Alan Llavore | Office of Marketing and Communications | (909) 537-5007 | allavore@csusb.edu
Marketing students at Cal State San Bernardino stepped up to the tee this spring, turning months of preparation into a rewarding learning experience through the 16th Annual Spring Classic Golf Tournament, held May 2 at the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon in Beaumont. Presented by title sponsor Bel-Air Swap Meet, the tournament was organized and executed entirely by students in assistant professor Ari Kim’s Advanced Sports and Entertainment Marketing class (MKTG 5500).
The event brought together 44 golfers along with faculty, sponsors and community supporters to raise $6,046 for the CSUSB Sports and Entertainment Marketing Scholarship. Just days earlier, the same student team had coordinated ticket sales for “CSUSB Night” at the Inland Empire 66ers Minor League Baseball game, which drew 130 attendees to the San Manuel Stadium and added another $773 to the scholarship fund.
“These events were a tremendous success — thanks to your generous support,” said Kim to the event attendees and supporters. She acknowledged the essential role of both campus and community partnerships, giving special thanks to Bel-Air Swap Meet and all who contributed time, resources and encouragement.
For the students, however, the impact went far beyond dollars raised.
“Having the opportunity to put on a sports event prepares us to enter our careers and teaches us about leadership, organization and how to handle high-stress situations,” said student Lyndsey Maffucci. “As a class, we took on different roles but continuously communicated with each other to create a seamless and successful event day.”
That theme of collaboration resonated with fellow student Andrea Giron, who added, “One of the most important lessons I learned while planning the Spring Classic Golf Tournament may seem simple, but it's absolutely essential in event planning: communication. Establishing an efficient line of communication made it much easier to overcome obstacles.”
Throughout the planning process, students in MKTG 5500 gained hands-on leadership experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to execute high-impact events. From managing logistics to navigating real-time challenges, they embraced every opportunity to lead with confidence — building their résumés while giving back to future students in their field.