Willam Oczkowski

Willam Oczkowski is a sport management major from Sycamore, IL

Hometown: Sycamore, IL

High School: Sycamore High School

Year: Expected graduation: Fall 2027

Why did you choose to attend NIU?
It was financially smart and close to home.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
Growing up I never wanted to do anything, but I loved baseball and knew I was decent at it, so I kept playing with no real goal in mind. When senior year of high school came around in 2019, a few of my peers signed to play sports at colleges. I had no idea what that was or where to go to play ball at the college level. So, with no recruitment help, I reached out to Kishwaukee College and got picked up to play in the fall of 2019. I enrolled as a mechanical engineering major. I learned to love the grind and actually found purpose in bettering myself physically; however, I fell behind as a student. COVID-19 shut everything down in spring 2020, so I never got to start my college baseball career there. In the fall, baseball stopped, and the following spring I dropped out for personal reasons, then took a gap year the following year. In summer 2022, I coached a kids’ baseball team, which reignited my love for the game. Seeing them having fun and just being kids reminded me what baseball was all about. I sat down and reflected on where I was, then started emailing nearby junior colleges to see if anyone would respond. The head coach at Waubonsee, Rodney Lopez, took a chance on me, and I played there for two years before I had to transfer and get my bachelor’s. That summer I played in the Prospect League in Pennsylvania for the Johnstown Mill Rats, where my love for the game was refueled. However, no school wanted to sign me for fall 2024, so I stuck to what I knew. I stayed home and took classes at Waubonsee and Kishwaukee to stay studious and raise my GPA. I also stayed on the grind to get better by using the NIU Rec Center. This fall (2025) I switched to sport management because working with people began to get easier for me. I was fortunate enough to get an internship with NIU Athletics in event and facility management under Trey Borgrud. Long story short, the wild route I have taken has shaped, broken and reshaped what I want to do in life.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am majoring in sport management, but I might also major in kinesiology in the near future. I’m still pursuing baseball in my free time, but if that doesn’t work, sport management still gives me the opportunity to get my foot in the door to the world of athletics.

Have you conducted an internship?
Yes

How did you get your internship, and where was it?
Currently (fall 2025), I am helping Trey Borgrud in NIU Athletics with event and facility management. I have worked a few sporting events and gained valuable experience. I applied through Trey’s link on LinkedIn.

How did your internship help prepare you for your career?
It’s a foot in the door to college athletics. I mean, events can’t happen unless someone is there to manage them and make sure it all runs smoothly.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
I enjoy how easy it is to talk to faculty.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I’ve connected with a lot of my peers. I’m working on being easier to talk to and learning to be a better listener and communicator. I go to the Rec Center to lift every day, so I’ve met most of the regulars and staff over there, as well as a large group of people who play volleyball nearly every day there.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KNPE), because it’s where most of my classes are, as well as the Rec Center. The gym is many people’s favorite place to decompress and relieve stress. This is also the case for me.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
For courses I’m enrolled in, Neal Ternes and David Serowka. They both teach in very relatable ways rather than just lecturing. In Neal’s class, LESM 360, most of our grade is doing “battle of the bids” presentations, where we bid cities for the Olympics. This has helped my public speaking and professionalism. Serowka, in LESM 202, brings in many speakers from industry to talk to our class about jobs in the world of sports. This is invaluable as you get to learn about the person, how they got to where they are and plenty of advice.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My single favorite spot is the Rec Center. I’m a gym rat, but any gym can do the job. The people at the Rec make it worth it. Not just the faculty but the students, too. That building needs some love and is long overdue for some upgrades or just a weekend and some solid elbow grease.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
Cast a wide net with your general education (gen ed) classes. Figure out what you like to do first, then talk with your counselor about everything: what you like and don’t like, school/work/life balance, etc. Do what you can handle. Also, it’s OK if it takes you an extra semester to graduate. Don’t let the pressure of high school dictate whether you need more time in college.

Why is a college education important to you?
That degree can be the difference between getting hired or not, getting a raise or not, or even being considered for a new position.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
Be available. Know what is most important to you.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I check my email.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I like to lift to decompress. I also take my dog on hikes all over the state. I also do other activities like fishing, cooking, chasing the northern lights and playing disc golf.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I don’t have a job right now, but I do have that internship.