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HCHSA NEWSLETTER #WEAREHOUSTONSPORTS

IN THIS ISSUE

2024 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HOUSTON SPORTS AWARDS FIFA WORLD CUP 26™ MATCH SCHEDULE SPRING 2024 INTERNS AND MORE!

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2024 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

JANUARY 8, 2024

The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship left behind a legacy that the Houston community will feel for years to come. The efforts of both the Houston 2024 Host Committee and the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority paid off with a jampacked weekend full of exciting events, community impact, and celebration!

During Championship weekend, over 100,000 people came out to enjoy and experience all the activities taking place. There was something for everyone to enjoy, including Playoff Fan Central, Playoff Playlist Live, Trophy Trot, Taste of the Championship, and more!

After an unforgettable Championship Weekend for the city, the Michigan Wolverines capped it off by hoisting the national championship trophy with their decisive 34-13 victory over the Washington Huskies on January 8, 2024.

YEAR 10 SIGNAGE IN DOWNTOWN

(CLOCK-WISE BEGINNING UPPER LEFT): MICHIGAN WOLVERINES WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY, N, ATTENDEE AT PLAYOFF FAN CENTRAL, FANS AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, TROPHY TROT PARTICIPANT

Imperial Red Company

2024 HOUSTON SPORTS AWARDS

(LEFT PAGE | CLOCK-WISE BEGINNING UPPER LEFT): 2024 HALL OF FAMER WARREN MOON, AND 2024 HALL OF FAMER CYNTHIA COOPER, SUPRISE PERFORMER ROBERT EARL KEEN 4 (RIGHT PAGE | LEFT TO RIGHT): SPECIAL GUESTS RAINI AND RICO RODRIGUEZ, 2024 HALL OF FA

NEWSLETTER

The 7th annual Houston Sports Awards, presented by TDECU, were held January 30, 2024, at 713 Music Hall in downtown Houston. Hosted

by Astros pitcher and World Series champion Lance McCullers Jr., the star-studded event honored Houston’s top athletes, coaches, and sports moments from the past year.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was named Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year and three Houston sports icons were inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame: Comets legend Cynthia Cooper, Oilers legend Warren Moon, and Astros legend Lance Berkman. We congratulate all the nominees and winners for their incredible achievements in the sports world and their contributions to the Houston community.

THANK YOU TO TDECU, THE TEXANS, ASTROS, ROCKETS, DYNAMO-DASH AND OUR OTHER SPONSORS FOR SUPPORTING THIS UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT

DRE JOHNSON ACCEPTING ON BEHALF OF C.J. STROUD, OPENING PERFORMANCE DEMOLA,

AMER LANCE BERKMAN

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The new year brought fresh talent and enthusiasm to the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority with the arrival of its January 2024 intern class. This diverse group of up-and-comers immediately made their mark, infusing HCHSA's operations with youthful energy and innovative ideas. From marketing wizards adept at capturing the pulse of Houston's fervent sports scene to operations gurus ensuring events run seamlessly, these interns hit the ground running.

Sydney D'Easum - Athlete Affairs Intern Hockey fan from birth, Sydney is gliding into her role as an Athlete Affairs Event Operations Intern fueled by cherished memories from her childhood in Calgary, Alberta. It was a pivotal Vancouver Canucks game shared with her dad that first sparked Sydney's lifelong love of sports. Receiving her first NHL jersey, soaking in the electric game day atmosphere, and joining the raucous celebrations of a Canucks victory left an indelible impact.

Now residing in Texas while pursuing her Master's in Sport Management at Sam Houston State University, Sydney refuses to let the Lone Star State's distance from her frozen Canadian roots chill her passion.

With graduation approaching in August 2024, Sydney has her sights set on launching her career in Houston to be surrounded by its endless professional sports offerings.

Her happy-go-lucky vibe is perfectly captured by her self-described smiley face emoji. But don't let the bubbly demeanor fool you - Sydney is a determined worker bee with lofty goals of maintaining a sterling 4.0 GPA.

Ese Amata - Event Ops Intern Ese is leaping into his role as an Event Operations Intern at HCHSA this spring, bringing standout high school athletic achievements in track and field. As a phenom from Binghamton, New York, Ese won a state championship in the high jump by just his sophomore year, showcasing his impressive vertical of over 7 feet.

When asked about a career-enhancing superpower, Sydney didn't hesitate: photographic memory would allow her to blaze through multiple tasks simultaneously. This drive coupled with her warm Canadian spirit is sure to make Sydney a difference-maker at HCHSA. Get ready for this former Canucks die hard to score big wins for Houston!

Now a senior at Rice University double majoring

in Sports Management and Business, Ese dreams of someday overseeing major professional or collegiate sporting events. With innovative branding ideas and skills to energize fan engagement, he aspires to create vibrant event environments that excite all involved.

Ese counts NBA all-star Giannis Antetokounmpo among his favorite athletes for his elite skills and community leadership. He describes himself using the peace sign emoji and has surprised people with his world-class jumping abilities. Get ready for Ese's budding sports business career to reach new heights!

Igniting passion, fostering teamwork; Houston's sports interns blaze trails, united by their love for the game and our city.

DeMarcus Adams Marketing/Social Media Intern Demarcus is sprinting onto the scene this spring as the Marketing and Social Media Communications Intern. He brings over a decade of track and field experience, having fallen in love with the sport at just 7 years old when he joined a local summer league.

Demarcus went on to become a standout youth competitor winning Junior Olympics titles

multiple times. At his Houston high school, Demarcus broke records competing in sprints and was part of relay teams that dominated district and regional championships. His athletic diligence earned academic and athletic scholarships to run track for the University of Houston.

With dreams of working alongside rising Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud or landing an executive role with a major Houston sports brand, Demarcus is ready to showcase his skills. Known for being cool under pressure, Demarcus also revealed he has talents in

photography and videography.

Now pursuing a second degree in Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University Demarcus is on pace

to graduate in May 2024. Get ready for this proven Houston champion to bolt to success!

2024 HCHSA Houston Sports Awards The 2024 spring intern cohort joined our team at a critical juncture, with only a week remaining until one of the most demanding events on our calendar, the prestigious Houston Sports Awards.

These motivated individuals seamlessly integrated themselves into our operations and immediately contributed their talents and efforts ensuring the successful execution of this annual marquee event.

2024 Houston Sports Awards - Staff Photo

Where passion meets purpose on the playing Sebastian Tamayo - Accounting Intern fields of Houston's future. These interns Sebastian is bringing a unique blend of artistic flair and are the starting lineup, athletic passion to his role as an Accounting Intern at scoring wins for sports HCHSA this spring. Though now taking a break from and community spirit competitive soccer, this native Houstonian fondly remembers representing Austin High School on the pitch every single day.

while attending Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts.

The son of an Austin High alum, Sebastian took pride in upholding his family's legacy while gaining first-hand appreciation for how tightly-knit a school community can become when rallying around its sports teams. His talents as a mariachi trumpet player, allowed Sebastian to develop a well-rounded perspective few his age can match.

Off the field, Sebastian idolizes the playmaking wizardry of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti. He hopes to one day combine his future accounting expertise with his love for soccer to contribute to Houston's efforts in hosting the World Cup. This sophomore at Houston Community College plans to graduate in 2026 with the goal of supporting major international sporting events in his hometown.

Grant Gaspard - Event Ops Intern Grant charges in as an Event Operations Intern this spring. As a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan, this Southeast Texas hero traces his passion to an early childhood memory watching the Cowboys defeat the previously undefeated Saints on their home turf inspired by linebacker DeMarcus Ware annihilating Drew Brees play after play.

Now a senior Sports Management major at Texas A&M University, Grant dreams of collaborating down the line with retired Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant on creative business ventures.

Competitive by nature as a 3-time fantasy football league champion,

he suggests Houston adopt the motto “Be Clutch” to motivate next-level performances when it matters most .

This laughing emoji fan envisions himself among the ranks of executives for the city's major sports teams soon, bringing his small-town Texas roots and Cowboys championship mentality to Houston. Get ready for Grant to make clutch plays at HCHSA!

This intern class embodies the spirit of Houston - a diverse group of driven, passionate individuals united by their love for sports and commitment to serving our community.

Their energy and enthusiasm are contagious, fueling an environment where collaboration thrives and innovation takes center stage.

Together, we are shaping the future of sports in Harris County, one project, one event, and one interaction at a time. This internship is more than just a stepping stone; it's a catalyst for personal growth and a testament to the power of sports to bring people together.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Houston will play host to 7 matches during the FIFA World Cup 26™ tournament, including one Round of 32, and one Round of 16, all to be played at Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium). This announcement brings the city one step closer to welcoming fans from all over the world to experience its diversity, rich history, and passion for soccer.

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We are beyond excited to receive this schedule and to learn that Houston will be the host to 7 FIFA World Cup™ matches in 2026.

This is the most popular and prestigious sporting event in the world, and these matches will put our community on the global stage. Receiving the schedule is a critical part of the planning process as we prepare for 2026.

Chris Canetti HCHSA Executive and President of the Houston 2026 World Cup Host Committee

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