Kristen Heimgartner aspires to work in the sports industry, and she has a particular interest in basketball. When she isn’t busy studying, Kristen enjoys watching movies, going shopping with friends, and walking around campus.

Get to know Kristen

  • Major: Event management
  • Class: Junior
  • Hometown: Le Mars, Iowa (Plymouth County)
  • Career goal: Work in the sports industry
  • Clubs/activities: Honors program, College of Human
    Sciences Ambassadors, Event Management Club, ISU AfterDark, Collegiate 4-H
  • Favorite place on campus: The ISU AfterDark Office
  • Most influential ISU mentor: Jamie Beyer
  • Favorite class: EVENT 383X, Sports Event Management
  • Why Iowa State: Family connection, great involvement opportunities 

Kristen Heimgartner combines interests in 4-H and sports industry to pursue event management 

Kristen Heimgartner has actively been involved in 4-H since fourth grade. It was through 4-H that she gained a plethora of experiences that would later help her decide to pursue a career in event management. 

“All of the experiences I have had through this program have made me a detail-oriented person,” Kristen said. “After considering all of the options I could choose from, event management stuck out the most to me.”

When it comes to the aspect of the event management field she is most interested in, Kristen aspires to work in the sports industry. Although she’s not too picky on which sport, she has a particular love for basketball.

This March, Kristen will be interning for the The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Women’s National Basketball Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa. The opportunity excites her as she will be on the floor and obtaining real-world management skills. 

Kristen is also heavily involved on campus as the ISU AfterDark treasurer, a College of Human Sciences Ambassador, and a member of the Event Management Club and the Honors Program.

ISUAfterDark has played a major role in Kristen’s college experience thus far. 

“ISU AfterDark has given me the opportunity to plan events and what to do with issues that occur during those events,” she said. “I just love working with other students to pull these events off and get to see our fellow students at these events as well.”

Her event management courses have also allowed for her to expand, create, and connect. 

“The classes that I have taken have given me a big perspective on what I want to do in my future,” Kristen said. “Every professor that I have had has shared real life experiences with the class which has given me a broader perspective.”

Excited for what the rest of her time at Iowa State has in store, Kristen looks forward to continuing to take high level courses that will help her prepare for her future, as well as completing internship opportunities that will help her practice for life in the field. 

“Everything that I am doing here at Iowa State will help me in my future one way or another.” Kristen said.