NORTHERN TODAY 14 FALL 2014 STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS Morsching, a 2013 graduate of the NSU sport marketing and administration program, worked as the U.S. Paralympics Emerging and Talent Identification Intern for the U.S. Olympic Committee starting in late May. His internship was extended this fall so he could help prepare for and work at the Warrior Games Sept. 28-Oct. 4 in Colorado Springs. Northern’s sport marketing and administration program laid the foundation for Morsching’s success, providing the knowledge and experiences he needed for his graduate school courses and the internship. “NSU really helped me in that I became more confident in my own abilities, and it helped me realize that I can do about anything if I really apply myself to it,” he sa M id o . rsching needed three internship credits for the summer to finish his master’s degree at the University of Northern Colorado. “I have always enjoyed watching the Olympics and thought it would be cool to work for them someday,” he said. He knew that past students from Northern Colorado had interned there, so he researched openings, applied for about five internships and was offered his USOC position. Morsching’s duties with the USOC included coordinating and supporting event planning and logistical needs for Developing and Emerging Athlete training camps and competitions; managing and updating the monthly VA Allowance Program Database for over 150 athletes; building relationships with athletes in the VA and Paralympic program; and assisting Head Paralympic Resident Swim Team Coach Dave Denniston with daily swim practice. For Morsching, the best part of the internship has been forming relationships with others involved with the USOC. “The main highlight from my experience has been to meet and really get to know a great group of interns from all across the country who have become good friends that I have shared many great experiences with,” he said. “I also have met some wonderful people while working at the USOC and have been able to get to know many worldclass athletes while living at the Olympic Training Center. Being a part of the USOC’s organizational culture and learning a lot more about the Olympic and Paralympic movements has also been rewarding.” Morsching graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in August with a master’s degree in sports administration. He said when he started at UNC, he was probably more prepared than most of the students in the highly regarded program because of the knowledge and experiences he gained from the NSU sport marketing program. “I had already done a lot of the major projects at UNC in some way, shape or form from my time at NSU, which not only set up myself for success on those projects, but helped my classmates and me in group projects that we had to do as well,” he said. Also, his daily communications at NSU with other students, professors, coaches, or community members helped prepare him for interacting with people at the USOC and athletes around the country during his internship. Morsching said the teaching style of Dr. Thomas Orr, who oversees the sport marketing and administration program, NORTHERN GRAD GETS OLYMPIC OPPORTUNITY “NSU EMPOWERED ME TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON AND STUDENT WHILE LETTING ME HAVE FUN DOING IT.” – Taylor Morsching Photograph by Thomas Kimmell Taylor Morsching (2013) worked as a U.S. Paralympic Emerging and Talent Identification Intern at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. continued on page 15 NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY HELPED PREPARE TAYLOR MORSCHING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY OF OLYMPIC PROPORTIONS.
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