This summer, Sheedy Family Program student Aubrey Keegan (’26) put her purpose-driven education into practice during an internship with the Cape Cod Baseball League. One of the nation’s premier summer leagues, the Massachusetts-based organization has over 400 alumni actively playing in Major League Baseball.

“Interning with the Cape Cod Baseball League included many highlights," Keegan said. "I worked with ESPN to produce a live segment of SportsCenter from Cape Cod, visited Fenway Park and Citi Field for media events, and collaborated with corporate sponsors to increase brand awareness and evolve the fan experience. But the true highlight was the opportunity to amplify local causes and stories.”

Keegan was one of six Sheedy students to receive funding from the Sheedy Program to help offset her summer expenses. The Sheedy summer funding program aims to support students who accept unpaid or underpaid internships or research experiences that can help them professionally develop. It is especially designed for students who choose experiences at nonprofits or local companies.

Keegan drew inspiration from her experiences in the Sheedy Family Program. That included the April 2025 Sheedy Dinner with Katherine Jollon Colsher, CEO of Girls Who Invest.

“One question from Katherine’s speech stuck with me," Keegan explained. “Her question was, ‘How can you use your distinct voice to amplify the voices of others?’”

Keegan’s answer to that question came as she worked as the league’s Marketing and Community Relations Intern, liaising with large corporate partners and local nonprofit organizations. She used the opportunity to connect Cape League athletes and fans with the missions of two groups: Special Olympics Massachusetts and the Cape Cod Foster Closet.

Shining a Spotlight on Inclusion

The first event, Special Olympics Night, honored athletes from various chapters of Special Olympics Massachusetts as special guests during a Cape League game. By interviewing each athlete, providing them with designated seating, and arranging a post-game autograph session, Keegan created a space where they could use their voices to shine a light on inclusion.

Packing the Hill for a Cause

The second event was Pack the Hill, a backpack and school supply drive benefiting the Cape Cod Foster Closet, where fans brought donations and wore red to show their support. Leading this initiative from ideation to execution, Keegan collected over 90 backpacks and 800 school supply items across two Pack the Hill nights.

“Finding this mutually beneficial impact between organizations helped me see an intersection between my studies in sociology and marketing," Keegan said. “The impact of these events on the local community was exactly the purpose that I was hoping to find this summer. I’m grateful that the Sheedy Family Program prepared me to recognize these connections!"

Contact

Chris Hedlin, PhD
Sheedy Family Program in Economy, Enterprise, and Society
203B O'Shaughnessy Hall
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556

About the Sheedy Family Program

The Sheedy Family Program in Economy, Enterprise, and Society is a robust intellectual community. Students, faculty, and industry leaders explore the intersections of business and the liberal arts through rigorous coursework, collaborative research, meaningful dialogue, and purpose-driven career discernment.

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Originally published by Chris Hedlin at sheedyprogram.nd.edu on September 02, 2025.