Class of 2015
"Graduating from Cazenovia College means I have achieved goals I never dreamed possible..."
Kyle Severance, of Endicott, New York, a senior sport management major with a minor in psychology, came to Cazenovia College four years ago as a soccer recruit. Keeping in mind a high school teammate, Riley Battaglini, who was playing on Cazenovia's men's soccer team at the time, it made perfect sense for Severance to join his good friend on the field once again.
In the blink of an eye, senior year rolls around. As Severance looks back on his college career, he feels his final year is the one that has best prepared him for graduation.
"This year, I've been juggling so many real-life activities, from work to helping out faculty and students, to completing an entire capstone project within two terms," he said. "I've had no time, but learning how to manage that time is what I expect the real world to be like."
His senior capstone, which he created with a group made up of fellow business and management seniors, is the project that he is most proud of having completed during his college years. He and his group created a health and fitness center. "It's been eye-opening and a lot of work to develop a business, but I'm proud of where we've gotten in the past year," he said.
Severance was not always interested in business, yet his love for his major has developed throughout his college days. As a life-long sports lover, a sports management major seemed like the best option for Severance. "I like having that business foundation," he said. "In sports management, I get to combine sports, which I've always loved, and business, which I've grown to love."
As internships are required for most programs at Cazenovia College, Severance was granted two internship opportunities during his time at Caz. For his first, he worked with Chris Comino, assistant director of athletics, at the Cazenovia College Schneeweiss Athletic Center, where he served as event manager for both the men's and women's basketball teams.
During his second internship, he was a social media intern for the Onondaga Redhawks, an indoor box lacrosse team in Syracuse, N.Y. Severance worked closely with Neal Powless, a Redhawks player. "Kyle was a great support of the program and his suggestions and work were greatly helpful in the promotion and marketing of the team's National Championship season of 2014," said Powless.
On Commencement Day in May 2015, Severance had mixed emotions about graduating. "I was very excited to graduate so I can see where my future takes me, but I'm not excited to leave Caz," he said. "I know it was a proud moment for me to walk across that stage, but I was most proud to see my best friends do the same. Those are the guys I've been with since day one when we stepped onto the field."
"Graduating from Cazenovia College means I have achieved goals I never dreamed possible," Severance said. "Back in high school, you try to pick the perfect college, but at that moment, you don't really understand the entirety of it. You don't really understand how much work you're going to put in, what you'll go through in those four years, and how it will change your life."
In the fall of 2015, Severance plans to attend the Madden School of Business at Le Moyne College for his master's degree. He will be taking part of the new "4+1 partnership agreement," which was signed in September, 2014 by President Mark Tierno and Dr. Linda LeMura, president of Le Moyne College. This partnership grants qualifying graduates of Cazenovia's business and management programs admission into Madden, where they will be able to complete a master's degree in one year as opposed to two.
With graduate school on the horizon, Severance is keeping his options open for his future career path. "My dream job would be to market for Microsoft," he said. "I would also love to coach soccer."
For as long as he stays in the Syracuse area, Severance hopes to be able to attend many soccer games in future years. "That's definitely a huge thing for me, to support that team," he said. "We're like a family, and I want to watch them graduate as well."
In the blink of an eye, senior year rolls around. As Severance looks back on his college career, he feels his final year is the one that has best prepared him for graduation.
"This year, I've been juggling so many real-life activities, from work to helping out faculty and students, to completing an entire capstone project within two terms," he said. "I've had no time, but learning how to manage that time is what I expect the real world to be like."
His senior capstone, which he created with a group made up of fellow business and management seniors, is the project that he is most proud of having completed during his college years. He and his group created a health and fitness center. "It's been eye-opening and a lot of work to develop a business, but I'm proud of where we've gotten in the past year," he said.
Severance was not always interested in business, yet his love for his major has developed throughout his college days. As a life-long sports lover, a sports management major seemed like the best option for Severance. "I like having that business foundation," he said. "In sports management, I get to combine sports, which I've always loved, and business, which I've grown to love."
As internships are required for most programs at Cazenovia College, Severance was granted two internship opportunities during his time at Caz. For his first, he worked with Chris Comino, assistant director of athletics, at the Cazenovia College Schneeweiss Athletic Center, where he served as event manager for both the men's and women's basketball teams.
During his second internship, he was a social media intern for the Onondaga Redhawks, an indoor box lacrosse team in Syracuse, N.Y. Severance worked closely with Neal Powless, a Redhawks player. "Kyle was a great support of the program and his suggestions and work were greatly helpful in the promotion and marketing of the team's National Championship season of 2014," said Powless.
On Commencement Day in May 2015, Severance had mixed emotions about graduating. "I was very excited to graduate so I can see where my future takes me, but I'm not excited to leave Caz," he said. "I know it was a proud moment for me to walk across that stage, but I was most proud to see my best friends do the same. Those are the guys I've been with since day one when we stepped onto the field."
"Graduating from Cazenovia College means I have achieved goals I never dreamed possible," Severance said. "Back in high school, you try to pick the perfect college, but at that moment, you don't really understand the entirety of it. You don't really understand how much work you're going to put in, what you'll go through in those four years, and how it will change your life."
In the fall of 2015, Severance plans to attend the Madden School of Business at Le Moyne College for his master's degree. He will be taking part of the new "4+1 partnership agreement," which was signed in September, 2014 by President Mark Tierno and Dr. Linda LeMura, president of Le Moyne College. This partnership grants qualifying graduates of Cazenovia's business and management programs admission into Madden, where they will be able to complete a master's degree in one year as opposed to two.
With graduate school on the horizon, Severance is keeping his options open for his future career path. "My dream job would be to market for Microsoft," he said. "I would also love to coach soccer."
For as long as he stays in the Syracuse area, Severance hopes to be able to attend many soccer games in future years. "That's definitely a huge thing for me, to support that team," he said. "We're like a family, and I want to watch them graduate as well."