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CORTLAND SPORT MANAGEMENT HELPING TO DRIVE NASCAR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM Published in the Cortland Standard, October 1, 2004
The SUNY Cortland Sport Management program was in the fast lane on Sept. 24 at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. As part of a NASCAR-themed education program called RacerU, Cortland Sport Management logos were placed on the TV panel (trunk lid) of the No. 19 Racing for a Cure Chevrolet driven by Paul Wolfe in the NASCAR Busch North Series MBNA America 150 race. Wolfe finished second. RacerU is program designed for middle-to-high school aged children that uses NASCAR to teach basic principles of math, science, technology and communication. The Cortland Sport Management program and RacerU will be teaming up this coming summer to deliver a sport technology camp in the college's Sport Media & Technology Learning Center. Sport management professor and SMTLC director Daniel DePerno will be running the camp. He also works as a "weekend warrior" as the public relations director and Webmaster for Tommy Baldwin Racing's Busch and Busch North Series teams driven by Wolfe. "We used the Dover race as an opportunity to gain some exposure for our sport technology camp and the RacerU program," DePerno said. "This will be an excellent way for the sport management program here at Cortland to connect with the surrounding community. Our goal is to use NASCAR and other sports to generate excitement about learning. At the same time, we are tying this all in to the New York State Learning Standards." DePerno has been working in NASCAR for six years. As a PR director, he says he is always looking for opportunities to show the team truly cares about the community and the fans. "Being engaged in cause-related programs is vitally important, both for the team and the team's sponsors," DePerno said. "It goes beyond just good public relations strategy. I truly believe we are making a difference in the lives of the people in our community. Racing for a Cure is a great example. We hope to do the same with RacerU." The Racing for a Cure program is an initiative designed to use NASCAR to raise money for cancer research at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York. Through the team's sponsor contributions, personal appearances and special events, Racing for a Cure has raised over $60,000 for Roswell in 2004. The dates of the 2005 sport technology camp will be announced soon. For more information about driver Paul Wolfe and the Racing for a Cure program, visit www.paulwolfe.net. |
