From The Classroom To The Big Game: Nichols College Students To Volunteer At Super Bowl LIV

DUDLEY, Mass. – A once-in-a-lifetime experience. Unreal. Awe-inspiring.

That’s how students at Nichols College described their chance to participate on a large team of volunteers that will be hosting events for Super Bowl LIV in Miami on Sunday, February 2.

The student volunteers representing Nichols are part of a new course, The Super Bowl Operations Experience Practicum, which focuses on giving students a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience critical to their majors and potential careers. They will be working with the Super Bowl Host Committee on events surrounding the football championship, including the Super Bowl itself.

A total of 16 students attending from Nichols will be accompanied by Priscila Alfaro-Barrantes, assistant professor of sport management, and Luanne Westerling, associate dean for business.

“I think this is such a fantastic experience for our students and a great recruitment tool. Our field is very hands on, and this gives them that experience,” Alfaro-Barrantes said. “It’s something they can talk about for the rest of their lives.”

Nichols College is one of just 26 colleges and universities participating as volunteers, Alfaro-Barrantes claimed, adding that the Nichols contingent of 16 students is one of the largest.

More than 10,000 volunteers in Miami will assist with events before and during the Super Bowl. Among the students’ responsibilities are working at both the Super Bowl LIVE and Super Bowl Experience events, as well as assisting with pre-game operations on game day.

Students react

Some students said this experience is something they never expected.

“I get to do a bucket list item, and the fun part about it is being able to brag about it,” said Cari Cyr ’21, a sport management and hospitality management double major from Tolland, Conn. “It doesn’t feel real yet. It’s not an opportunity you get every year or at all.”

“Just the opportunity to even be in Miami at the time of the Super Bowl is something many people can never say,” said Jason Warner ‘20, criminal Justice major from Marmora, N. J.

But not all the students were in as much awe as others, like Eliza Phillips ’21, a sport management student from Simsbury, Conn.

“I really want to do media relations. An opportunity like this would help me get into this. I figured I should start at the top,” she said.

Full student list

The full list of students attending are:

• Cari Cyr ‘21, of Tolland, Conn.
• Eliza Phillips ‘21, of Simsbury, Conn.
• Ayana Rivera ‘22, of East Haven, Conn.
• Brian Kallajian ‘22, of Wethersfield, Conn.
• Sarah Klotzman ‘20, of North Granby, Conn.
• Dale Brown ‘20, of Lewiston, Maine
• Owen Crisafulli ‘22, of Marlborough, Mass.
• Owen Smith ‘22, of East Falmouth, Mass.
• David Foster ‘22, of North Attleboro, Mass.
• Collin Gilligan ‘20, of Lowell, Mass.
• Liam Kincaid ‘20, of South Easton, Mass.
• Kristina Murphy ‘21, of North Attleboro, Mass.
• Jason Warner ‘20, of Marmora, N. J.
• Nick Schneider ‘20, of Holbrook, N.Y.
• Bret Nascimento ‘22, of East Providence, R.I.
• Guilherme Barbosa ‘20, of São Paulo, Brazil

About Nichols College

Within a supportive community, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education.

Media Contacts

Denise Kelley
Writer/Editor
denise.kelley@nichols.edu
508-213-2219