About 10 students will work at this week’s PGA event in such areas as marketing, operations, social media and hospitality, said Anita Moorman, who heads the sport administration program.
The university’s partnership with PGA of America has paid big dividends in terms of opportunities for students since it began with the 2008 Ryder Cup. It has opened doors for networking and work experience and given faculty a unique opportunity to build classes around the events, Moorman explained.
“Our sport marketing classes have been working with the Senior PGA Championship for almost a year by developing ticket sales strategies, sales promotions and marketing programs,” she said. “Now, they are implementing those plans so they get to see their work come to life.”
UofL graduate Maggie Ray worked as a student intern at the 2008 Ryder Cup and landed a job with the PGA after she graduated in 2010.
“I absolutely would not have this job if it wasn’t for the internship,” Ray said.
It is gratifying to see students become valued partners — and ultimately employees — for major sport organizations, Moorman said.
The next sporting event partnership will be the July 7–9 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400– at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. Students will help Kentucky Speedway and Aquarius Sports and Entertainment with marketing and consumer research related to the event.
