The Pebble Beach Special Event Management Team (SEMT) program, established in 2005 as a partnership between Pebble Beach Company and San José State University’s Department of Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management (HTEM), offers a unique experiential learning opportunity for over 30 HTEM students annually.
This year, 32 students, representing various majors, managed hospitality tents, corporate suites, and concession stands at the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. We reached out to a few students to gather their key takeaways from this experience, as well as their advice for fellow students considering the SEMT program.
Advice and key takeaways for future SEMT students
“My best advice for students considering applying for the SEMT program is to do it!! It is an amazing opportunity and provides you with invaluable experience not only in hospitality, but in managing, teamwork, and leadership development.” – Klaire Wolford, ’25 Hospitality, Tourism, Event Management
“A main takeaway is that you will have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and you will be so much better for it. You will never realize what you can accomplish if you don’t try things you’ve never done before.” – Claire Berzansky, ’25 Hospitality, Tourism, Event Management
“Get comfortable with constructive feedback and allow others to help you along the way. Pebble is a super professional setting that allows you to gain hands-on experience to help you grow personally and professionally.” – Jessica Sharma, ’25 Communications
“Be adaptable in the face of unexpected challenges by relying on the support of those around you. This will help create a smoother and more efficient experience, allowing you to handle challenges with confidence and ease.” – Onkar Sahota, ’27 Finance