After three years of exploring the economic and social benefits of developing sports facilities and events, Sarah Dawkins '25 presented her findings at the February conference and won the top prize for undergraduate research.
Elon student Sarah Dawkins ’25 won first place in the undergraduate research competition of the Applied Sport Management Association conference, which was hosted in February by the University of Cincinnati.
The sport management and economics double major presented her research project, titled “Beyond the Arena: Economic Impact and Alternative Benefits to Sport Event and Venue Development,” which explores how the location of a sporting event impacts host communities and the people living within them. It is a topic she has researched since her second year at Elon.
As a result of her research, Dawkins found that an Atlantic Coast Conference championship tournament event has a larger impact when hosted in smaller cities like Durham, North Carolina, over larger metropolitan areas like Charlotte, North Carolina, because fewer big events are held each year in those smaller locations.
“I think it’s cool and important for (athletic) conferences to know,” Dawkins said.
Dawkins wasn’t the only Elon student recognized at the conference. Lily Barker, a senior majoring in sport management, earned second place in the undergraduate research competition. As part of her research project, titled “Determinants of Attendance in Women’s College Volleyball: An Empirical Analysis,” Barker examined attendance trends that shed light on potential strategies to enhance fan engagement.
For Dawkins, her first-place finish was unexpected, but she was happy to have her efforts recognized by a larger scholarly community outside Elon.
“It feels like I’ve done something meaningful and my hard work paid off,” Dawkins said.
During her research, Dawkins worked closely with mentor Khirey Walker, assistant professor of sport management, who lauded Dawkins’ commitment and passion for the project.
“Winning the competition was the culmination of months and years of commitment and a determination to push through any challenge that came her way,” Walker said. “Her victory stands as a testament to her resilience, passion for the field, and the tireless work ethic that drove her to excel.”
Dawkins said most of the challenges she faced centered on collecting the data she needed from sports organizations on the economic impacts of sporting events. One way Dawkins overcame this hurdle was by partnering with the ACC on her research while interning with the conference in fall 2023.
“It ended up being a much cooler project with the support of that organization,” Dawkins said.
Prior to her second year, Dawkins had never considered undergraduate research, but its benefits have made a significant impact on her.
“The value of conducting undergraduate research really stands out to people,” Dawkins said. “It’s something I have on my resume and I’m always asked about in interviews.”
Dawkins’ research allowed her to delve into her own interests and broaden her knowledge of the sport management industry beyond work experience.
“It has helped me get a truly deeper understanding of what sports are doing to their host communities and how they impact people,” Dawkins said.