Small universities have the unique ability to provide students with more than just a degree.
The closeness of a college that is small, such as Ashland University, can encourage closer student-faculty relationships due to smaller class sizes, provide more opportunities through connection and give hands-on experiences.
This support for student passion led senior Ashley Veldheer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Veldheer has been granted many opportunities at AU to make herself more well-rounded. She is a four-year softball player, a double major in sports management and marketing, a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Athlete Advisory Council and more.
Her experiences gained through various leadership positions and interactions with her peers helped her secure two summer internships at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
She then went on to accept a full-time position starting in May of 2026, that’ll allow her to stay close to sports for her life.
“Coming to Ashland, I knew I wanted to remain in sports due to growing up playing softball my entire life and always being surrounded by sports,” Veldheer said.
Many prosperous students are able to learn from a professor that is able to guide them, give advice, and provide wisdom from their own experiences. For Veldheer, Interim Dean of College of Business & Economics, Lance Kaltenbaugh is her biggest guide.
“Lance, despite his busy schedule, takes time for his students and will do anything he can to help support us grow not only as professionals, but also as young adults,” Veldheer said.
Kaltenbaugh was a vital part of Veldheer’s ability to experience this internship, and he believes the nature of who Veldheer is at the core is what made her stand out in the wide field of applicants. “What stands out the most about Ashley, as a student, is her down-to-earth personality combined with an exceptional work ethic and high level of professionalism,” Kaltenbaugh said.
An internship at the Pro Football Hall of fame has a large pool of applicants and a limited number of accepted interns. Veldheer was first introduced and interested in this opportunity for her freshman year at COBE career day;however, she was ineligible for the internship at the time, so she followed up with an email thanking them.
The following year, when she was eligible, she spoke with them again and made it a point to ensure she could join their team.
“Something that may have set me apart from the large number of candidates is how I always have an optimistic attitude, seeking the blessings and the good in every situation,” Veldheer said. In her first summer with the Hall of Fame, she served as the Youth Education and Leadership intern.
She managed to be involved in “Play Football First Play,” a event where thousands of children who form a human chain and pass a football along a 3-mile route from the location in downtown Canton where the NFL was founded to the front steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This event also allowed Veldheer to host her own event afterwards — KidsFest.
Veldheer was asked to return the next summer due to her amazing work the first time around. She was now equipped with more skills to set her up for a career. At her second experience, she was tasked with working in a different department, Communications.
“I drafted the official 18u Girls NFL Flag Championship post-game press release for the NFL to use and also wrote articles for the Hall of Fame’s website,” Veldheer said. “I felt I grew and expanded my experience within the sport management profession through opportunities that I have never done before.”
Veldheer said her “why,” or the reason she continues to work hard, is what motivates her to keep pushing forward in her career. One moment during her time at the Pro Football Hall of Fame made that purpose clear.
“I had a parent come up to me during an event I organized. She thanked me for the event and described how much of an impact it had on her kids,” Veldheer said. “That moment solidified that I have a deep passion to leave an impact on others’ lives through football, as it teaches life lessons and brings experiences that will last a lifetime.”
Through her experiences both in and out of the classroom, Veldheer has turned opportunity into a career, accepting a full-time position with the Pro Football Hall of Fame as Youth Education and Leadership Coordinator beginning in May.
Her journey shows the impact AU’s academic environment can have on student success, where access to faculty, hands-on learning and individualized mentorship help students turn their passions into realities.
For Veldheer, the combination of preparation and experience gave the foundation to not only to earn a competitive internship, but to grow into a role where she can now leave a lasting impact on others through the game she loves.
