University of Georgia Athletics
Lessons From the Classroom and Beyond
December 06, 2018 | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Swimming & Diving
Similar to that of working together as a unit in their respective sports or, perhaps, how some students may cooperate with each other in the classroom, when it comes to Program and Event Management (ECHD 3130) the students operate as collective groups to find a common cause to give back.
Dr. Nikki Tobias is the instructor for the ECHD 3130 course, offered as an upper division elective to all University of Georgia students. The class is an opportunity for students to give back to the Athens-Clarke County community, but for some student-athletes it has been a chance to see the world they live in with a completely different outlook.
"They start viewing the world with these new lenses of event planning and they are usually really excited by that," Dr. Tobias said. "Some semesters there is a Super Bowl or a major election and we talk about that through an event planning lens. There's a lot behind the scenes and they get to experience that through their own events."
Students are put into small groups to plan and facilitate events for local non-profits in the Athens-Clarke County community. Each group elects a team member to serve as a point of contact with an agency of its choosing, and discusses any of the needs the agency presents itself. From there the students decide their approach of what sort of event they would like to plan in order to raise money, seek donations and other supplies or non-perishable items.
Depending on the number of students in the class, there could be anywhere from four to six groups in accordance with multiple events planned. Each group plans its own event, working with separate non-profit agencies.
Dr. Tobias says not only do the students have to plan the events and help gather donations and seek out a venue, but they actually participate in the event itself. Moreover, the students work together to figure out any entertainment or food that might also be present at the events.
"Sometimes the agencies want something specific, such as school supplies or non-perishable items," Dr. Tobias said. "The students can work to raise those things as well."
Despite the majority of the course consisting of planning and delivering events for non-profit organizations, school still remains a priority along the way.
"We're working through a textbook," Dr. Tobias said. "They receive time to work in their groups in the class; they're making a lot of phone calls. So working with their non-profit outside of class and potentially getting food donated, items donated, all of that stuff happens outside of class."
Students have the authority to do just about anything in terms of what non-profit organization they choose and how to put it all together.
Last semester, the class raised just short of $4,000 overall for their respective non-profit organizations, including school supplies, non-perishable and hygiene items. It set the bar for what current and future classes are working to beat in the coming semesters.
Sophomore football player Jake Fromm was part of that class, which paired with the Athens Homeless Shelter and helped contribute to the $4,000 total. Fromm worked with his group to raise money via a GoFundMe page and set up events to collect various monetary donations to non-perishable food items and school supplies.
"It was a great experience," Fromm said. "It kind of helped me look at the big picture of things and all the different aspects that go into planning an actual huge event, including a football game to a concert, anything of that nature."
Events last semester included a kickball tournament, a basketball tournament and even a movie night. Each semester, after each event, the class conducts a final gala where they announce the agencies they supported during the term and how much was raised. In addition, an individual from each agency is invited to come and provide a glimpse into what the agency is about.
"I think at the end they're always amazed at what was possible," Dr. Tobias said. "And the fact that they could give back, we talk a lot about. All the things that happen, I think the students take a different view of the place they live and what they could do to give back and leave a mark. It changes their perspective of what an event is."
For Fromm and his fellow teammates, such as tailback Elijah Holyfield, offensive linemen Solomon Kindley and Ben Cleveland, and inside linebacker Juwan Taylor, they all view football games differently, in terms of what it takes to run a game efficiently. In doing so, their understanding increased of how it all comes in place, from news crews to the proper amount of security both inside the stadium and in downtown Athens.
Former tight end Jeb Blazevich was one student athlete who preached to others just how special this course really is. Defensive back Richard LeCounte, who is in the progression of planning an event, and, although, he may not have seen his event come to fruition just yet, LeCounte is delighted with what he has seen so far.
"It's been great," LeCounte said. "[Dr. Tobias] knows that a lot of people know what's she's talking about when it comes planning events. I got a lot of contacts before doing the class."
Junior soccer player Jessie Harvey is also part of LeCounte's class this semester. Her group is teamed up with The Cottage, a support center that raises awareness and assists the healing of individuals, families and communities affected by sexual violence and child abuse.
Harvey says she's learned a lot about what goes into planning events and what goes into even planning a soccer game.
"I went into it kind of not knowing what it was," Harvey said, "And Dr. Tobias is awesome. I've learned a lot about what goes into planning events. All the cues for our dog walk, they let us know how many minutes we have until we have to go out, and all of that has to line up. It's just cool to see it from a different perspective."
Not only have the students assisted non-profits around Athens and helped impact the local community, but in retrospect it has provided an outlet for these students to witness ideas and events they may not have otherwise seen.
After completion of the course and seeing the final product of their events come to life, it does not end there. The way the students view smaller events to the big stage, there is a greater appreciation of the process.
There's not just one event for the class. Instead, there are many events for a number of different non-profit organizations around Athens-Clarke County.
"I like how it's athletes and non-athletes," Dr. Tobias said. "That's real life. When we go out and get jobs and we sit on committees and do things out in the world we're often working with a bunch of people we didn't know before then. They have to figure out how they're going to do that; how they're going to work together."
Dr. Nikki Tobias is the instructor for the ECHD 3130 course, offered as an upper division elective to all University of Georgia students. The class is an opportunity for students to give back to the Athens-Clarke County community, but for some student-athletes it has been a chance to see the world they live in with a completely different outlook.
"They start viewing the world with these new lenses of event planning and they are usually really excited by that," Dr. Tobias said. "Some semesters there is a Super Bowl or a major election and we talk about that through an event planning lens. There's a lot behind the scenes and they get to experience that through their own events."
Students are put into small groups to plan and facilitate events for local non-profits in the Athens-Clarke County community. Each group elects a team member to serve as a point of contact with an agency of its choosing, and discusses any of the needs the agency presents itself. From there the students decide their approach of what sort of event they would like to plan in order to raise money, seek donations and other supplies or non-perishable items.
Depending on the number of students in the class, there could be anywhere from four to six groups in accordance with multiple events planned. Each group plans its own event, working with separate non-profit agencies.
Dr. Tobias says not only do the students have to plan the events and help gather donations and seek out a venue, but they actually participate in the event itself. Moreover, the students work together to figure out any entertainment or food that might also be present at the events.
"Sometimes the agencies want something specific, such as school supplies or non-perishable items," Dr. Tobias said. "The students can work to raise those things as well."
Despite the majority of the course consisting of planning and delivering events for non-profit organizations, school still remains a priority along the way.
"We're working through a textbook," Dr. Tobias said. "They receive time to work in their groups in the class; they're making a lot of phone calls. So working with their non-profit outside of class and potentially getting food donated, items donated, all of that stuff happens outside of class."
Students have the authority to do just about anything in terms of what non-profit organization they choose and how to put it all together.
Last semester, the class raised just short of $4,000 overall for their respective non-profit organizations, including school supplies, non-perishable and hygiene items. It set the bar for what current and future classes are working to beat in the coming semesters.
Sophomore football player Jake Fromm was part of that class, which paired with the Athens Homeless Shelter and helped contribute to the $4,000 total. Fromm worked with his group to raise money via a GoFundMe page and set up events to collect various monetary donations to non-perishable food items and school supplies.
"It was a great experience," Fromm said. "It kind of helped me look at the big picture of things and all the different aspects that go into planning an actual huge event, including a football game to a concert, anything of that nature."
Events last semester included a kickball tournament, a basketball tournament and even a movie night. Each semester, after each event, the class conducts a final gala where they announce the agencies they supported during the term and how much was raised. In addition, an individual from each agency is invited to come and provide a glimpse into what the agency is about.
"I think at the end they're always amazed at what was possible," Dr. Tobias said. "And the fact that they could give back, we talk a lot about. All the things that happen, I think the students take a different view of the place they live and what they could do to give back and leave a mark. It changes their perspective of what an event is."
For Fromm and his fellow teammates, such as tailback Elijah Holyfield, offensive linemen Solomon Kindley and Ben Cleveland, and inside linebacker Juwan Taylor, they all view football games differently, in terms of what it takes to run a game efficiently. In doing so, their understanding increased of how it all comes in place, from news crews to the proper amount of security both inside the stadium and in downtown Athens.
Former tight end Jeb Blazevich was one student athlete who preached to others just how special this course really is. Defensive back Richard LeCounte, who is in the progression of planning an event, and, although, he may not have seen his event come to fruition just yet, LeCounte is delighted with what he has seen so far.
"It's been great," LeCounte said. "[Dr. Tobias] knows that a lot of people know what's she's talking about when it comes planning events. I got a lot of contacts before doing the class."
Junior soccer player Jessie Harvey is also part of LeCounte's class this semester. Her group is teamed up with The Cottage, a support center that raises awareness and assists the healing of individuals, families and communities affected by sexual violence and child abuse.
Harvey says she's learned a lot about what goes into planning events and what goes into even planning a soccer game.
"I went into it kind of not knowing what it was," Harvey said, "And Dr. Tobias is awesome. I've learned a lot about what goes into planning events. All the cues for our dog walk, they let us know how many minutes we have until we have to go out, and all of that has to line up. It's just cool to see it from a different perspective."
Not only have the students assisted non-profits around Athens and helped impact the local community, but in retrospect it has provided an outlet for these students to witness ideas and events they may not have otherwise seen.
After completion of the course and seeing the final product of their events come to life, it does not end there. The way the students view smaller events to the big stage, there is a greater appreciation of the process.
There's not just one event for the class. Instead, there are many events for a number of different non-profit organizations around Athens-Clarke County.
"I like how it's athletes and non-athletes," Dr. Tobias said. "That's real life. When we go out and get jobs and we sit on committees and do things out in the world we're often working with a bunch of people we didn't know before then. They have to figure out how they're going to do that; how they're going to work together."
Players Mentioned
TE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
TB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
ILB
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