SLIPPERY ROCK — Robin Ammon believes in on-the-job training.

The Slippery Rock University professor believes in the theory so much that he has his sports management class organize and run a charitable golf outing each fall.

The Rocktober Open is at 10 a.m. Oct. 12 at Lake Arthur Country Club. Proceeds benefit the Best of the Batch Foundation and the SRUsports management scholarship program.

"Dr. Ammon has worked with the Best of the Batch Foundation for three years now through this golf outing," said SRUgraduate student Shannon Becker, assistant director of the project. "He gives us the date and time of the event. We do the rest."

The Best of the Batch Foundation, founded by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch, is based in Homestead. It provides low-income, underprivileged youth and their families with the resources so they can give a full effort to everything they do.

The foundation develops after-school programs, scholarships, restores playgrounds and sets up challenging sports and leisure activities.

Last year's SRUsports management golf outing raised about $7,000, with all but $1,000 going to the Best of the Batch Foundation.

The other $1,000 goes to a scholarship program in which the sports management staff selects deserving students to receive those grants.

"You always want to beat the guy before you, so our goal is to raise more than $7,000,"said SRUsenior and golf outing project director Jeff Powell. "We know we're working for a good cause and we're gaining valuable experience in the process."

Ammon's class has 19 students and each is part of a committee working on the golf outing. The four committees are divided into fundraising, operations, marketing and organizing.

Becker, a Butler resident, is one of four graduate students in the class. The rest are undergraduates.

Powell, from East Stroudsburg, estimates working on the project 15 to 20 hours per week. The staff has an operating budget of $20,000.

"This is no small thing," he said.

The students have acquired nearly 20 sponsorships and plan to fill a field of 18 four-person teams for the golf outing.

The fee is $240 per four-person team.

"For myself, personally, I'm learning a leadership role," Becker said. "It's amazing how much goes into marketing, just getting out and talking to people, promoting a great cause.

"We've learned the art of communicating with each other as a staff. We've learned about teamwork."

After earning her degree, Becker hopes to get involved in event management at a large sports facility. Powell wants to work in sports communication through TVor broadcasting.

"So much goes into putting on a public event,"Powell said. "It's nice to get a taste of it."