An All-Star Worthy Post-Grad Life
2022 Graduate Cary de Graaff Used Lynn Experiences to Further a Career in Sports Management
By Sydney Burke, Social Media Editor
Since graduating from Lynn University in fall 2022, Cary de Graaff has gone on to do amazing things in his field of sports management.
De Graaff knew he wanted to go into sports since he served as a student athletic trainer in high school. In this position, he assisted players for various teams recovering from injuries while also getting a sense of sports community.
“I chose to go into sports because of the camaraderie and team aspect of it all,” said de Graaff. “I realized early on that I wanted to go into the business side of sports but also have a close connection with the athletes.”
Therefore, when de Graaff began studying at Lynn in 2019, he did everything to ensure his dream of working in sports became a reality. Throughout his time at the university, he worked as a student admissions ambassador and head manager for Lynn’s hockey club.
“If you’re a student wanting to get into sports, go tell the athletics department you’d like to get involved,” said de Graaff. “It’s a great way to gain experience and learn what you want to do along with what you don’t want to do.”
Because of his impressive resumé at Lynn, after graduation, de Graaff has been able to volunteer at the NHL All-Star Game in spring 2023. He is currently working with FAU’s hockey team running game day operations, and with the Florida Panthers as a community events staff member.
“Volunteering at the NHL All-Star Game and working with the Florida Panthers would have to be the coolest things I’ve experienced professionally,” said de Graaff. “I’ve made a lot of connections within the NHL that the average person wouldn’t be able to.”
