A master class in event execution

“The opportunity for students to work the Masters Tournament gave them firsthand insight into luxury hospitality at its finest. It was a master class in service excellence, guest relations and the seamless coordination behind an iconic event,” said Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management Senior Lecturer Theresa Lind.

Over the span of 10 days, 18 students had the opportunity to work at the 2025 Masters Tournament, held at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. 

Lind continued, “The Masters is a living case study in elite sports-event management. From operations to fan engagement, it exhibited how precision, planning and professionalism come together to deliver a world-class experience.”

The trip, led by Lind and Senior Lecturer Alyssa Bosley, enabled students to participate directly in a variety of operational roles including serving patrons at on-site restaurants, assisting with merchandise sales and supporting tournament workforce operations.  

Having attended last year’s tournament, Sport and Recreation Management (SRM) major Miranda Neary and Hospitality Management (HM) major Alina Skadra were selected as student leaders to help guide the group.

“Returning to Augusta National for a second year was a goal; being asked to go with the Hart School was a dream come true,” said Neary. “When Professor Bosley and Dr. Lind asked me to be in a student leadership position with my fellow HM student, Alina, I was ecstatic.”

Students performed a wide variety of functions, including hostess, beverage attendant, server, queue floater, sales attendant and sales-floor usher. New this year was the role of Tournament Workforce Assistant (TWA). Created to support the human-resources department, it required students to assist with administrative tasks like timekeeping and eligibility tracking-and-observation, and to provide general assistance to their supervisors throughout the week.

“Every morning, walking to work, I was filled with pure excitement,” Skadra said. “There’s something magical about putting on the uniform, stepping onto the grounds and serving the patrons with a level of hospitality that meets Augusta’s world-class standards.”  

While the students found it exciting to make connections with industry leaders, it wasn’t all fun and games. They were up at dawn and worked through the evening, with some spending the entire day in the sun. “Long hours and tough days—yet an unforgettable experience, made extraordinary by incredible people,” SRM major Rachel Bailey said.

HM major Kennedy Sullivan was the only JMU student selected to serve as a hostess in the prestigious Trophy Room. “I pushed through the challenges,” she said, “and it ended up being so rewarding. I was selected as one of two MVPs for my restaurant and learned that it is so important to be resilient and hardworking because it truly pays off.” 

The trip provided an incredible learning opportunity for students, allowing them to gain hands-on experience at one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. While working on-site, students experienced up-close the meticulous planning and execution required for the staging of a high-profile, tradition-rich event. They learned about guest services, hospitality operations and crowd management at an elite level, while also sharpening their communication, adaptability and professionalism in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

“Watching our students grow in confidence and leadership throughout the week was inspiring,” Bosley said. “The Masters provided them with a world-class stage on which to learn, and they rose to the challenge with incredible enthusiasm and professionalism. We are so proud to see them carry these experiences into their future careers.”