In this Scholar-Athlete Spotlight, we are featuring Preston Houvouras of Florida Tech baseball. This summer, the Cocoa Beach, Florida, native is gaining meaningful experience at an internship in his desired field. We caught up with Houvouras to learn more about the incredible opportunity.

What company are you interning for this summer? What is your title and role with the company?
"I am interning at Structural Composites Inc. and Compsys Inc. My title is Marketing Intern and Director of the Council of Interns"

What drew you to this internship? What steps did you have to take to earn your position within the company?
"Ever since I was a kid, I have always enjoyed content creation, and as I have grown up, that has led me to have passion and drive to be in the field of marketing. I also find the marine industry compelling and interesting, as I have been around boats and the water my entire life. Another factor that drew me to this internship was the fact that this company is a respected and established company that has been around for nearly 40 years and was started by Florida Tech alumni. I had to showcase some examples of my past work, interview with different executives within the company, and present why I would be a good fit for the company as well as a good leader for this summer's intern program."

What are some exciting tasks or projects that you have been able to be a part of?
"I have helped launch and promote the news that Evinrude engines are back in production, created promotional material such as posters, flyers, brochures, and social media posts for the company and conferences that the company has been in attendance at. For example, I made posterboards promoting our company that were on display at the 2026 Multiple Agency Craft Conference (MACC).  I also created social media accounts for the company and was part of the team that revived their LinkedIn account."
 
What is your major at Florida Tech? Why did you choose this direction for your education and is this something you always wanted to pursue?
"I am currently in the masters of Business Administration program after receiving my undergraduate degree from Florida Tech in Strategic Communications in 2025. I chose this major because not only do I find the business side of companies interesting, but I want to be a leader and manager one day and feel like the MBA program at Florida Tech would provide valuable lessons and skills that I could use immediately and that would last throughout my career."

How has being a scholar-athlete prepared you for the work you are currently doing in your internship? What skills have you taken from your time as a scholar-athlete that help you in your internship?
"Being a scholar-athlete has taught me how to work in a team and how to handle multiple obligations. In this internship, I have not only had to head a team of 10 interns, but we have spent time preparing for an upcoming conference, worked on new flyers for customers, and promoted our products online. There are always multiple opportunities to learn and responsibilities on the table, so I value being a scholar athlete, which taught me how to function as part of a team, persevere through highs and lows, manage time and multiple responsibilities, communicate effectively with my co-workers, and how to show up: to come to the office every day prepared to accomplish our goals for the day."

How is your internship preparing you for a career you would like to do after graduation?
"This internship is preparing me for exactly what I want to do after graduation: find a career in marketing to use my knowledge and interpersonal skills to help bring people's and companies' visions to reality. At Structural Composites, I am getting real-world marketing experience, furthering my understanding of the business side of an established company. As a director of the intern program, I am gaining necessary leadership and organizational experience. Ultimately, I hope to have a career that provides me the same type of positive and valuable experiences that can bring me professional success and fulfillment as someone who leads within my field."

What advice would you give another scholar-athlete/prospective scholar-athlete who is looking to pursue a similar path?
"The first piece of advice I would give is get involved. Second, you never know if something will work unless you try; there are unknown and unexplored opportunities you can find if you put yourself out there and make meaningful connections. Whether it is with your coaches, teammates, fellow students, or opponents from other teams, relationships matter. Third,
this internship has made me realize how important the skill of networking is. Lastly, go for it: if you have a passion or feel like you have a certain skill, get out there and try it. Passions can drive you to success and make that job or internship that much better because one of the most important things in life is to do things that you enjoy. Even though it could seem like an intimidating opportunity, take that leap of faith and know that everything you have done, especially all the hard work you have put in as a scholar-athlete at Florida Tech has prepared you for so much of what you will face in life. Go Panthers!"