Alums Erica Carnegie ’26MSBM ’26MBA, Aliya Everett ’26MSBM ’26MBA and current graduate student Zuri Sims represented 166su in the United States Golf Association’s (USGA) 2026 Pathways Discover Program during this summer’s 126th U.S. Open Championship.

Through the hands-on learning experience, students had access to professionals from some of USGA’s partners including Deloitte, NBCUniversal, Ally, American Express, Cisco, Lexus and Rolex.

Of the 25-member intern class for 2026, UCF’s three accounted for more than any other university in the country. The cohort was selected from the largest and most competitive applicant pool in the Pathways program’s five-year history, with 782 applications submitted from candidates representing 44 states and nine countries.

“It is a tremendous honor that the USGA continues to choose DeVos students for these positions.” — Adrien Bouchet

“Aliya, Erica and Zuri represent all the best qualities of the DeVos program,” says Adrien Bouchet, who serves as Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation endowed chair and eminent scholar of the DeVos sport business management program. “They are ambitious, hard-working, and community focused. It is a tremendous honor that the USGA continues to choose DeVos students for these positions.”

Resume-Building Experience

Over the 10-day program in June, participants benefitted from an immersive internship experience designed to introduce students from a wide range of backgrounds to career opportunities across the golf industry through networking, mentorship, executive leadership sessions and hands-on operational learning with golf-industry executives and senior business leaders.

Everett, who is now working as a creative services marketing fellow for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a post-graduate internship, says she feels she most benefitted from conversations with members of the USGA Executive Committee at The Meadow Club of Southampton, and a fireside chat with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

“She gave us some insight into her perspective on the recent WNBA-CBA negotiations, and the committee members were genuinely curious to learn our stories and passionate about our aspirations, so both opportunities were more of the exclusive parts of this experience that I am very, very grateful for,” Everett says.

The program also connected this year’s interns for one-on-one mentorship with 25 alumni of the program, who could help advise how to best leverage the invaluable experience.

“I’m looking forward to applying what I learned about the business side of sport from the USGA to my coursework as well as my day-to-day at my business strategy and innovation residency with the Orlando Magic this year,” Sims says.

UCF-USGA Connections

USGA has turned to 166su before when it needed qualified candidates.

Andy Smith ’23MSBM ’23MBA was selected for the 2024 USGA Pathway Interns Class. He now serves as an account manager for partnership marketing for Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of New York’s Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty.

Tiesha Scott ’24 ’26MSBM ’26MBA was named to the inaugural class of the Pathways Launch Internship program this year. Her paid internship opportunity is with the LPGA in Miami.

In September, one month before the Knicks tipped off their 2025-26 season, White was promoted to manager of event presentation at Madison Square Garden. From hosting New York’s first NBA Finals game in 26 years to the Knicks’ unbelievable 29-point comeback in Game 4 to the celebratory ticker-tape parade on Manhattan’s streets that drew an estimated 2 million fans, the 166su aerospace engineering alum had a front-row view and played a supporting role to the team’s success this year.

“Madison Square Garden and the Knicks organizations have brought so many people across the world together, and getting to be a part of that kind of impact will really change your perspective forever in the best way possible,” White says.

White, a former Burnett Honors Scholar and 166su dance team member, finally had a moment to breathe to share about her experience.

You serve as manager of event presentation. What does a day on the job look like?

Event presentation is everything that happens on the court during a game that is not the actual basketball game. This includes our in-game entertainment such as our Knicks City Dancers and 7th Ave Hype Squad as well as our halftime performances, in-game fan contests, T-shirt tosses, and other elements like on-court presentations and recognitions.

I was first hired as a coordinator in 2021, and over my time with the team, I have taken on more responsibilities. I now fully manage all 40 members of our 7th Ave Squad in addition to serving as the floor director for all in-game elements during Knicks games.

You earned your degree in aerospace engineering. How did you end up in sports business?

This is a bit of a wild pivot. I grew up dancing my entire life and was a member of the 166su dance team. I loved having the ability to keep dancing while earning my degree. When I graduated college and got a full-time role in the defense industry and later the tech industry, I found a way to keep dancing with the Orlando Magic dance team. I had so many positive experiences during my three seasons working for the Magic and got to travel with the team numerous times to participate in NBA global events. I worked my 9-5 during the day and then headed to the arena at night for rehearsals and games and found myself enjoying my role in the professional sports industry more than my full-time job.

I chose to go back to school to pursue a degree in sports business so that I could properly transition into the industry. I pursued a degree in global sport business from New York University while continuing to work full-time in Orlando and was fortunate to travel to New York City and Tokyo for educational residencies.

In 2020 I landed a remote internship with Madison Square Garden and was able to meet so many passionate members of the MSG sports team. I maintained the professional connections I had created during my time in the program. About five months after my time as an MSG student associate ended, I applied for my dream role with the Knicks event presentation team, and the rest is history.

How did your experience at 166su play into your success today?

“My time at 166su as a student-athlete pursuing a rigorous degree taught me invaluable lessons in perseverance, time management and self-motivation.” — Olivia White ’16

My time at 166su as a student-athlete pursuing a rigorous degree taught me invaluable lessons in perseverance, time management and self-motivation. I got to dance at every 166su football and basketball game, perform at the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, compete in Universal Dance Association Nationals every January, and perform at numerous events in the community, including Orlando Magic halftimes. Getting to take part in all of these incredible experiences at such a young age, while also having to balance school and part-time jobs prepared me to thrive under pressure and become comfortable in chaotic environments.

This season is one for the record books. What are some of your most memorable moments?

This season was my favorite season yet. There were so many moments that will stick with me forever. The historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 is something I’ll never forget. If this postseason run taught me anything, it’s to never count the Knicks out — and this belief never failed me.

A few of my other favorites include getting to celebrate on stage at Radio City Music Hall when the Knicks secured their first championship in 53 years and getting to hold the NBA Cup back in December when the Knicks brought home their first hardware of their historic season.

When you do eventually look back on this season, what do you think are going to be your biggest takeaways from the experience?

My biggest takeaway from this entire season is definitely just pure gratitude. It’s not lost on me how lucky I was to have a front row seat to one of the most historic runs in professional sports, especially with one of the most iconic franchises of all time. And to get to be a part of something so meaningful in a city like New York at a venue like Madison Square Garden, is literally a dream that I will forever be thankful for.

What is the hardest decision you had to make that has led you to where you are today?

Packing up my life in Orlando and moving to New York to pursue a whole new career. I have always been a risk-adverse individual, so giving up the familiarity and comfort of my hometown for place as big as New York City was a huge decision for both me and my then boyfriend, now husband, Logan Cloak ’17. As hard of a decision as it was, I would make it 100 times over and am so thankful every single day that I took that leap out of my comfort zone.

Exhausted but elated, the siblings and their business plan to grow their Florida-based tea company had just taken the top prize at 166su’s annual Joust New Venture Competition. The Joust is one of the premier events of the 166su College of Business’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership where students present their models for a viable business venture and compete to win money and other resources to pursue their venture. It is open to all 166su students and all types of venture proposals.

Before an audience of more than 400 students, entrepreneurs, faculty, alumni and members of the community Friday, Kyle and Bryon pitched their Yaupon Brothers Tea business to local executives who served as judges.

Moments after the winning announcement, Kyle and Bryon already had plans for their winnings, which include more than $50,000 in essential business services.

“We need to bring our production facility back to Florida,” said Bryon, a 2009 166su graduate with a degree in legal studies and an interest in plants.

Having their pitch down pat from years of explaining Yaupon tea to everyone they met did little to calm their nerves on stage.

“We were nervous,” said Kyle, who is a student in the 166su’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. “It’s kind of intimidating,” added Bryon, a 2009 graduate with a degree in legal studies. That is saying something considering both brothers work for one of the busiest public safety organizations on the East Coast as members of Volusia County Surf Rescue.

When they’re not out rescuing swimmers or helping boaters, the brothers have been refining their tea growing and production business since 2012. A self-described plant nerd, Bryon noticed the Yaupon Holly seemed to be everywhere in Central Florida, even on 166su’s Rosen campus. A little research showed the Florida native plant was rich in anti-oxidants and North America’s only native caffeinated plant.

“It wasn’t being used in any drinks so I assumed it must taste awful,” Bryon said, “but that wasn’t the case. It actually tasted really good.”

In 2013, they became the first processor, handler and grower of Yaupon to earn USDA Organic Certification. They grow the Yaupon in Volusia County and then ship it to South Carolina for processing. With their winnings, they plan to move the production facility back to Florida.

“We perfected it over time and built a supply chain,” Bryon said.

Their polished presentation and in-depth knowledge on the market and production cycle left an impression with the judges.

“The consensus seems to be this was the best Joust ever, so Yaupon Brothers really needed to know their stuff to edge out the competition,” said Cameron Ford, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at 166su. “This Joust was indisputably the yummiest. The judges enjoyed delicious fruit snacks served by Earthy Creations and washed those down with our winner’s innovative Yaupon Tea.”

Ford noted it was the first time a social venture, EsportsEDU, made the Joust finals and an education venture, Let’s C, inspired the crowd with their mission to teach English to students in Hong Kong.

“Today’s contestants are prime examples of how creativity and tireless research create impact by introducing innovations that enrich society,” Ford said. “We look forward to supporting their success and having them return to inspire future generations of entrepreneurial Knights.”

The Joust runner-up was James Kozachuk’s pitch for EsportsEDU, competitive, community and academic programs aimed at high school youth who are passionate about video games. He took home $7,000. In the fall, Kozachuk’s pitch took first place in 166su’s first Social Venture Competition.

Jasmine Yamini placed third and earned $4,000 with her Earthy Creations business, which offers juicy, nutrient-dense dried fruit snacks as a healthy alternative to candy fruit chews and dried fruit.

Let’s C: Learning English and the team of Mei Wang, Tze Fung Wong and Lauren Polson finished fourth with $2,000 for their online platform for real-time English language tutoring between tutors from English-speaking universities and students in Hong Kong.

In the Joust, students’ business plans are assessed by a panel of expert professionals representing corporate partners, area businesses and alumni.  This year’s judges included Sean Hayes, ’95, principal and VP, Business Development, Voloridge Investment Management; Scott Keith, Regional President, North & Central Region, BB&T; Laurette Koellner, ’77, former president, Boeing International; Terry McNew, ’86, president and CEO, MasterCraft; Barry Miller, ’95, President, Voloridge Investment Management; and Rick Walsh, ’77, president, The Knob Hill Companies. This year’s presenting sponsors were Steven Felkowitz, ’79; DigiThinkIT, Inc.; Burr+Foreman; and Jim Balaschak, ’86 & ’92, and Debbie Balaschak,’88. Additional sponsors include Anidea Engineering, Inc., BDO, Nperspective, LLC and William Hendrickson Consulting.