Austin grad Camille Anderson learned what it was like to compete when she played for the Packer girls hockey team. Now she’s learning what goes on behind the competition.

Anderson, who is now a senior at Minnesota State University in Mankato, has recently worked behind the scenes at some big sporting events, including the Minnesota Vikings training camp and the Ryder Cup and she’s learned quite a bit. Anderson is majoring in sport management and she’s hoping to make a career in the field after she graduates from MSU, which she is expecting to do this summer.

“I know exactly how the players feel from being on the ice, but it’s also cool being on the other side and seeing how we put everything together for them,” Anderson said.

Anderson got her start in sport management when she started working for the Austin Bruins as a freshman in high school. At the time, she wasn’t thinking about working at sporting events as a career, but after two years at Riverland Community College, things began to click for Anderson as she decided to pursue a sport management major.

“With the Bruins, I just loved being there behind the scenes and watching how everything developed on game days. I was checking it all out and getting things ready. I was there to make sure everyone at the game was having a great time and I loved seeing the big picture of it,” Anderson said. “It was just cool to be involved with the team like that. I had all that experience and I love sports, so I figured I might as well go for sport management.”

Anderson has also picked up some work experience in other areas of sports as she took stats for the MSU hockey team and wrote stories about them. She has done a lot of work with Paul Allan, the MSU Associated Director of Athletics, whom she considers her biggest mentor.

Allan said that Anderson has shown some promise in Mankato.

“Camille is a smart young person who picks up things quickly,” Allan said. “Our sport management program does a tremendous job of preparing students for work in the field and Camille has a bright future moving forward. We were fortunate to have her as a part of our staff last  year.”

Anderson said she used her past experience to earn a position at the Vikings training camp, where 30 of the approximately 300 applicants were accepted to positions. While working the camp, Anderson was a little blown away by being so close to pro football players, but she was able to focus on her daily duties that included hospitality, setting up games with kids and putting together programs.

“We kind of did a little bit of everything. It was super busy,” Anderson said.

When she worked the Ryder Cup, Anderson learned what it was like to work at a major event. She was able to mingle with sponsors and make sure they had a good time during the event.

“It was a lot of hospitality work and customer service,” Anderson said. “I picked up the basic knowledge of what it takes to get into that field. It’s a lot of work and a lot of money involved. It’s kind of crazy.”

Anderson has already picked up some pretty big experience in the sport management field and she’s hoping to continue to play a role in that field after she graduates and pursues a career.