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CHARTING THE COURSE
Major sporting events put students in the middle of the action
Students in the Health and Sport Sciences (HSS) majors are playing a key role in international sporting events this spring and summer with millions in attendance.
More than 100 students are taking advantage of the opportunity to work and learn at the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, the 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville in May and the EURO 2024 Football Championships in Germany in June and July. Along with course credit and invaluable hands-on experience, these events also serve as a gateway to potential careers in sports management.
From hospitality to ticketing and transportation, students’ responsibilities span a wide spectrum, offering a glimpse into the multifaceted operations that underpin major sporting events. HSS faculty are with them every step of the way, ensuring that students are not only contributing effectively but also learning and growing throughout the process.
At the EURO2024 Football Championships in Germany, HSS students’ responsibilities will range from ticket operations to fan zone management, allowing them to experience firsthand the global impact of sporting events.
At the 106th PGA Championship, 40 UofL students served as direct hospitality hosts in VIP suites and chalets, ensuring that guests had a five-star experience.
The department’s Spring 2024 Hospitality Management course culminated in staffing the PGA Championship. Before even stepping foot on the course, students gained an understanding of the work involved in both planning and managing a tournament of this size through the creation of their own events. From deciding the event components to building their own sponsorship packages, students got a taste of the behind-the-scenes work involved in bringing PGA Valhalla to life.
“These organizations come to us because we are bringing in a group of people who they know are going to show up every day and be engaged and well trained,” Sport Administration Professor AJ Moorman said. “That’s why we get these opportunities.”
Mandy McKenzie, who earned a BS in Sport Administration from UofL and serves as Director of Events for the Louisville Bats, taught the Hospitality Management course and supervised students on site at the PGA. She reflected on how her journey from student to practitioner to instructor has been shaped by her experiences in the field.
“The Sport Administration program taught me I can do anything I put my mind to,” McKenzie said. “The professors were professionals in the industry, and with many of them being women, I was better able to envision myself following in their footsteps. Some of the most impactful lessons were learned outside of the classroom while engaging in for-credit internships, which allowed me to build a professional network as an undergraduate student.”
McKenzie is paying that experience forward.
“During my week at the championship, I was able to not only provide a hospitable environment for all guests, but also to truly learn what goes into hospitality services” said Alexsa Harrold, a senior Sport Administration major. “I was given the opportunity to expand my network immensely throughout this experience. In coordination with a great staff, I became an essential piece of the PGA Championship.”
