Q&A with Asa Mikelbank
As a student at SUNY Cortland, Asa Mikelbank volunteered for several Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) events. Having graduated in May 2025, Asa now holds a degree in Sport Management with a concentration in Event and Facility Operations. The insights he offers to the questions below demonstrate that in addition to enjoying personally fulfilling volunteer experiences, this involvement in international competitions adds greatly to his education, skills, and experience.
Why volunteer?
For me, it boils down to two things. The main one is seeing the smiles on people’s faces. People speaking many different languages come together to watch these events, thousands of them. It’s fun to see a little kid smile, and seeing the entire event come to fruition is something you can’t beat.
The second thing is putting yourself out there and making life fun. The first time I volunteered, I didn’t know a single soul, yet I made an impact that eventually led me to being President of the largest student club on campus. I’m all for taking new chances and making life fun.
In my opinion the word “volunteer” gets a bad reputation because you’re not paid, or people think you’re doing the “grunt” work. But it’s truly not the case. You are a part of something bigger than yourself. Yet you are what makes the event run!
What were the events you volunteered for and your roles in them?
Even as a freshman I knew I could graduate early and wanted to make the most out of my time at school, so I volunteered for the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in each of the next three years. The first time I was a VIP credential checker and toward the end of the event worked the parking area, which is where I got the nickname “out there.” The President of the University’s Sport Management (SPM) Club noticed me taking charge and asked if I wanted to be on the Executive Board.
My second time I served as a snow blower, removing snow from the jump. I got over my fear of heights pretty quickly and felt good knowing my position was important for the athletes and the event.
By my third year, I was President of the SPM Club, and with 30 members of the club volunteering that year, I did more people managing. I made sure everyone ate lunch and rotated jobs on time and that none of our jobs were left unoccupied. I couldn’t have done it without my two right-hand volunteers, Tyler Ferragamo and Colin Hughes. Tyler had experience already, and Tyler helped out when I had to be pulled away to be part of the hill-marking team. That year I felt like we were a well-oiled machine run perfectly.
What was it like to be there?
Being in Lake Placid those weekends was incredible. The town itself is very nice, especially in the winter with all the holiday lights up. There are a bunch of good restaurants, and the Olympic Center is an amazing experience for families or a group to tour. Our great friend Jonah Trembley from the Olympic Authority Events Team set up an ice-skating event for the SPM Club which was a blast. In previous years we also got tours of the bobsled arena, the Olympic Center, and more.
What does it feel like knowing you’re contributing to something big?
It feels awesome, and there’s a real sense of belonging. Where we ate and congregated, all the different volunteers would talk to each other. Some had been at it for 20 years, and for others it was their first time volunteering for any event ever. Seeing that dynamic is incredible. Knowing what you’re doing is making the event run well is truly special, and there’s totally a sense of accomplishment. The training and planning and helping it all work out on a large scale is something special and not to be overlooked.
Did you see this as a chance to build skills or make connections that would be valuable in the future?
Totally. With all the volunteers and professionals around, it’s an incredible time to connect. Everyone nowadays has a LinkedIn, business card, or some way to connect, so it’s a great way to get to know people.
Besides all the memories and laughs, volunteering is a great resume builder. “Co-lead Volunteer” or “Lead volunteer” looks pretty good on a resume, especially for someone still in school, and the networking aspect is unforgettable. As long as I’m in sports, I’ll never stop networking. My advice is to start doing it as soon as possible and to pay attention and listen. There’s a lot to learn.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering with the Olympic Authority?
Do it. Don’t worry about what you may think will happen and don’t think, “Oh I’m going to miss this birthday party” or “I could spend the weekend somewhere else”. In a world where everyone stays inside now, real true work is difficult to find. Do it while you can. If you volunteer, that’s something on your resume that other people don’t have. Go do something good and rewarding with your life. You only have one!
To learn more below about how to get involved, and become a critical part of the Olympic Legacy in Lake Placid go to the Olympic Authority site here.