Recent graduate tees off new career with TOUR Championship internship

by Tom Perry

Marietta, OH (05/08/2024) — Enjoying her final rounds as a collegiate golfer, Helena Immel '24 (Sugarcreek, Ohio) cherished those moments at the Ohio Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship last week. But her golf career is just teeing off.

This summer, the recent Marietta College graduate will switch from competing in golf to interning at the prestigious TOUR Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, where she'll immerse herself in the world of top-tier competition at the iconic Eastlake Golf Course.

"It's a short-term position that ends in mid-September, but this is a great opportunity, and it should be an amazing experience," she said. "I had been on the hunt for post-grad opportunities, and I started to look in other areas of the sports industry. Finding this opportunity and getting the internship were both exciting."

Immel learned from Marietta College's Rick Smith, Chair of the Business & Economics Department, that making industry connections is critical in the sports industry. Last November, she attended a conference for women who want to work in the golf industry.

"I met a lot of people, but one in particular was Rob Ohno, CEO of ANNIKA Foundation," she said. "He was so nice and took an interest in me. I asked him if he had any advice about this opportunity. He got right back to me and said let's chat. I was excited to utilize my network to help secure an interview."

After two job interviews, she landed the internship.

"I am so happy that I took a chance on this internship," she said. "I can't wait to get started."

In the fall semester, Smith persuaded Immel to volunteer with other Marietta students at the Boca Raton Bowl in Florida and helped her with the golf internship.

"I wasn't that interested in doing it, but I'm so happy that I did. I ended up loving the Boca experience," she said. "When I interviewed for the internship, I could tell they loved that I had an experience outside of golf."

Immel, who recently earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing, said Professor Smith has provided her valuable guidance.

"I feel like Marietta College has given me so many personal connections," said Immel, who minored in Sport Management. "Marietta helped me learn what I'm good at and how to use that knowledge to find a career that I love."

Since arriving in 2016, Smith has worked tirelessly to help students find internships, graduate schools, and jobs.

"I'm thrilled Helena gets to match her passion for golf with her event planning acumen," Smith said. "She is sure to impress the PGA and the TOUR Championship."

Immel played golf at Marietta for four years and was the captain this season. Her coach, Tom Arison, was also a mentor.

"He has been such a positive influence, especially the way he instilled confidence in me," Immel said. "When he heard I was interviewing for the internship, he put aside time to practice interview questions with me."

Arison describes Immel as a perfect Pioneer.

"She embraced every challenge that came her way as a student and athlete in her time at Marietta," he said. "With a passion for golf and a proven record of success, she will thrive for the PGA Tour in this role."

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy, founded in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today, Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers over 50 majors and is consistently ranked among the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major.

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Recent graduate tees off new career with TOUR Championship internship

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