Lakeside grad to intern with MLB

Jori McMurtrey, a 2006 graduate of Lakeside High School and 2010 graduate of the University of Georgia, will spend the summer working as an intern in the Major League Baseball office in New York.

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McMurtrey recently was honored by the Institute for Leadership Advancement with its top award, Leader Among Leaders. This award is presented by UGA's Terry College of Business for outstanding achievement as a Leonard Leadership Scholar.

"Jori is most deserving," said Dale Gauthreaux, the director of the Institute. "The thing that is so significant is that this award was voted on by her peers in the Terry College."

This past year, McMurtrey worked as an assistant in the Sports Communications Office at Georgia where she handled a number of assignments, including editing and producing programs for the Athens Touchdown Club and the Wally's Boys Association. She also worked in the sports promotions office and wrote sports articles for The Red and Black , the University of Georgia student newspaper.

McMurtrey has been a lifelong baseball fan and has in recent months has interviewed Rich McKay, the president of the Atlanta Falcons; Marvin Hudson, a major league umpire; Gary Danielson of CBS; and several UGA athletes.

At Lakeside High School, McMurtrey played softball for four years, making it to the state tournament. She also played basketball for two years and was elected senior class president. A member of the National Honor Society, she was inducted into the student hall of fame, a honor voted on by her teachers.

McMurtrey has an interest in both business and journalism, but chose to major in business which she felt would give her more options as she has started to explore a career in sports business.

At MLB headquarters in Manhattan, she will work in the international department with varied responsibilities.

"This is an ideal summer experience," McMurtrey said. "This will be a great opportunity for me personally and professionally. Hopefully, this will be a stepping stone to an opportunity in professional sports.

"I am looking forward to spending time in New York, one of the most exciting cities in the world, and being involved with Major League Baseball."