Students help put bounce in Nuggets’ season

Otago Polytechnic congratulates the Otago Nuggets, who are National Basketball League champions for the second time in three years.

otago nuggets megan gibbons

The Nuggets beat home team Auckland Tuatara in Auckland in the final on Saturday, 13 August, to complete a dream season.

We are proud to be a sponsor of the Nuggets, a partnership that has seen a range of Polytechnic students involved as interns this season.

Behind every good team there is often another team – a crew of people who, although largely unseen, provide invaluable support, energy and insights.

In the case of the Nuggets franchise, no fewer than 15 Otago Polytechnic students have been involved in helping them navigate their 2022 season.

Otago Polytechnic students have been working as interns across a range of functions. From Event Management, Photography, Sport Science/Video Analysis, Massage, Career Pathway and Strength and Conditioning, the crew have been lending a hand in all sorts of ways.

 

“It is a credit to Otago Polytechnic that these students are able to fit so well into our organisation,”

Angela Ruske

Otago Nuggets General Manager

"Each and every one of these students is valued by our organisation. It is important to our franchise that we play an active role in our community, and we hope that being able to provide work experience to these students may benefit them in the future as they seek full-time employment.”

Otago Polytechnic learner Elyshia Hunt, who is studying a Graduate Diploma in Event Management, is enjoying the real-world opportunities provided by her role as an events intern with the Nuggets.

“My role focuses on assisting with the game-day experience for the Nuggets’ corporate partners and their guests. This involves co-ordinating catering, helping set-up and pack-down of the venue, assisting with ticket scanning, as well as any other volunteer roles on the day.”

Likewise, Bachelor of Applied Management student Megan Collins is enjoying the challenge of Nuggets game days, as well as gaining deeper insights into areas that complement her majors (Marketing and Sales, and Strategic Management)

“My work with the Nuggets provides support to the management team and I gain some valuable experience in watching what they do to make the basketball season run smoothly,” Megan says.

“It has been a really insightful. The experience will be valuable in my future careers.”

Angela Ruske praises the Otago Polytechnic crew for their work ethic.

“They are reliable, hard-working and produce high-quality work. This is definitely a mutually beneficial relationship, as access to these intern students helps us improve what we are able to deliver – both on and off the court.

“We look forward to continuing this relationship and commend Otago Polytechnic on the quality of the programmes they are offering their students.”

Published on 15 Aug 2022