Meet the Delegates

Connor Decker, a sport management senior from Red Hook, NY, first heard about this unique opportunity from students who had gone on previous CISB trips to the Olympics and World Cups, after which he was determined to seek a spot in this program himself.

Joe Guerrera, a business analytics & information management junior from Oakville, CT, said he is "extremely grateful to participate in this program provided by Western New England University" as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Kes Husselbeck, a junior sport management major from Schenectady, NY, and freshly returned from a semester studying in London, says "the seminar abroad trip to Russia is the main reason I decided to attend Western New England," as she dreams of a career working in the English Premier League.

Joe Kaminskas, a sophomore sport management major from Tinton Falls, NJ, and also newly returned Stateside from his spring semester in London, says that being able to experience a major world sporting event as the World Cup will help him gain valuable insights into his future career.

Patrick Perzanowski, a sophomore accounting major from Vineyard Haven, MA, caught the travel bug when he visited England in 8th grade, and he has since been to Japan.  Coincidentally, traveling to Russia is at the top of his list of countries to visit, and the World Cup is just a small bonus.

As a high school senior, Steven Perzanowski, a senior pharmacy student from Vineyard Haven, MA, learned of the planned CISB trip to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and instantly knew that he had to go, because it "combines my love of soccer with my passion for learning about foreign cultures."

Val Wagner, a senior sport management major from France, said that as a lifelong football fan, attending the World Cup would fulfill one of his childhood dreams.  In fact, Val said that the opportunity to participate in this program was a main reason for him attending Western New England.

Nate Wallek, a sport management senior from Windsor, CT, said that until recently, he had never been on an airplane, but that he would not be deterred from being on the flight to Russia to attend the 2018 FIFA World Cup.  Nate, too, said that this was a big factor in his decision to attend WNE.

Alex Weir, a senior sport management major from Hebron, CT, said that although he has never witnessed a single live professional soccer match, being able to see four top-notch matches -- including Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and host Russia -- at the World Cup "is an absolute dream."  

Ryan Zajaceskowski, a sophomore marketing major from Broadalbin, NY, never would have guessed that as an avid soccer and Arsenal fan, his worlds would collide at the World Cup where he will see his two favorite players, Mesut Özil of Germany (and Arsenal) and Lionel Messi of Argentina (and Barcelona).

Alumna Andrea Canales '16 participated in CISB Seminar Abroad IV:  FIFA World Cup/Brazil in 2014, and as a football-mad fan who's native country, Peru, snagged the 32nd and final spot in the 2018 World Cup Finals after a 36-year drought, Andrea COULD NOT BE HAPPIER!

Steve Sugermeyer '78, MSA '80, a professional educator of accounting, will be making his debut as a faculty chaperone for the CISB Seminar Abroad Program.  A collegiate wrestler and father of WNE wrestling coach, Mike Sugermeyer, Steve will be schooled in association football from the top!

Curt Hamakawa L’84, associate professor of sport management, will lead his sixth CISB Seminar Abroad program to a World Cup or Olympic Games.  Previously the international relations director for the U.S. Olympic Committee, Curt is widely traveled and well-versed in navigating the vagaries of foreign cultures and environments.