savannah Walker Award for Social Justice. The award recognizes a graduating senior from CEHD鈥檚 Department of Health and Sport Sciences who has demonstrated a commitment to social justice, equity and inclusion.

鈥淚 wanted to become an advocate for Black girls, so they could know this is possible for them, too鈥� said Morton, who has combined her sports affinity with a passion for mentoring and representation through the CEHD鈥檚 Sport Administration program.

Morton is a Woodford R. Porter Scholar, J. Blaine Hudson Scholar, Dean鈥檚 List Scholar,聽 member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honor Society member. She graduates May 14 with Summa cum Laude honors.

She has also volunteered with the TRIO Upward Bound Secondary School Outreach Program, the Cardinal Cupboard, the Louisville Men鈥檚 Soccer team and as a tutor for participating Jefferson County Public Schools.

Matched with a mentor as part of the Porter Scholar Program during her freshman year, Morton realized she could give back to other students through a mentoring relationship. She became involved in the Caring of New Students Experiencing College Transition (CONECT) Peer Mentorship program, which seeks to help minority students feel welcomed and supported.

鈥淚鈥檝e been blessed with support at UofL, so I wanted to give back 鈥� it鈥檚 been a great journey.鈥� Morton said. 鈥淚 want to be someone who shows other people that, once you put the work in, you can do it. You鈥檒l excel in it.鈥�

Morton currently works as an intern for the Louisville Sports Commission, with hopes of continuing with the organization following graduation. She plans to pursue a master鈥檚 degree or graduate certificate in the future.

The opportunity arose through an established relationship with SP+ GAMEDAY, a transportation management company that also partners with the Kentucky Derby.

Students enrolled in the Sport Administration special topics course 鈥淜entucky Derby Logistics鈥� volunteered at the event in the Spring of 2021, transporting those with mobility needs to and from Churchill Downs. Doctoral student Michael Clemons taught the course and has seen the partnership flourish.

鈥淚n the class, more than 20 students worked with the Mobility Assistance Program outside of Churchill Downs,鈥� Clemons said. 鈥淪ince SP+ GAMEDAY partners with multiple mega sporting events, they contracted our students from the class to assist with the same Mobility Assistance Program at this year鈥檚 Super Bowl.鈥�

Student volunteers will serve as contractors, stationed outside of Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles to assist those with mobility needs.

鈥淭he Sport Administration program at UofL is nationally known as a top program providing opportunities for its students, including experiences like this,鈥� Clemons said. 鈥淎s I teach both during my PhD program and after I graduate, I plan to incorporate examples and real-life lessons learned from my time at the Super Bowl. It鈥檚 nice to be able to talk about mega-sporting events, but being at an event and experiencing it firsthand adds another unique element to class discussion.鈥�

Junior Emily Bridges anticipates the opportunity will advance her understanding of the field of sport administration.

鈥淚鈥檓 interested in seeing the elaborate, precise preparation and coordination that goes into major sporting event planning,鈥� Bridges said. 鈥淚 am most familiar with collegiate sporting events, so working at a professional sporting event, especially one of this magnitude, will broaden my experience.鈥�

She also thinks the opportunity will increase her confidence in her future career.

鈥淸The opportunity] will also encourage me to look at other unique sport opportunities to diversify my skill set, which will directly impact my future career endeavors in terms of confidence, knowledge and experience in the sport industry,鈥� she said.

The rare opportunity is one that the students are not taking for granted.

鈥淲hile I鈥檝e worked a lot of major sporting events, the Super Bowl is at a whole new level. It is the most-watched, most-anticipated annual sporting event in the United States,鈥� Clemons said.聽鈥淭o be on site and playing a part in event operations is truly special, and something that very few sport administration students and faculty receive.鈥澛�