Students in NKU’s Event Planning and Management course are receiving hands-on experience with two of Greater Cincinnati’s hottest attractions, BLINK lights experience and Cincinnati Bengals games.
Through a partnership with AGAR, founded by NKU alumnus Joshua Heuser, students worked together with professionals on four BLINK projects, including logistics planning, entertainment, parking, lighting, guest communication and social media strategy.
BLINK Cincinnati runs Oct. 13 to Oct. 16 throughout downtown Cincinnati and parts of Covington.
“It has been great having NKU students engaged in a few of AGAR’s planning events for this year’s BLINK,” Heuser said. “Through our partnership, the students are getting real-world experience and a behind-the-scenes perspective of the region’s largest event. Importantly, they’re also learning that not all things go according to plan – or budget, and you must have the willingness and ability to adapt.”
The four events NKU students helped plan and produce include the Alley Jam and FLOW Reception on Oct. 8, and the painting of a Who Dey mural in honor of the Cincinnati Bengals.
The fourth student group will work the Secret Walls event on Friday, Oct. 14, when two artists will paint murals side-by-side. Judges will then determine a winner.
“It has been an interesting experience,” Shauna Walker, a student in the class, said. “As a marketing major myself, I’m glad to be able to use everything I’ve learned in school so far to plan this event. It is great to see how quickly everything has been able to come together closer to the end.”
In addition to the BLINK events, students have helped the Cincinnati Bengals during gameday operations, helping fans navigate mobile ticketing and connecting to the stadium’s Wi-Fi services.
To learn more about the NKU Department of Marketing, Sports Business & Event Management, and Construction Management, visit its website.
