Over two hundred Dean College students performed in the 2017 NFL Kickoff Pregame Show at Gillette Stadium!
Franklin, MA (September 8, 2017) – Best experience ever; Indescribable;
Truly special; Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – these are just a few words that
Dean College students are using to describe their experience as on-field
performers in Thursday’s NFL pregame celebration at Gillette Stadium.
Over two hundred
Dean College students, including Arts and Entertainment Management (AMGT),
Business, Dance and Sport Management majors, participated as stunt card group members,
banner holders and dance performers as the New England Patriots faced the
Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL opener.
This is
the second opportunity for Dean College to participate, having previously
performed in the NFL pregame celebration in September 2015.
It was unequivocally
sweet for those students who performed for their second time.
“This is a
once-in-a-lifetime experience that I had the opportunity to experience twice,”
said AMGT major Pat Budris '19. “When we ran out to the field, you could feel
the electric in the air. The crowd was roaring; it was incredible.”
Jaclyn
O’Keefe '18 also participated in the 2015 performance and shared the same
sentiments. “Never in a million years would I
think that I'd be able to participate in the Patriots NFL Kickoff not only
once, but two times! My two experiences were different, but both
indescribable.”
Sport Management
major Dean Bennett '18 was part of the night’s banner group, holding the 2017
Super Bowl banner with his peers at the 50-yard line. “This was my first
experience participating in the event and holding the center banner was
amazing. I was standing right next to Gronk (Rob Gronkowski) which made the
experience even better.”
Angeli Myatt
'20 was thrilled to participate in the stunt card group.
“Getting the opportunity to participate at the Patriots Kickoff is something
I'll never forget. The energy on the field and in the stands brought such a
wonderful and happy feeling. Definitely one of my most memorable nights!”
Even
faculty members participated alongside students, including Associate Professor
of Dance, Todd Shanks. “Exciting doesn’t even begin to describe it,” said
Shanks. “Dancing side by side with my students and colleagues on the field, in
front of over 60,000 fellow Patriots fans was incredible. Beyond the experience
of the performance, it was great for all of us to be a part of such a large-scale
production.”
The night
turned out to be a family affair for first year dance student Celine Santorsola
'21, as she performed on the field alongside her sisters Adrena '19 and Leanne
'16, current Patriots Cheerleaders. “It felt amazing to walk in my sisters’
shoes for a night…I idolize them so much,” said Santorsola. “If this is the
beginning of my time at Dean, I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
By the end
of the night, students were able to experience first-hand what it takes to
produce such a large-scale performance. In the upcoming weeks, students will
receive an event debrief in the classroom to bring the learning experience full
circle.
The
opportunity was brought to life through The Center for Business, Entertainment
and Sport Management at Dean College, a partnership with the Kraft Sports
Group. For more information about Dean College, visit www.dean.edu. For more information on The
Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management at Dean College, visit www.dean.edu/thecenter.
For pictures from the 2017 NFL Kickoff Pregame Show click here or visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/deandifference
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Dean
College is a private, residential New England college grounded in a culture and
tradition that all students deserve the opportunity for academic and personal
success. A uniquely supportive community for more than 150 years, Dean has
woven together extensive student support and engagement with exceptional
teaching and innovative campus activities. Our graduates are lifetime learners
who thrive in their careers, embrace social responsibility and demonstrate
leadership. This is The Dean Difference.