You think the local, AK rep that hooked him up has a college degree?
Really?
This isn't some high caliber job, it is sales, usually through experience.
There isn't some scientific algorithm for sponsoring people that only reps can figure out. It depends on where you live. For instance, it is going to be way easier to be sponsored in AK or the midwest for park skiing than it is in Summit County. Geographical relativism is probably the biggest factor in flow sponsorships.