More than 50 students trekked to seven U.S. cities in the spring to gain hands-on experience at major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff and baseball tournaments — as well as to England for a study abroad experience — marking the busiest travel semester ever for the Rawlings Sport Business Management program.
The students took on volunteer roles in every facet of the sports industry, networked with professionals in the U.S. and overseas, and gained invaluable behind-the-scenes exposure to event planning and implementation.
“It’s all about providing access and opportunity for our students,” said Jason Williams, EdD, Rawlings Sport Business Management program director. “Every year, we continue to develop better and deeper partnerships with sports organizations who recognize that our students are well prepared to handle themselves in fast-paced and challenging environments. Each learning experience builds a stronger foundation for the next call for volunteers.”
The students who have participated in travel opportunities this year have practiced both hard and soft skills, Williams said. “Customer service, operations, event management, marketing and promotions, corporate sponsorship — those are the types of hard skills they learn. But they’re also learning to work collaboratively, how to work and behave like a professional, how to communicate exceptionally, learning the value of being there early and staying late and doing things no one else wants to do — and all with a smile on their face. Those are important skills that take our students to the next level.”
RSBM students are prepared to work alongside big-brand professionals on the national scene because they have volunteered locally prior to tackling major events, Williams said.
“They might have worked at World Wide Technology Raceway or Perfect Game or one-off events with the St. Louis Blues, among many others, so they’re getting pretraining in hours or days at a time. That prepares them for national events where they’re working five or seven days straight and on call 90 percent of the time,” he said. “Representatives from sports organizations consistently praise our students as exceptional — hardworking, eager to learn and contribute, and ready to jump in at a moment’s notice.”
In January, students traveled to the College Football Playoff in Atlanta, followed by more than a week at the Super Bowl in New Orleans in February. Over the next two months, they volunteered at four different Peak baseball tournaments — a jump from previous years when just two tournaments were featured experiences. The expanded schedule included College Baseball Classics in Jacksonville, Florida; Frisco and Round Rock, Texas; and Las Vegas.
Over spring break, students traveled to Evansville, Indiana, to serve as exclusive volunteers for the Credit Union 1 Women’s Tournament. Six students traveled to England for a study abroad experience exploring different sports cultures and norms.
“Major sports organizations consistently invite our students to step inside the industry — whether that’s here at home, across the country or around the world,” said Williams. “We’re committed to broadening their horizons, and they meet the moment every time. They show up prepared, professional and enthusiastic, fully embracing the value of hands-on experience.
About Maryville University
Founded in 1872, Maryville University is a comprehensive and nationally ranked private institution with an enrollment of well over 9,000 students. Maryville offers over 90 degrees at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels, as well as several certificates that align with the undergraduate and graduate education levels. Maryville is recognized as the third fastest-growing private university in the United States by The Chronicle of Higher Education, serving students from 50 states and 56 countries. More than 50,000 Maryville alumni globally, many of whom work and live in the St. Louis region.