ARLINGTON, Texas – The Cotton Bowl Athletic Association announced today the additions of Kayla Beasley and Ashleigh Anne Binz to the staff as CBAA Fred McClure Interns for the 2024-25 academic year. Both officially joined the CBAA staff on Sept. 3.

Beasley and Binz become the sixth and seventh individuals to garner the title of CBAA Fred McClure Intern. In 2021, the CBAA revived and renamed its internship program in honor of Fred McClure, the first African American to serve as CBAA Chair and the first person to serve two terms (1998-2002) in that role.

In their roles on the CBAA staff, Beasley and Binz support the day-to-day operations of the CBAA office and assist with operational aspects of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, including event management, game operations, ancillary events, ticketing, hospitality and pageantry, Cotton Bowl Foundation and community service events and initiatives and the regular-season college football games played at AT&T Stadium.

"We're excited to welcome Kayla and Ashleigh Anne to our Cotton Bowl family," said CBAA President/Chief Executive Officer Rick Baker. "We are thrilled to have them come on board and help us create another memorable experience for this year's Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic."

Beasley joins the CBAA staff following a 20-month stint as a football operations intern at Florida State University where she assisted with the day-to-day operations of the football program and helped coordinate logistical aspects related to the student-athletes' daily schedules. The Durham, N.C., native has built her experience working in and around the sports industry with several organizations, including Rhino Sports & Entertainment Services, Titus Sports Academy, USA Baseball and Kay Yow Fund. Her event experience includes working on the operations side of the 2023 Hula Bowl and 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four. Beasley was a four-year member of the North Carolina State track & field program, competing in the shot put, discus and hammer throw. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management from N.C. State in 2022 and her Master of Science degree in Sport Management from Florida State in 2023.

Binz comes to the CBAA staff from Clemson University where she served as a marketing and communications intern with the football program's P.A.W. Journey, helping to develop content and grow the program's social media reach. Her connection with Clemson football also included time working as a writer with the recruiting department and as an intern with the video department. She also spent stints working with Camp Jubilee in Beaufort, S.C. and Camp St. Christopher in Seabrook Island, S.C. to go along with a two-month marketing internship with the Dallas Cowboys. The Charleston, S.C., native earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Management in 2024.

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