St. Cloud State students Kyle Boser and Zach Siggelkow pose with Monica Devers, dean of the School of Health and Human Services at the 15th green at the Ryder Cup. Submitted photo
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The students informed the 3,900 volunteers of their everyday tasks, helped with security, ticketing, wristband checks at viewing suites, grandstand control, opening and closing ceremony and organized the chalets in the villages around the course.
“When new volunteers showed up, I would explain their job tasks and how to do them as well as explain different ways to go about problem solving issues that may come up,” said Emmitt Edwards.
“Every day we had to be flexible, as well as ready and willing to do any jobs that our managers needed us to. Whether it be scanning tickets or wiping down chalet tables, we had to perform with the same high standards,” said Chris Robson.
Students woke up at 3 a.m. each day, drove from St. Cloud to Chaska and worked six to seven hours, communicating with more than 1,000 people per day.
“It was quite the experience being able to work with different volunteers and other students from around the world and other universities,” said Trey Shepard.
The students rarely worked in the same location of the event twice, moving around, learning quickly and efficiently.
“I treated the experience like it was the most important jobs I’ve had in my life,” said Trevor Nystrom. “I made sure I was there early for my shifts and did anything I was asked to do by my supervisors. I worked as hard as I could and tried to learn as much as I could from this experience.”
“The experience could not be taught in a classroom,” said Sports Management Professor Lori Ulferts. “Many will get a job opportunity or an internship with or alongside of someone they met and worked with during the week of the Ryder Cup.”
At the close of the event, St. Cloud State and its sports management students were asked to participate in the Paris Ryder Cup in 2018 in Paris, France. They are currently working on getting the same opportunity at the 2018 Super Bowl in Minneapolis.
“Our St. Cloud State students represented our University and the state of Minnesota tremendously,” said Ulferts. “Anytime our students are in the community, in this case a global stage, doing positive things, it benefits St. Cloud State.”
