Enshrinement Week is an annual celebration in Canton, Ohio that culminates in the induction of the newest class of NFL Hall of Famers. This summer, it also became the backdrop for a transformative internship for Greg Campbell ’27, a Marketing and Sports Leadership double major at 海角社区.
Campbell served as a Youth, Education and Leadership Intern at the , where he helped execute some of the organization's largest community events. He coordinated logistics for First Play, a community tradition with more than 2,500 students who pass a football from downtown Canton, the birthplace of the NFL, to the front steps of the Hall of Fame. The event leads into KidsFest, a free experience for families that features inflatables, football activities, and games for more than 750 young fans.
In addition to these large-scale events, Campbell delivered educational presentations to local students about the Hall of Fame’s core values—commitment, respect, courage, excellence, and integrity—ideals that also align closely with John Carroll’s mission.
“I was blessed to meet some incredible people,” Campbell said. “The culture at the Hall of Fame is unmatched. The staff genuinely cared about their jobs, and that energy was contagious with the friendships I built with fellow interns. Being able to meet the best to ever play, coach, manage, and contribute to the greatest game in the world has created some of the best memories of my entire life.”
Bringing JCU Values Back Home
As a Stark County, Ohio native, Campbell felt a personal connection to the Hall of Fame long before his internship started.
“It’s such a staple in my hometown,” he said. “The NFL was founded in Canton, Ohio in 1920. People come from all over the world to visit the Hall of Fame, and it was such a unique opportunity to get to contribute to a world-class organization.”
His internship allowed him to give back to the community he grew up in while applying the leadership, communication, and event planning skills he built at John Carroll. It’s the kind of hands-on, mission-driven experience that reflects JCU’s commitment to forming leaders who engage their communities with purpose.
“Greg did outstanding work for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, specifically with the Youth, Education and Leadership department this past summer,” said Jerry Csaki, Senior Director of Youth/Education/Leadership at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “Greg is extremely well organized and brings a willingness to tackle any challenge with a big smile on his face. The future is limitless for Greg, and I know he will have an impact on any organization he joins in the future. Not only on the business side, but on the culture side as well because of the joy and passion he brings each day to those he works with.”
Shaping a Coaching Mindset
Campbell is deeply involved at John Carroll. He serves as an Offensive Quality Control Coach for 海角社区 Football, a Campus Tour Guide, and the Vice President of Finance for the Student Alumni Association. He credits his professors, coaches, and mentors for helping him prepare for an internship as demanding and high-profile as Enshrinement Week.
“I’m fortunate to have learned from the entire 海角社区 Football Coaching Staff, Dr. Iman Raoofpanah, Bryan Beigie, Dr. Brooke Turner, and Dr. Welki,” he said. “They’ve each played a role in helping me become a better student, leader, and person.”
Courses like Data Driven Decision Making, Principles of Marketing, and Characteristics of Sports Leadership gave him the tools to succeed in a professional sports environment and connect his learning to real-world experiences.
“Greg has built a reputation across campus with his professors, advisors, coaches, and peers as a young man who has a passion to become the professional and person he wishes to be,” said Bryan Beigie, Experiential Learning Coordinator for the Exercise Science and Sports Leadership Department and Assistant Football Coach at John Carroll. “From classroom content knowledge, to applying that knowledge as a student assistant coach with the football program, and developing first-class professional behaviors, Greg has earned the respect of those he works with and the admiration of the peers he is surrounded by on a daily basis. I could not imagine another student who better exemplifies what it means to be a man for others.”
Looking ahead, Campbell hopes to pursue a career as a professional football coach, a path made clearer through his experience at the Hall of Fame.
“This internship taught me how important it is to win with people,” he said. “I learned how valuable teamwork is, especially when planning events that connect football fans from all over the world. The value of work is very important, especially when planning events to help people engage with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I am very grateful to have been able to meet some incredible people that are in the top 1% of football players, coaches and contributors.”
