Arlington, Texas- The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation opened its application today for the 2024 Charley Pride Fellowship Program. In its fourth year, the program will again see five college students from diverse backgrounds spend their summer working in the World Series Champion Texas Rangers front office for this unique internship program.
Roland Parrish and his Parrish Charitable Foundation are partnering with the Rangers Foundation in support of the Charley Pride Fellowship Program for the fourth consecutive year.
Created in honor of the late country music star and close friend of the Texas Rangers organization, Charley Pride, this program aims to build a launching pad for students from diverse backgrounds looking to gain experience in a Major League Baseball front office.
Fifteen college students from universities across the U.S. have participated in the program thus far, receiving extensive opportunities in the baseball and business departments of the Rangers’ organization, helping to lay the groundwork for their desired post-graduate careers.
“QUOTE FROM ROLAND PARRISH”
The Rangers Foundation will hire, train, and support the five fellows as they rotate through three front office departments, selected based on their interests. These students will gain valuable skills during this paid 10-week internship program that will benefit their future careers in sports or any other industry.
“The Charley Pride Fellowship was an unforgettable experience for me,” said Class of 2022 Fellow Julian Braxton, the Rangers’ new full-time communications intern for 2024. “The program fostered both professional and personal growth in my life, completely reshaping my career and future. It helped me discover my passion for communications, and it played a significant role in giving me the opportunity to return to the Rangers as a full-time intern.
“I formed relationships with many incredible people who supported me both during and after my time as a fellow. I would highly recommend applying for this fantastic opportunity.”
To be considered for a spot in the Charley Pride Fellowship’s Class of 2024, apply online at rangers.com/charleypridefellowship. The application will close on Monday, April 1.
Additional program details and application requirements are outlined below:
Background
Charley Pride is an American icon and Texas treasure that has exemplified military service, music entertainment, and America’s pastime, baseball. Having recorded over 30 No. 1 hits with GRAMMY and Country Music Association Awards under his belt, Charley’s first love was always baseball. He pitched professionally in the Negro and Minor Leagues throughout the 1950s before embarking on his Hall of Fame singing career of more than 60 years. He then became a regular participant at Texas Rangers spring training camps in Pompano Beach and Port Charlotte, Florida, and Surprise, Arizona, working out with the team and staging an annual clubhouse concert for players and staff- a tradition that continued through the spring of 2020. On March 14, 2021, the Rangers honored Charley’s memory by dedicating one of the practice fields at their Surprise complex as Charley Pride Field.
The Rangers were honored to have Charley be part of the team’s ownership group for more than ten years. A longtime resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, he was a regular at Rangers home games when his schedule permitted. He sang The Star-Spangled Banner one final time before the first regular-season game played at Globe Life Field on July 24, 2020.
Program
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation established the Charley Pride Fellowship Program to help create a launching pad for college juniors and seniors from diverse backgrounds to gain experience inside a baseball front office. The Foundation will hire, train, and support the five Fellows as they transition through a 10-week rotation within different Texas Rangers Baseball Club departments. Departments available for these fellows include Accounting/Finance, Ballpark Entertainment, Promotions & Production, Baseball Operations, Business Analytics, Business Partnerships, Communications, Human Resources, Marketing, REV Entertainment, Ticket Operations, and Ticket Sales & Premium Services. These students will be able to experience firsthand what front office executives experience daily while exposing them to the business side of baseball. This unique opportunity will place candidates in roles with the Rangers while providing them with valuable cross-disciplinary experience, which will benefit them should they pursue a career in professional sports or any other industry.
The details of the program were in the process of being finalized when Mr. Pride passed away on December 12, 2020, at the age of 86. The program was officially announced on March 18, 2021, what would have been Mr. Pride’s 87th birthday. Officials from the Texas Rangers were joined in the announcement by Mr. Pride’s wife, Rozene Pride, his son Dion Pride, his longtime friends and fellow Country Music stars Garth Brooks, Larry Gatlin, and Neal McCoy, and prominent Dallas businessman Roland Parrish.
Eligibility
- Seeking students from diverse backgrounds to apply
- Candidates must be rising college Juniors or Seniors (enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program)
- Minimum GPA of 2.5
- A passion for and knowledge of baseball is helpful but not required
- A 10-week commitment to participate in the Pride Fellowship Program
Application Documentation
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Transcript
- A personal statement (500 words or less)
- Two letters of recommendation
Pride Fellow Implementation
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation will provide five Pride Fellows per calendar year to various departments within the organization. These Fellows do not take the place of existing Rangers internships but rather have a different experience provided to them.
Pride Fellows will commit to:
- A 10-week opportunity, 20-hour workweek
- A three-department rotation based on their interests
- No absences (unless excused due to illness, etc.)
Fellowship Positions
A “Charley Pride Fellow” will be able to select three departments to work in during their time with the Rangers. This person will experience firsthand what front office executives experience daily while exposing them to the professional baseball industry. Departments available to fellows include Accounting/Finance, Ballpark Entertainment, Promotions & Production, Baseball Operations, Business Analytics, Business Partnerships, Communications, Human Resources, Marketing, REV Entertainment, Ticket Operations, and Ticket Sales & Premium Services.
Timeline
- February 1, 2024: Applications Open
- April 1, 2024: Applications Due
- May 27, 2024: First Day of Fellowship
- August 2, 2024: Last Day of Fellowship
