GRAND FORKS, N.D. - While many University of North Dakota students consider the summer break a time to travel and relax, Ty Boyle, a senior on the Fighting Sioux football team, found it a great time to get some hands-on experience and make some connections. Over the past few weeks, Boyle has been in Pittsburgh working as an intern in the strategic planning department working on business operations at the CONSOL Energy Center, the home of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.
"It's an exciting time to work with the Pens as they are opening the new CONSOL Energy Center in a month," said Boyle. "Last week they were named as the host team and host city for next season's Winter Classic.
"As an intern I've been able to sit in on conference calls with the NHL that deal with advertisement and the entertainment activities surrounding the Winter Classic and the opening of the new arena"
Boyle has also been involved in the Penguin's youth hockey out-reach programs and has helped with interview and research which will be involved in the development of the new interactive Walls of Fame to be located inside the CONSOL Energy Center.
"I've been able to work with a team of individuals who are developing a plan that would implement new energy audits in the surrounding local rinks," said Boyle. "This will help to promote more "green" arenas in the Pittsburgh area."
Last week, Boyle was involved in a very innovative and successful Penguin marketing initiative - the Student Flush. Taking advantage of a necessary requirement that comes with building a new arena or stadium - testing out the piping and water flow by flushing all of the toilets and urinals - the Penguins randomly selected 125 members from their Student Rush Mobile Club and allowed each winner to bring one friend or family member to help in a simultaneous flushing of the commodes at CONSOL Energy Center.
Click here for the full Student Flush story.
While the internship has kept him busy throughout the day and on some nights, Boyle has remained committed to the offseason workout and the UND football program. He will return to Grand Forks in July to finish the second half of the summer workouts with the team.
-GoSioux!-
