Program Overview

Summer Immersion Program

The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program is a hands-on learning experience offered on-campus and online. High school students dive deep into a field of study with access to world-class faculty, researchers, and industry professionals.

Sports Business Institute

The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Sports Business Institute is an unforgettable experience for high school students. Whether cold calling to bring together fans to support their favorite team, implementing promotions to enhance the game day experience, or negotiating sponsorship deals with Fortune 500 companies, students will learn about and get a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of this high-profile multi-billion dollar industry's unique application to business principles. This institute explores career opportunities in both the collegiate and professional world, as guest speakers will further provide students with opportunities to walk away with an array of industry knowledge and a broad range of networking contacts.

At a Glance

• 2026 Dates: Week of June 14-19 and week of July 12-17
• Program Length: Sunday – Friday, overnight
• Who Can Apply?: Current 9th – 12th grade students
• Tuition: $3,500
• Location: Winston-Salem, NC – Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus
• Certificate: Upon completion of the program, an official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all Sports Business Institute participants.

What You'll Experience

Topics Covered:

• Sales, Marketing, Branding and Promotions
• Sponsorships
• Media and Communications
• Community Relations
• Collegiate Athletics Administration
• Current Issues in Sports

Hands-On Experiences:

• Hear from and engage in discussions with leading sports industry executives
• Speak with NCAA Division 1 Coaches and Administrators
• Dive deeper into career opportunities
• Tour and see firsthand professional and college sports facilities

A Day in the Life

Typical Daily Schedule

• 8:00 am – Morning Meeting and Breakfast
• 9:00 am – Welcome and Program Introduction – Ted Tseng, Academic Leader
• 9:30 am – Workshop: Understanding the Business of Sports
• 10:30 am – Achieving Your Dream Job in Sports
• 11:15 am – Sports Broadcasting, Working at ESPN
• 12:00 pm – Lunch
• 1:00 pm – Wake Forest Athletics Facility Tour – Sutton Sports Performance Center
• 2:30 pm – Group Activity and Discussion – College Conference Realignment
• 4:00 pm – What is Name, Image, Likeness?
• 4:30 pm – Debrief for Next Day
• 5:30 pm – Dinner
• 6:30 pm – Evening Activities
• 7:30 pm – Free Time
• 9:00 pm – Prepare for Bed
• 10:30 pm – Lights Out

Meet the Academic Leader

Ted Tseng

Ted Tseng is the Director of Development for the School of Business at Wake Forest University. Prior to Wake Forest, he worked in professional sports for over 13 years, most recently serving as the Managing Director for the Denver Outlaws, a professional lacrosse team owned by the NFL's Denver Broncos, where he oversaw all day-to-day operations for the franchise. In six seasons with the organization, the Outlaws broke league attendance records and won 2 MLL Championships in 2014 and 2016. Prior to his work with the Outlaws, Ted held sales and partnership positions with Kroenke Sports Enterprises and the Colorado Rockies. During his time in Colorado, he also served as the Founder/President of the Mile High Bowl Association, a non-profit established to bring a college football bowl game to Denver and the Rocky Mountain region.

A native of New Jersey, Ted earned his bachelor's degree in mathematical economics from Wake Forest before earning his MBA in sports management from the University of Denver. While at Wake Forest, he was "The Deacon" mascot for two years, which included an appearance in an ESPN "This is SportsCenter" TV commercial. Currently, Ted remains active in the sports industry serving on the Athletic Advisory Council for Wake Forest Athletics and as a Leatherhead for the Charlotte Sports Foundation, in addition to mentoring current and former students interested in pursuing a career in sports.