Capstone | The Minor | Sport, Media, and Culture Minor | University of Notre Dame
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Capstone

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In their final year, students in the Sport, Media & Culture minor complete a 1-credit capstone project, supported by a faculty or staff mentor. These independent research projects give students an opportunity to reflect on, synthesize, and extend what they have learned in the program through public-facing projects that align with the their intellecutal and professional interests and contribute meaningfully to conversations about sport, media, and culture.

Capstone projects may take many forms, including:

  • Journalism or other public-facing writing

  • Curriculum development

  • Public programming or community initiatives

  • Multimedia or digital storytelling projects

  • Curated exhibits

  • Policy proposals or white papers

Projects may build on coursework, a senior thesis, an internship, a research initiative, or a service program, or they may explore a new area of interest. Students dedicate approximately 30–40 hours to the project over the course of a single semester. Throughout the process, students receive mentorship from the minor director and a faculty or staff advisor of their choosing, who provide guidance and evaluate the final project.

Completed capstones are presented each spring at SMAC Fest, a public showcase celebrating student work. Select projects may also be featured on the Minor website.

For Capstone Students & Advisors

Information + Resources

Recent Capstones

Explore some of our recent capstone projects

2025-2026

  • "The Value of Women’s Sports: How Increased Viewership is Driving Revenue and Equality in Sports" - Ashley Barton 
  • "Buckle Up For the World’s Toughest Rodeo: How cowboys and queens found a way to round up the community during the HIV/AIDS crisis" - Val Misakova [digital project]
  • "Drive to Survive and the Divide in Formula 1 Fandom" - Yuliana Beda [digital project]
  • "Hilinski’s Hope for Notre Dame" - Elle Bohlman [white paper]
  • "Beyond Football" - Isaiah Dunn [podcast]
  • "Female Breakthrough into Sports Agency and Representation" - Audrey Flanagan [public program]
  • "Beyond the Ring" - Micaela Kastor [film]
  • "Controlled Breakout: A Policy Proposal for Supporting a Healthier American Youth Ice Hockey System" - Ryan Murphy [white paper]
  • "NBC Sports Media Strategy: Analysis of Live Sports in the Age of Streaming" - Ellie Noto
  • "Keeping Girls in Sport: Understanding Dropout and Designing a Solution" - Ellie Oif [white paper]
  • "The Real Villain of Rocky IV" - Anna Cate Olohan [digital project]
  • "The Play-by-Play Perspective" - Tyler Reidy [podcast]
  • "Super Shoe Revolution: How Carbon-Plated Shoes are Transforming Marathon Running" - Sam Rich [case study]
  • "Analyzing NBA Trade Request Strategy" - Justin Sapienza [case study]
  • "Hockey is for Everyone: The Power of Special Hockey in Building Community and Belonging" - Lauren Seib [digital project]
  • "Playing a New Game: Notre Dame's Approach in the NIL Era" - Ben Smith 
  • "Finding Our Place in the Blue and Gold: First Generation Narratives of Notre Dame Game-Day Culture" - Rae Teshome [oral history project]
  • "War on Grass: Rivalries, Identities, and Resisting Globalization"  - Matt Thorn [website]
  • "How Socioeconomic Status Affects Long-Injury Recovery Among College Students in the South Bend Area" - Brandon Ung [research project]
  • "`Samurai With Bats:` A Deep Dive Into Japanese Baseball" - Joey Vaughan [digital project]
  • "From Muscular Christianity to NIL: The Commodification of College Basketball" - Cooper Werner [digital project]
  • "Between Nation and Self: Soft Power and the Individual in the Modern Olympic Games" - Avery White [website]

2024-2025

  • “The Inescapable Appeal of Sports Gambling” - John Bailey, [magazine essay]
  • “Perspectives from Women in Sports Leadership” - Calie Brady, [podcast]
  • “Leveling the Playing Field: Youth Sports in Bridgeport, CT” - Calyn Carbone, [policy paper]
  • "Investigating Competitive Balance in Formula 1” - Nibi Ghosh, [data analysis]
  • “Shifting Narratives: How Mexican American Baseball Players Found Identity & Helped Develop the Game” - Isaiah Gonzalez, [digital story map]
  • "Mascot Mess: One Town’s Persistence to Retain a Racist Masco" - Jacob Irons, [podcast]
  • “’Welcome to Notre Dame’: Your Source for All Things Related to Notre Dame Football Ushers” - Madeline Ladd, [podcast]
  • “Winter is Coming” - Elijah Lanser, [board game]
  • “She Scores! A Podcast for Women Working in Sports” - Shannon Lipscomb, [podcast]
  • "Welcome to WOPU: Notre Dame Walk-On Players Union” - Rino Monteforte, [video short]
  • “Beyond the Posts: A GAA Podcast” - Paige Muir, [podcast]

2023-2024

  • “Equitable Access: Youth Sports in Chicago Neighborhoods” - Sonya Baumgardt, Political Science [policy research]
  • “Trending Up: The Use of Data in Women’s College Basketball” - Sarah Cernugel, ACMS [website]
  • “Need for Speed: Exploring Relationships with Skill Difference and Tournament Structure in Tennis Grand Slams” - Madaket Chiarieri, Business Analytics [published research]
  • “The Evolution of Celebrating in Baseball” - Andrew McGuinness, Film, Television, & Theatre [journalism]
  • “Athlete to Human: Understanding Identity Transitions Among Former Collegiate Athletes” - Lilly Callahan, Psychology [podcast]
  • “NHL Collective Bargaining and its Effects on Player Mobility, Compensation, and League Competitive Balance ” - Claire DeMeo, Economics [policy brief]
  • “Financial Empowerment: A Financial Literacy Initiative for Student-Athletes at Notre Dame” - Shay Zilvitis, Finance [curriculum + programming]
  • “The Keepers of Irish Tradition” - Ryan Coury, Finance [website]
  • “Notre Dame Fencing: From 1934 to 13 National Championships” - Atara Greenbaum, Marketing [website]
  • “SMAC Chat with Jack: Making Athletics Information Accessible for All” - Maria Wainscott, American Studies [public programming]

2022-2023

  • “Beyond the Sidelines: Navigating Lacrosse’s Diversity Struggles and Pursuing a More Inclusive Future” - Reilly Gray, Political Science [journalism]
  • “Par for the Course: An Exploration of the Representation of Female Golfers in Popular Media” - Kelly Hanratty, Marketing [public talk]
  • “The 21 st Century Model in Collegiate Soccer” - Paddy Burns, Sociology and Political Science [policy brief]