U of A Graduate Has Royal Experience

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Nikki Schuttenhelm poses with the Commissioner's Trophy.

Nikki Schuttenhelm's first year after graduating from the University of Arkansas included a highlight that many people would envy – a trip to the World Series.

Schuttenhelm is an inside sales representative with the 2015 World Series champions, the Kansas City Royals. She graduated in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in recreation and sport management from the College of Education and Health Professions.

Her role for the team is to call people around the states of Missouri and Kansas gauging their interest in season tickets, group tickets, suites and party areas.

Schuttenhelm was shocked when the Royals owners, David and Ruth Glass, offered to send the front office staff to New York to watch the team play the Mets at Citi Field for four days and three nights of sight-seeing and baseball.

"Since we had some down time in New York City, we were able to hit a lot of the tourist attractions and delicious pizza, before being bused to Citi Field to watch the game," she said. "I had never been to an away game for the Royals so getting to experience it during the World Series was incredible!"

Schuttenhelm recalled what she felt when she knew the Royals had clinched the win.

"When we were in the bottom of the 12th inning, everyone broke out their phones and once we won, I think it took a second for it to sink in. While we were cheering and hugging on another, our hands were also so fixated on our phones making sure that we captured that moment in Royals history," she said. "After the post-game interviews and celebrations had finished, we loaded up the buses and headed straight to the airport to fly back to Kansas City; we had a parade to plan!"

Since she moved to Kansas City last January, Schuttenhelm realized that the Royals fans were one of a kind. She got to see their spirit throughout the regular season and postseason; people were constantly in Royals apparel and cheering on the team whether they were out and about in the city or at Kauffman Stadium, she said.

"After we won the World Series, it was as if Kansas City exploded in an outpouring of love for the Royals," Schuttenhelm said.

As a member of the team's front office staff, she was fortunate enough to participate in the World Series parade. Not only did they get to walk in the parade and watch the rally, but they got to experience this with 800,000 other Royals fans.

"The parade was just under 2.5 miles long and you could see fans everywhere! Throughout the parade I saw people on every level of six-story parking garages, on top of buses, gas stations and buildings, in trees and even people waving through the windows of their office buildings; every person in Kansas City wanted to be a part of the parade," she said.

Schuttenhelm's plans to continue working in the sports industry and get a full-time position as an account executive. She would advise any students looking to pursue a career within the sports industry to keep the faith that everything happens for a reason.

"When I was at the U of A, I would often look towards the end goal of my future career and not understand the process of getting there," she said. "I had two internships as an undergrad and one after I graduated within the sports industry before I was able to get this position with the Royals."

"Getting a job in sports can be hard, but keep striving to be the best version of yourself, always work towards your goal and take the necessary steps to get there and you will succeed."