Drew Benson couldn’t believe how many times over the summer Travis Kelce waved hello to him.

Benson, a member of the Class of 2025, spent his summer as a training camp intern with the Kansas City Chiefs in St. Joseph, Missouri. He served fans and players alike, helping ensure the experience lived up to the NFL franchise’s Super Bowl standard.

“It kind of intimidated me at first — it’s a lot bigger than you as an individual,” Benson said. “From the moment you wake up to when you leave in the afternoon, you’re representing the Kansas City Chiefs. I wanted to be the hardest worker in the room.”

Benson spent the spring researching internships and applied to every position that caught his interest. None initially panned out — until he came across one on LinkedIn with the Chiefs.

He threw his name into the pool, and about a month later, he received an email requesting an interview. Much like when he was a student-athlete at Sioux City West High School and
Morningside, Benson studied film — this time on his “opponent.” He wanted to be ready.

Benson earned one of 30 internship spots the Chiefs offered out of more than 800 applicants, working alongside interns from much larger schools. His resume stood out, thanks to three key experiences while studying business administration and management at Morningside: working for the Sioux City Bandits, Sioux City Explorers, and Sioux Falls Skyforce.

He did it all — serving as a front office intern with the Bandits, a clubhouse attendant with the Explorers, and for the past two basketball seasons, part of the Events Operations department with the Skyforce, the G League affiliate of the Miami Heat.

“I just felt like my journey was a little different, and in a way, it kind of put me a step ahead,” Benson said. “I think they saw that in me, too. You can gain a lot of skills in the real world rather than being an intern for your school.”

At Chiefs training camp, Benson primarily worked with fan experiences — greeting 8,000 fans each morning, managing autograph sessions with stars like Patrick Mahomes and Kelce, and making sure every guest had a memorable visit.

On his very first day, Benson was asked to sell Kids Club memberships. Interns were tasked with selling 500 in a month. He sold 107 within the first few hours.

“That level of die-hard passion for your team was really eye-opening to me,” he said. “I made my impression early, had a lot of opportunities thrown my way, and knew how to handle them.”

He even spent a day assisting the Mahomes family, driving them around on a golf cart and helping them feel at home at camp.

“They were awesome people,” Benson said. “They thanked us a lot for our jobs and took the time to chat, take pictures, and sign autographs. I can’t say enough great things.”

Benson’s journey didn’t end there. In April, he was hired by Siouxland Sports Academy as its Facilities and Events Operations Manager, overseeing daily operations. He also helps organize large-scale AAU tournaments across the metro and oversees youth basketball and volleyball leagues.

“I wouldn’t change the people or the environment I work in for anything,” Benson said. “I’m very lucky they kept me on when we merged. I think they saw something in me — a young, hard worker who would be a good fit. We’re taking huge steps year by year. An event is more than just throwing whistles on a couple of guys. It takes a lot of work.”

Not only is Benson helping Siouxland Sports Academy become one of the region’s top youth athletic programs, but he’s also building his own future. He began pursuing his Master of Business Administration through Morningside this past June, aiming to graduate in Spring 2027.

He said he’s proud to be continuing his education with his hometown university —the same one he’s grown up cheering for since he was a kid.

He loves the ability to take his classes online, and have that familiarity with the same professors he had as an undergrad student. He said he can email a professor and often get a response within minutes.

“When Morningside came out with their program, it was a no-brainer,” Benson said. “I wouldn’t change my experience at Morningside for the world. I’m very proud to say I went to Morningside, and would definitely pitch (the MBA program) to anyone looking to continue their career.”