Unlike the Career Development Center’s annual Break Through networking conference, which brings alumni to campus for a wide variety of career panels, Networking Treks take students to alumni so they can learn in professional environments.

Alumnus Brian Papson ’99, vice president of marketing for the Philadelphia Eagles, giving SU students a tour of Lincoln Financial Stadium.Xiomara Washington ’26, a sports media major from Brooklyn, New York, said she was excited to explore potential career paths in a new city — particularly those that align with her passion for athletics and the business operations of professional teams.

So, what better place than the Philadelphia Eagles?

“By visiting the Eagles, I hoped to see how a successful sports organization operates and learn about their strategies for marketing, branding and community engagement,” Washington said. “The visit exceeded my expectations as I got to learn so much from alumnus Brian Papson ’99, who shared valuable experiences and advice.”

Papson is vice president of marketing for the Philadelphia Eagles, where he has been employed since 2013.

Jorge Arriaga ’24, a sports media major from Manalapan, New Jersey, also jumped at the chance to visit the Philadelphia Eagles. After his graduation in December, he hopes to land a full-time position or an internship working in multimedia for a team or university.

“I hoped to gain valuable insights on how business and logistics are run within a high-level sports organization such as the Eagles, and I was able to learn so much,” Arriaga said. “I made some valuable alumni connections all the way back to where I live in northern New Jersey. These kinds of experiences are vital for upper-level students, and I am positive this experience will serve me very well moving forward toward my career.”

The Philadelphia Career Trek also took students to retail conglomerate URBN, real estate broker Berkadia, financial services company SEI, publisher Taylor & Francis Group and advertising agency Stream Companies. The evening concluded with a student-alumni networking reception at Hirtle, Callaghan & Co.

“Visiting an alumni’s workplace offers students a firsthand look at career paths, workplace culture and networking opportunities that can guide their professional development and open doors to future opportunities,” said Allie Grill, director of the Career Development Center. “It’s one thing to learn in the classroom, but seeing firsthand how professionals tackle challenges, collaborate and innovate takes learning to a whole new level.”

The post Students head to Philly for career networking appeared first on °µÍřTV.

“I was totally surprised. We get into such a groove during the season that we sometimes forget the impact that our work has on people,” Washuta said. “This award is a nice reminder of the special moment we were able to create for our fans.”

Washuta and his team won the Emmy Award for special events program from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Pacific Southwest Chapter. The video producer credits his early access to real experiences at °µÍřTV with preparing him for the career he has today.

“I was able to get hands-on experience very quickly, which allowed me to learn from my mistakes early. The only way to get better at anything is to keep doing it and continue to get reps in,” Washuta said. “It’s all part of growing and developing your craft.”

He also recognized mentors David Kaszuba, associate professor of communications, and John Foltz, lecturer in communications.

“I had great mentors in my time at SU that pushed me to do more,” Washuta said, “and that gave me the confidence that a kid from a smaller school could go on to do big things.”

After graduating from °µÍřTV with a bachelor’s degree in sports media, Washuta accepted an internship with USA Baseball in Cary, North Carolina. Throughout that summer, he had the chance to shoot and edit various types of videos for USA Baseball’s social media platforms.

“Some of my favorite moments from my time with USA Baseball include capturing top prospects, traveling to different U.S. cities for events and working with the U.S. Olympic Team before they headed to Tokyo,” Washuta remembered.

Shortly after his internship, he landed his full-time position as a video producer for the Vegas Golden Knights.

“I get to create videos for an arena crowd of 18,000, which is something that I never thought I would do,” Washuta said. “A lot of times, I’ll be in the crowd shooting the games and see people’s live reactions to videos that I’ve had a hand in creating. It’s a pretty special feeling.”

The post Sports media alum wins Emmy for Stanley Cup production appeared first on °µÍřTV.

“We wanted to provide women with the chance to work in sports and gain more experience while also planning fun events for our members that celebrate their hard work in sports media,” said Abigail MacMillan ’24, a journalism and digital media major and president of AWSM.

The highlight of the week was the organization’s production led by all women – announcers, camera operators, director – of the women’s basketball team’s Feb. 7 matchup against Lycoming College, a game the to clinch their place in the Landmark Conference Tournament.

“With a women’s basketball game falling on NGWSD, we knew that we had to do something special,” MacMillan said. “I was very happy to see it put together and promoted on social media and around campus.”

AWSM also aired productions – with all-women hosts and guests – of two °µÍřTV studio programs: Coach’s Corner and River Hawk Athlete Spotlight. Other activities included a field trip to a Monster Jam monster truck event where they spoke with women drivers and got a behind-the-scenes tour, as well as fundraisers, socializers and a rĂ©sumĂ© workshop with a headshot opportunity.

“Twenty years ago, you could count the number of women working in sports on one hand, and we usually only saw women on camera within a group of male coworkers. This is a growing industry that more young girls and women are getting interested in and that’s an amazing thing to see,” MacMillan said. “Recognizing and celebrating this day allows women across the world to feel represented and recognized for their roles in the sports media industry.”

Less than five years after it was founded, °µÍřTV’s chapter of AWSM was named 2023 Student Chapter of the Year by the national organization. SU is one of only 17 colleges or universities nationwide to have a chapter, and is by far the smallest, said Dave Kaszuba, associate professor of communications and advisor to AWSM, making the national recognition all the more impressive.

“AWSM provides a great way for our students to network, gain access to mentors and guest speakers, and take advantage of AWSM resources like scholarship competitions, competitive internship placements and an annual convention,” Kaszuba said.

After graduation, MacMillan plans to work in the sports media industry as a sports photographer for a professional or collegiate team.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do until I picked up a camera and photographed a soccer game for the yearbook. Capturing the highs and lows of that one game had given me the gift of knowing what I wanted to do in my lifetime,” MacMillan said. “To be able to tell the stories of athletes on my college campus through photos is such an amazing privilege and opportunity — an experience I’ll forever be grateful for.”

The post Women in Sports Media step into the spotlight appeared first on °µÍřTV.

Alvino entered his internship with plenty experience of his own. A sports media major with a minor in marketing, he has worked closely with to promote °µÍřTV’s Division III teams. He credits the immediate hands-on experience and small class sizes within the communications department with preparing him for his experience with the Miami Dolphins.

“From Day One at °µÍřTV, I was challenged with things in the editing room, production studio and classroom that I may not have gotten until later years elsewhere,” said Alvino, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. “This internship is preparing me to work for high-level organizations with large teams. I will be better prepared for things such as project management, organization and constructive criticism.”

After graduation, Alvino hopes to work for a company and team such as the Miami Dolphins – in video production, social media or communications.

“I want to work for an organization that seeks to push creative boundaries and produce the best content for their clients or fan base,” he said. “My background at °µÍřTV has thankfully prepared me for a career outside sports as well, whether it be entertainment, amusement or elsewhere.”

Learn more about °µÍřTV’s Department of Communications. 

The post Sports media major scores big with Miami Dolphins internship appeared first on °µÍřTV.