Final Four volunteers Tashonda Williamson (l) and Clifford Morse \\ Photo by Charles Hallman

With the 2019 Menโ€™s Final Four less than 100 days away, the Minneapolis Local Organizing Committee (MLOC) is accepting online volunteer applications.

To apply, volunteers must be at least 18 years old by March 1; friendly, outgoing and dedicated; flexible and adaptable to change; and able to work a minimum of three four-hour shifts between April 5-8.   

If accepted, the Final Four volunteers will work at NCAA fan events. Two orientation and role-specific training sessions are scheduled for March 19 and March 24.

These volunteers,ย in essence, will give โ€œour inclusive helloโ€ to an estimated 90,000 visitors to the Cities for the annual event April 6-8 at the Vikingsโ€™ downtown Minneapolis stadium, said MLOC CEO Kate Mortensen. ย 

Tashonda Williamson and Clifford Morse are two of the volunteer โ€œpoint guards.โ€ Williamson told the MSR that she โ€œjumped at the opportunityโ€ to be part of the Final Four.

โ€œIt is the Final Four,โ€ Morse said. โ€œIt is basketball at its finest — I wanted to be a part of that.โ€

A touring โ€œFan Jamโ€ truck made stops all over the state last summer promoting this yearโ€™s Final Four. โ€œThe Fan Jam has been the heartbeat of our organization,โ€ Mortensen said. โ€œIt gives us a chance to be very inclusive in communities large and small. We have engaged with a million Minnesotans through the Fan Jam.โ€

NCAA officials are expected to be in town later this month to announce the Final Four schedule of events: โ€œA lot of that is free and accessible for sports fans and non-sports fans,โ€ said Mortensen.

Submit volunteer applications for the 2019 Menโ€™s Final Four online at finalfourminneapolis.com/volunteer.

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.