When the Western Golf Association (WGA) needed outstanding interns to work the BMW Championship held recently in St. Louis, they turned to the Rawlings Sport Business Management program at Maryville University. A group of 18 students were tapped to serve as venue captains during the PGA Tour event, roles that involved everything from ticketing and hospitality to volunteer management and client services.

The WGA delivered premier entertainment experiences for corporate customers seeking to provide first-class outings for their clients, employees and guests. To ensure high quality hospitality and to prepare for their roles, the students received online and in-person training that included a tour of the grounds and a comprehensive overview of the event locations and behind-the-scenes operations.

“I learned a lot about event operations and how things are run,” said Garret Smith, ’28. “Each day was different, so our understanding of catering, ticketing, security and operations was important. If we didn’t have that full 360-degree view, we wouldn’t have achieved the level of success we did.”

As part of their management roles, students directed the work of volunteers at various hospitality venues across the grounds of Bellerive Country Club. Combined, those stations accommodated a record-breaking crowd of over 155,000 spectators throughout the week. The students received positive reviews for their performances and were especially commended for their professionalism and eagerness to accept any challenge.

“Looking back on the whole event, I came away very impressed with the maturity and customer focus of all the captains,” said Al Koller III, president of Koller Enterprises and the 2026 BMW Championship venue captain chair. “They were intent on making their venue the best experience it could be for their attendees. I know of several instances where the captains went the extra mile to try to solve problems. It was great to listen to them talk about their work at the tourney and also how happy they were in the Rawlings program and the experience they were gaining … These are strong, well-prepared students who will be successful in their next step, wherever that is.”

Smith was excited about the level of responsibility assigned to students and is confident having this experience on his resume will prove valuable.

“This kind of management experience is important, especially if you want to go into event operations in the sports industry,” he said. “Our bosses directed us but took their hands off the wheel and made sure we could run the operation ourselves. That truly makes you feel like you are part of the success of the entire event.”

Michael Vaughan, senior director of sales for WGA, said his clients as well as the volunteers working under the students’ direction were extremely complimentary.

“I had the opportunity to work directly with Smith and his fellow student venue captain Liam Nolan,” Vaughn said. “They took great pride in their work, consistently showing strong dedication and an excellent work ethic throughout the event. Several corporate clients in the suite went out of their way to tell me how impressed they were and what a great representative both Garrett and Liam were for our organization. I’m confident they’ll continue to achieve great things in their careers and will be a valuable addition to any team fortunate enough to have them.”

As a Maryville University student athlete, Michael Kreis, ’29, finds it difficult to travel for experiential learning opportunities provided by the Rawlings Sport Business Management program. He was grateful for the chance to work such a major local event.

“I enjoyed the connections you make just by having a smile on your face and recognizing the little things you do can affect a person’s day and make them want to come back,” he said.

Kreis learned early on to stay alert to potential problems and identify resolutions quickly. He also realized the importance of staying in constant communication with the volunteers and fellow captains. During a rush on the last day, his team stayed calm and confident because they had worked together all week and trusted each other, he said.

Kreis also came to appreciate the value of paying attention during classes.

“We don’t realize it when we’re in class, but everything they talk about when it comes to these events was true for the BMW Championship. I knew what my role was and what I needed to do, but I didn’t realize they had already prepared me for it.”

The fast-paced experience gave Rawlings Sport Business Management students an invaluable opportunity to sharpen their skills and strengthen their professionalism, said Joann Bowles, ’14, program coordinator. Through long days, problem-solving and ensuring that customers and volunteers felt valued and appreciated, students practiced essential management skills they can carry into any sports industry role.

“Having the Maryville students be a part of the Venue Captain Program at the 2026 BMW Championship was a great experience,” said Kate Reagan, volunteer coordinator for WGA. “Each day, the students arrived with big smiles and brought an incredible energy to the event. We received such positive feedback from our WGA staff members, hospitality guests and fellow volunteers about their enthusiasm and professionalism.”