Parks, Recreation, Sport and Tourism students in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources get practical, hands-on experience through completing a capstone internship as a senior. While students can choose to explore whatever area of the industry that most interests them, the internship program has forged a strong connection between PRST students and Mizzou Athletics.

“Through our courses and internships, our students have built a partnership with Mizzou Athletics in everything from marketing to game-day operations,” said Jason Young, instructor in the School of Natural Resources and supervisor of the PRST capstone students. “The hands-on, real-world experience students get through their time with Mizzou Athletics allows them to use their passion for sports at a major SEC institution with brand-recognition, and sometimes even move into a full-time staff role.”

“What led me to Mizzou originally was their meteorology program, which is also within CAFNR. After completing a year of these classes, I realized that it was not for me and since I loved sports so much, I decided that PRST would be a perfect fit for my interests.

What really amazed me was how in-depth sports are beyond what you see when you attend or watch a game. I learned more than I ever thought I could about not just sports, but the entire recreation system as well. The professors were great, and the classes were very intriguing, and it made going to class exciting. Since the class sizes were so small, I made connections with peers that I did not think was possible at such a large university.

This program, and interning with Mizzou Athletics, prepared me for my career by teaching me the ins and outs of what it means to work in sports. I felt well prepared after graduation to step into the role that I am in because of the lessons I learned and the experiences I had with the PRST program. Hands-on experience was the best part of being in the program. It taught me the importance of building relationships and hard work and how it goes a long way in the sport industry.

While in PRST, we did a lot of preparation for a gameday. When it comes to Homecoming at Mizzou, t is like a national holiday around here since we are the University who started the tradition. The preparations for events like this, throughout my time in PRST classes, really helped guide me to know what needs to be accounted for to prepare an event like Homecoming. While in my department at Mizzou Athletics, most games require similar preparation, however for Homecoming, we must prepare for crowds like no other. This includes planning for extra parking, pre/post-game activities and the overall experience of the fans. Homecoming is a great time for alumni to come back and connect with the University that gave them so many great memories. It is our job to give them the best experience possible and to leave them with a sense of pride in the University of Missouri.

That is what it is like working for Mizzou Athletics. My favorite part about all this is whenever it comes together in the end, and you can see on social media how much fun everyone is having. To know that my contributions helped put a smile on someone’s face and knowing that they got an experience they will never forget is the reason I love working in Athletics. I could not be where I am today without the Mizzou PRST department.”

Christian Heinz, B.S. ’18, M.S. ‘20
Assistant Director, Player Personnel (Defense)

“I always had a passion for sports and football, and I started working with the football team my freshman year, and I knew that was one of the avenues I could take for a career. I was a student assistant with the football team, then a graduate assistant, and then they hired me full time as an assistant director for player personnel. I essentially act like a scout for the team by scouting for high school players and trying to get the best personnel and talent on the Mizzou Football team. I show prospective players around campus and like having that kind of hospitality aspect to my job as well.

I enjoy getting to take students through the full-circle experience, from first watching their game film, giving them a tour of campus, watching them sign to play at Mizzou, graduating with their degree, and then watching a lot of them go on to play in the NFL.

The PRST program gives students the right avenues to help us be prepared for what we will face every day in our careers. There’s a lot of great faculty that care and really want students to succeed and put their best interests forward.”

Maggie McNay, B.S. ’21, M.S. ‘24
Assistant Director, Ticket Operations

“I grew up about 45 minutes from Columbia, so I’ve been a Mizzou Tiger fan all of my life! It was a no brainer where I wanted to go to college. I didn’t know what I wanted to get my degree in after I graduated high school. I worked a golf tournament before my freshman year, and I told my aunt how much fun I had and how I wish I could get a job in sports so she encouraged me to look into getting a degree in it!

PRST helped me so much in my career. It helped me to prepare for my career by helping me learn about the industry in various classes. One of the requirements was getting volunteer hours so it encouraged me to start looking at what I might be interested in early on, which led to an internship in the Mizzou Athletics ticket office.

My favorite part about working in athletics, especially around Homecoming, is knowing the role I am playing in a beloved tradition: attending the football game! I get to talk to so many different alumni who are so excited to be back on Mizzou’s campus.”

Sloane Snyder, B.S. ‘24
Graduate Assistant, Football

Many people often miss a key reason for declaring a major and the importance of it being aligned with what you really enjoy, or even love about learning and life; and that is the people and relationships we can establish within our majors. PRST was exactly that for me. Through the PRST program, I had the opportunity to be connected with a staff member of the Off-Campus Recruiting department my freshman year in 2021. After a year in the recruiting department, I had the opportunity to move departments and move into the football operations department, where I spent the next two years.  

During this time, in connecting with other PSRT leadership, including partnering with Dana Massengale [assistant teaching professor], I founded the Women in Sport Association (WINS) in August of 2023. Through the connections I made with the Mizzou Athletic department I was able to connect current PRST students with full-time Athletic Department members. This program allows for PSRT students to engage together in the exploration of sport opportunities.  

In June of 2024, I accepted an offer to be a graduate assistant for the Operations Department, where I am now pursuing my MBA here in the Trulaske College of Business and working full time with the football team. 

The three years I spent working as a student was the sole reason I was able to land my current role. Without the experience or relationships, I would have not been able to land a role in a very competitive conference. My work in the PRST program made me an easy choice for the MBA program acceptance and now I am able to take what I learned in sport-specific classes and bring a unique perspective to business-lead classes. College football is becoming more and more a business everyday as lawsuits and new laws continue to place importance on the ‘money’. I am excited to continue to build my connections and stay involved with the PRST program for my next few years at the Zou!