More than a championship

In June, the New York Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 53 years. Quinn Elfers was beginning an internship with the NBA at the time, making the historic victory and celebrations that followed an unforgettable part of his experience. 

One of Elfer's favorite memories following the championship happened when the senior journalism major struck up a conversation with a Knicks fan on the subway. 

“He had full Knicks gear on," Elfers recalls. "He started talking to us, and he said that he used to be a pastor for the New York Knicks back in the ‘90s.”

For Elfers, that encounter represented the kind of spontaneous connections he loves about sports. The NBA internship would eventually combine two things that have shaped his life for years: basketball and giving back.

The position he held over the summer was a social impact and inclusion intern, working closely with NBA Cares, the league's community service and outreach program.

The internship gave him the opportunity to work on major NBA events, such as the NBA Draft, but some of his most meaningful experiences happened away from the arenas.

One of those moments came just days into his internship. Elfers and his department traveled to the Bronx for the unveiling of a renovated school gym and STEM lab. Knicks players were there for the event, but for Elfers, the most memorable part was seeing the reactions from the students. 

“The kids coming up after, hugging me, saying thanks even though all I did was set up and tear down," he recalled. "That stuff's gonna stay with me forever.” 

While getting this internship was a dream come true for Elfers, it was not something that came easy. He first applied two summers ago for a digital internship, but was not selected. Rather than letting the rejection stop him, Elfers applied again the following year. His persistence in pursuing the internship reflects the confidence he developed during his time at OHIO. With support he learned to seek out opportunities, build professional connections and push himself beyond his comfort zone realize his dreams.

"I've always known I've wanted to be a storyteller," he says. "Sports have some of the greatest stories.”

For Elfers, his experience with NBA Cares solidified his want to build a future centered on giving back to others. 

“Sports are crazy, almost supernatural. The ability to bring people together, no matter where you're from, how much money you have in your wallet, what side you swing politically, none of that matters,” said Elfers. 

As he looks toward graduation, he hopes to carry those lessons into a career that combines sports and community service. For Elfers, success is not just about telling stories or working for a major organization, but about using those opportunities to bring people together.

"Whether it's working in the NBA or not," Elfers said, "I want to be known as someone who helped out others and not only succeeded in where he worked, but thrived and made everyone feel a bit closer [to each other]."