Local grad rubs shoulders with the rich and famous

Evan Mitchell, a 2008 Sisters High School graduate, is currently attending the University of Idaho in Moscow, and is majoring in marketing with a PGA golf management option.

This past summer, Mitchell landed an extraordinary internship opportunity. Evan was chosen as one of four interns to work for three months at Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C. The exclusive club has two golf courses, both along the Potomac River.

The club boasts members such as Newt Gingrich, Robert Mueller, director of the FBI, and chief financial officer of the Washington Redskins Football team, Nico Foris, just to name a few.

Mitchell recalled one particular highlight from the experience.

"Donald Trump flew in on one of his private helicopters that had a big Trump logo on the side," said Mitchell. "He flew around the property and all the members and employees went outside and watched him land. It was kind of weird and the feeling is hard to describe. It was kind of like the king was there."

Trump stayed at the property for two days, and one morning Mitchell had the opportunity to meet him.

"I was standing outside with my supervisor when he came driving up on one of his private carts," Mitchell said. "We said good morning and then he asked us to clean the cart up and then handed my supervisor $100 as a tip."

Mitchell was also given a unique housing situation, thanks to Donald Trump. Trump arranged for the four interns to stay at a Hampton Inn for only $14 per night, in a room that usually goes for $180. Amenities included personal maid and limousine service.

This coming summer, Mitchell will intern for seven months at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. The golf club sits on the Hudson River, with a direct view of the Statue of Liberty, with New York City on the other side. It was built with a price tag of $250 million, the most expensive course ever built in the United States. It has an on-site heliport and yacht service so guests can quickly arrive from Manhattan and catch their tee time.

Actors Mark Wahlberg and Samuel Jackson, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning are just a few who make up the club's elite membership.

For seven months, Mitchell will act as a PGA apprentice and be involved in all aspects of the golf operation at the course. Specific duties will include caddying, working in the shop booking tee times, selling merchandise and organizing tournaments.

"The course was built in 2006, and since the course is fairly new and very exclusive there aren't a lot of members," Mitchell said. "And that's how they want it. They don't want the average guy to become a member. They're looking for the high rollers."

Evan told The Nugget he feels very blessed and very lucky about the incredible opportunity that lies ahead.

"I'm really looking forward to it," said Mitchell, "and I'm going to enjoy it. Just being close to New York City and having the opportunity to meet these famous, wealthy people could open up amazing opportunities for me and change my life forever."

Mitchell told The Nugget it was pure chance he was given these two incredible internship opportunities.

"I just looked online and saw these two incredible clubs and thought I'd give it a shot," stated Mitchell. "I got a call from both of them stating they liked my résumé and wanted a phone interview. After the interview they offered me the internship. It was pretty incredible."

Mitchell has no definite plans after he completes the internship, but with his marketing degree and the contacts he hopes to make, the possibilities are limitless.

Evan will begin his internship at Liberty National after his graduation in May and it will conclude some time in November 2012.