KALAMAZOO, Mich. -  Redshirt senior Andrew Stone was no different from any other Western Michigan baseball player during the summer months. Stone along with most of his teammates packed their bags into a car and headed towards their new home for the next three months.

However, while many of the Bronco baseball players were traveling to their summer ball teams spanning across the country, Stone was traveling out west for a much different reason. The infielder from Portage, Mich., headed to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Not for summer ball, but for an internship with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA).

"It was a 17-hour drive and let me tell you from Eastern Illinois to Western Colorado, there is absolutely nothing to look at," said Stone.

The MLBPAA is a non-profit organization to promote the game of baseball, raise money for charities, inspire and educate youth through positive sport images, and protect the dignity of the game through former players.

With its headquarters in Colorado Springs, the MLBPAA has more than 7,500 members of current and former major leaguers'. As an intern for the MLBPAA, Stone was in charge of handling the alumni services for all of the teams in the American League.

"Overall the internship was very eye-opening. I got to speak with former players that I looked up too and watched for years and to find out that they are just normal guys that want to talk baseball was an amazing experience," said Stone.

Stone's biggest project was focused on the "Heart and Hustle" award, which is given to a player from each team that best embodies the passion and spirit of baseball.

"I did everything from balloting, working with the team's community relations department, game presentation and finding a presenter for that player," said Stone. "On any given day I would be talking with baseball greats such as AJ Hinch, Ned Yost, Jim Thome and Al Kaline. It was a great experience."

The opportunity of a lifetime to work with the MLBPAA almost didn't happen for Stone as he applied for the internship and then waited two months. The Portage, Mich., native was set to play for the local Kalamazoo Growlers before an interview was set-up with the MLBPAA. Two interviews later, Stone was off to Colorado Springs.

In addition to spearheading the "Heart and Hustle" award, Stone was instrumental in the operation of memorabilia auctions across minor league stadiums and taking part in Legends for Youth Clinics.

Twice with over a quarter of a million dollars of baseball memorabilia in his car, Stone traveled to Las Vegas and sold baseball memorabilia at Las Vegas 51's games, a Triple-A affiliate with the Oakland Athletics.

"It was nerve racking for sure to have that much money of memorabilia in my car," said Stone. "We got to go to a 51's weekend series and just talk baseball with fans and sell things. It was one of the many ways this internship was very hands-on and overall a lot of fun."

Most internships across the country consist of filing documents, checking the mail and occasionally grabbing coffee for the boss. While the MLBPAA internship had some of those similar qualities, Stone describes the internship as one that is unlike any other.

"Not every intern in a normal job gets a chance to talk with the CEO and COO every day. I got to have that type of experience," said Stone. "Getting that type of experience and the CEO and COO giving me professional help and life lessons was something a normal internship may not get."

With his days winding down in Kalamazoo, Stone relished the opportunity at the MLBPAA and looks to do even more in the future.

"The good thing about this internship was that it was incredibly hands-on so I got the sense of what I did not want to do and what I wanted to do," said Stone. "In the future I'd like to work in some type of baseball development, finding out ways to make baseball more accessible to people from all backgrounds."

It wasn't all work and no play for Stone out in the Northwest. Being just an hour away from Denver he regularly made trips to the Mile High City to enjoy the town and catch a few Colorado Rockies games.

One of those Rockies games, Stone was able to get a behind-the-scenes look as he shadowed the Rockies Senior Director of Player Development, Zach Wilson. Wilson was a former player under head coach Billy Gernon at IPFW from 1999 to 2000.

As a baseball player at WMU, Stone understands the value in communication in order for a team to be success. At the MLBPAA and the professional level it is no different.

"There are small differences between the professional and college level but many more similarities," said Stone. "I was shocked to learn that there are many similarities but at both levels you have to work as a team and constantly communicate."

Players and teams change from year to year at the collegiate level with no guarantee of future success. With one year to play, Stone understands that his days in Kalamazoo are numbered and urges all young players to take advantage of your time in college both on and off the field.

"Always keep your eyes open for opportunities like this beyond the baseball diamond. There are summer ball leagues everywhere so if there is something that you really want to do, the coaches are willing to work with you," said Stone. "The more experience you can get the better, you only have so many years in college."

Stone is currently enrolled in the Graduate Sports Management Program at WMU and earned his bachelor's degree in Sports Management last spring. During his undergraduate studies, Stone posted an overall 3.86 grade point average.