NORTHERN TODAY 15 FALL 2014 STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS and the opportunities he provided for students really motivated him to get the most out of his classes and become a better student. “He also made me think about the great opportunities that our field offered and helped me realize that I could accomplish what I wanted to in the sports industry,” he said. After his internship, Morsching hopes to get a full-time job within the Olympic movement or with a city recreation department and continue to improve professionally and personally. “Beyond that, I’m pretty open to seeing what opportunities life will bring,” he said. Morsching, who is from Aberdeen, said he chose NSU because the university offered the degree he wanted to pursue; provided him the opportunity to play college baseball; and awarded him the Presidential Scholarship, the highest level of WolfPact Scholarship, which made college much more affordable than many other options. “I think the best part of my experience at NSU was that I was able to make my college experience as great as I wanted it to be,” he said. Morsching met many lifelong friends, played baseball, cheered on the other sport teams, served as President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, became a New Student Orientation Leader, and was named Homecoming Marshal. “NSU empowered me to become a better person and student while letting me have fun doing it.” Gengler worked with the Vikings’ train- ing camp as one of about 25 sales and marketing interns for the team. “I have been a Vikings fan for as long as I can remember, but this whole experience has made me even more invested in them now that I know dif- ferent members and players of their organization personally,” said Gengler, a senior from Jamestown, N.D. He and other interns were responsible for setting up the entire training camp and village. Once camp started, interns rotated through a number of different positions each day, including: programs, clicker (counting number of people attending), information booth, kids’ club sales, kids’ activities, autograph zone, VIP and hospitality parties, ushers, and other duties as needed. Gengler said his favorite duties were working the auto- graph zone and the different parties. “Also, on the last day, the players walked around the edge of the stadium and signed auto- graphs, and I got to be security for Adrian Peterson and then Cordarrelle Patterson,” he said. But the highlight of the expe- rience, Gengler said, took place when he headed to the rec center on his first day off. Af- ter his workout, he saw some people playing basketball, so he walked over to join in. “They were playing lightning, and the person in front of me was Adrian Peterson,” he said. “It ended up being him and me in the finals the last two games, and I beat him both times. And then he asked if we wanted to play 5-on-5, and I got to guard him and try and score on him as w A el n l. o ” ther highlight was being able to get field passes for his mom, Penny, when she visited. “She got to stand right up next to players doing drills on the field and had such an amazing time,” he said. “It was a proud moment for me to be able to give back and do something for her in return for all that she has done for me.” Gengler said the NSU sport marketing and administration program helped him get chosen for the internship by providing him with knowledge and experience in the field. “Dr. Orr (Thomas Orr, who oversees the program) really pushed to go big with my internship and gave me the foundation to get me headed in that direction,” he said. Gengler said Orr emphasizes working at different sporting events throughout the year. “A lot of the things we did at train- ing camp, I had experienced in some capacity at Northern,” Gengler said. Gengler said he would like to go back again next year and move up into a leadership position with the Vikings for training camp. “And then after that, see where life takes me,” he said. “I really want to work with a professional sports franchise, preferably the Vikings, but I am willing to go anywhere that I can get my foot in the door.” Gengler said he chose to attend Northern to play baseball; for the sport marketing and administration program; and because of the university’s affordability, size and location. The best part of his college experience has been the many relationships he has formed – whether with teammates, classmates, professors or people in the community. “I’ve been lucky to build a lot of great relationships with people that I will be able to stay in touch with for the rest of my life,” he said. GENGLERWORKS AT VIKINGS TRAINING CAMP LAST SUMMER, NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT KASEY GENGLER WENT FROM BEING A LIFELONG MINNESOTA VIKINGS FAN TO KNOWING PLAYERS PERSONALLY. “I’VE BEEN LUCKY TO BUILD A LOT OF GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE,” NSU senior Kasey Gengler tackled marketing internship responsibilities for the Minnesota Vikings during summer 2014. Submitted photograph Northern grad gets Olympic Opportunity continued from page 14 For more information about the Sport Marketing and Administration Program, contact Dr. Thomas Orr, at Thomas.Orr@ northern.edu
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