Alumnus scores coordinator position
Sarah Zavala
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: News
From a local Macomb teenager to a Marine to a college graduate, and now the coordinator of sports clubs and special events programs at the Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center, Nick Knowles is a hard-working man with a position that often goes unnoticed.
"I grew up in Macomb and always knew I wanted to join the Marines," Knowles said.
After serving in the Marines for four years, Knowles wanted to attend college. One of the main reasons he chose to attend Western Illinois University was because the university's mascot is a leatherneck, also the mascot for the Marines. While attending Western Illinois, Knowles was and still is, a high school baseball and football official.
He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in recreation, park and tourism administration, and was the graduate assistant for the rec center. His main job was to oversee the sports clubs.
After graduating, Knowles participated in an internship at University of Illinois-Chicago. During his internship, he began to apply for jobs all over the United States. That's when he was informed that Western Illinois was making a position for a coordinator of the sports clubs and special events programs.
Knowles applied and was offered the job. Upon acceptance, he became the first coordinator of sports clubs and special events programs in 2007. Knowles didn't have a preference where he wanted to work, but when he was offered the job, he took it because his wife already worked in the area.
A normal workday for Knowles requires him to check on all the sports clubs, assuring travel rosters, money situations and hotel arrangements are all taken care of. Along with practice and game schedules, hiring the officials and running the Sports Clubs Council, Knowles always has something to plan.
The 26 sports clubs - a number which is growing as the years go by - and hundreds of students who participate in these student-organized clubs would have a hard time maintaining their organization without Knowles.
"I grew up in Macomb and always knew I wanted to join the Marines," Knowles said.
After serving in the Marines for four years, Knowles wanted to attend college. One of the main reasons he chose to attend Western Illinois University was because the university's mascot is a leatherneck, also the mascot for the Marines. While attending Western Illinois, Knowles was and still is, a high school baseball and football official.
He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in recreation, park and tourism administration, and was the graduate assistant for the rec center. His main job was to oversee the sports clubs.
After graduating, Knowles participated in an internship at University of Illinois-Chicago. During his internship, he began to apply for jobs all over the United States. That's when he was informed that Western Illinois was making a position for a coordinator of the sports clubs and special events programs.
Knowles applied and was offered the job. Upon acceptance, he became the first coordinator of sports clubs and special events programs in 2007. Knowles didn't have a preference where he wanted to work, but when he was offered the job, he took it because his wife already worked in the area.
A normal workday for Knowles requires him to check on all the sports clubs, assuring travel rosters, money situations and hotel arrangements are all taken care of. Along with practice and game schedules, hiring the officials and running the Sports Clubs Council, Knowles always has something to plan.
The 26 sports clubs - a number which is growing as the years go by - and hundreds of students who participate in these student-organized clubs would have a hard time maintaining their organization without Knowles.
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