Game-Changing Program

A high school student on the cusp of the college search process sits in his bedroom in upstate New York, laptop open, future wide with possibility. He knows what he wants: a degree in sports media and a campus beyond his home state but close enough to stay connected to family.

He types six words into the search bar: best sports media schools in pa. Among the results is a name he’s never seen before: °”ÍűTV. Curious, he clicks.

What stands out surprises him. A program built specifically for careers in sports media. Alumni landing roles with major media outlets and professional sports teams. With each click, °”ÍűTV begins to feel less like a search result and more like a school he could already picture himself attending. 

More than a decade earlier, the university’s Department of Communications set out to build a program for students just like Marquis Frias ’28 â€” students who wanted more than theory, more than observation and more than a seat in the press box. When °”ÍűTV launched the sports media major in 2015, its goal was simple but ambitious: give students the skills to tell compelling stories, both on-air and behind the scenes, and the confidence to step into a competitive, fast-moving industry. 

“A sports media education has to reflect the reality of the profession,” explains David Kaszuba, associate professor of communications and director of the sports media program. “We’ve put together a curriculum that gives our students a foundation that enables them to excel in a challenging and constantly evolving field.” 

That foundation begins as early as the first semester, when most students take at least one course specialized for sports: reporting, announcing, production, feature writing and media relations. They also layer on coursework in digital media, public speaking and analytics. 

At °”ÍűTV, the classroom provides the playbook and weekly live productions supply the pressure, pace and unpredictability that turn students into professionals. 

“When sports are in season, our students complete three to six live broadcasts of athletic competition every week,” Kaszuba says. “Each one is a lesson in teamwork, precision and adaptability in a real environment.” 

Lessons play out in real time on nationally streamed River Hawks games via the FloSports live and on-demand platform. Through required practicums, volunteer roles or as one of the two dozen paid positions in the athletic communications office, students rotate through roles as on-air announcers, sideline reporters, directors, camera operators and producers, gaining a clear understanding of what it takes to deliver a polished broadcast. 

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“We put first-year students on the sideline and behind a camera as early as possible. It’s the fastest way to help them understand the expectations of this profession.”
Daniel Graham, Director of Athletic Communications

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Michael Lipscomb ’26 and Xiomara Washington ’26 in digital production class

“When the Landmark Conference signed with FloSports in 2023, it added to our digital landscape and pushed °”ÍűTV’s program to a new level,” says Daniel Graham, director of athletic communications. “We had the infrastructure and technology in place, and it’s the students’ professionalism that ensures every River Hawks broadcast is worth watching.” 

°”ÍűTV’s facilities and equipment rival those of much larger institutions, according to John Foltz ’73, a lecturer in communications who built up and maintains the department’s student-run video production studio. Kaszuba also credits Foltz for often providing support to students during weekend broadcasts.  

“We put first-year students on the sideline and behind a camera as early as possible,” adds Graham, who oversees all digital aspects of the River Hawks’ NCAA programs. â€œIt’s the fastest way to help them understand the expectations of this profession.” 

Aside from producing the livestream, students flex their journalistic muscle on game day by taking stats, writing recaps and columns, interviewing players, and managing social media content. Some who specialize in photography and videography use their talents exclusively to run a team’s socials for game promotions and highlights, and player interviews. 

In any given week, sports media majors produce Coach’s Corner and River Hawk Spotlight â€” ESPN-style shows highlighting °”ÍűTV coaches and student-athletes. They find additional on-air and production experiences at The Quill student newspaper and 88.9 WQSU-FM, Pennsylvania’s most powerful student-run radio station. Others host sports talk shows or help produce PA Pigskin Preview, an award-winning live remote broadcast from a nearby Buffalo Wild Wings that brings students face-to-face with local coaches in front of a community audience. 

“Our size gives students a real advantage,” Foltz says. “They can get involved as much and as early as they want. We have first-year students directing live broadcasts and sophomores mastering equipment. They are truly prepared for life after graduation.” 

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That preparation is evident in the program’s growing list of alumni successes. 

Though the major is only in its 10th year, several graduates directly launched into jobs with organizations like ESPN, Major League Baseball, the National Football League and professional sports teams — with some earning Emmy Awards early on. 

When the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights raised their Stanley Cup banner in 2023, Aleksandr Washuta ’21 captured the moment on camera. The ceremony coverage later earned an Emmy Award for special events programming. 

“I get to create videos for an arena crowd of 18,000,” Washuta says. “Sometimes I’ll be shooting a game and see their live reactions to videos I helped create. It’s a special feeling.” 

Washuta credits °”ÍűTV with giving him early access to meaningful, hands-on experiences — and the freedom to learn through trial and error. 

“It allowed me to make mistakes early on,” he says. “The only way to get better is to keep doing it.” 

Washuta isn’t alone in earning a statuette so early in his career. Within two years of graduating, Kirsten Hatton ’19 landed a job at ESPN, was promoted and won an Emmy for her work on SportsCenter. The former WQSU sports director is now an ESPN content producer and credits Kaszuba and WQSU General Manager Dawn Benfer for their mentorship and connections. 

GOING FOR GOLD

°”ÍűTV sports media alumni who have earned Emmy Awards:

• Kirsten Hatton ’19 (ESPN)
• Jack Imburgia ’23 (Princeton University)
• Andrew Porzio ’18 (ESPN)
• Aleksandr Washuta ’21 (Vegas Golden Knights)

For Brendan Alvino ’24, he was working with athletic communications within the first two weeks he arrived on campus. A summer internship with the Miami Dolphins sharpened his production skills, and after graduation he joined the New York Jets before becoming manager of video and creative services for USA Swimming, the organization responsible for selecting U.S. Olympic teams. 

Outcomes like these are no accident. They reflect a program designed with purpose — to connect classroom learning and real-world sports media experience to networking opportunities either with professional organizations or with °”ÍűTV alumni who are pursuing careers in the industry. 

Every December, Kaszuba takes students to the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, where they attend workshops, connect with industry professionals and begin building the relationships that lead to internships and jobs. Throughout the year, students visit organizations such as Bleacher Report, the Hershey Bears and the Harrisburg Senators, and tour Lincoln Financial Field thanks to communications alumnus Brian Papson ’99, vice president of marketing for the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Students also connect through the Association for Women in Sports Media and events such as °”ÍűTV’s annual Sports Career and Networking Fair, which draws professional teams, production companies and national organizations.

“These opportunities have been vitally important,” says Brai Tate ’27, a sports media major who completed an internship with Perfect Game USA. In addition to her courseload, she has expanded her photography and videography skills, managed social media content and produced podcasts — all while serving as sports director for WQSU, co-producing River Hawk Spotlight and working as an athletic communications assistant. 

“I’ve had a great mix of hands-on experiences and classroom learning,” Tate says. “It’s helped me build practical skills and confidence that I can step into the professional world after graduation.” 

As the sports media program continues to mature, it is evolving alongside the industry. Last year, °”ÍűTV introduced two distinct tracks: one emphasizing audio and video production for students pursuing broadcast or streaming careers, and another focused on writing and social media strategy for aspiring reporters or in-house team content creators. Practicum work in both tracks ensures every student graduates with a professional-level portfolio of published and/or digital experiences.  

“Regardless of track, our students know how to tell a story,” Kaszuba says, “and consistent with a liberal arts education, they understand that ethical behavior, professional standards and meaningful relationships matter.” 

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“I’VE HAD A GREAT MIX OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES AND CLASSROOM LEARNING. IT’S HELPED ME BUILD PRACTICAL SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE THAT I CAN STEP INTO THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD AFTER GRADUATION.”
BRAI TATE ’27

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Only three semesters into his college career, Frias is already building an impressive portfolio. He writes and edits for The Quill, works for athletic communications in various roles, and co-hosts Roommate Rivals, a sports podcast now in its third season with over 30 episodes. 

“What I learn in the classroom shows up immediately in what I do outside of it,” Frias says. “In my Sports Reporting course, we focused on AP Style, which I use every day as sports editor. In Sports Statistics, we tracked a basketball game — which prepared me to take stats during River Hawks games as a student employee. It all connects.” 

Before heading to college from his upstate New York home, Frias couldn’t have known that at °”ÍűTV, he would have early exposure to industry professionals who help him better understand where his sports media degree can take him. 

“Hearing from people like ESPN’s Karl Ravech and Sunday Night Football’s Melissa Stark [in one of my classes] was incredibly eye-opening,” Frias says. â€œThey do exactly what I’m interested in — at the highest level.” 

Looking ahead, Frias knows he wants to work for a major media company like ESPN, FOX or CBS. “I just don’t know yet if that’s as a writer, commentator or analyst. And that’s OK, because I’m getting hands-on experience in those areas every day,” he says. 

Frias recognizes that as his professional-level portfolio continues to expand, his future will start to take shape. 

“I’m excited for my next opportunity,” he beams. “Getting involved is the best way to prepare for a future in sports media, and every experience I’ve had at °”ÍűTV feels like it’s building toward something great.”  

Editor’s note: This story was written by staff and faculty, with support from the Division of Marketing & Communications. 

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Reconstructing the Past

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Pottery demands patience, resilience and a willingness to risk failure. This truth comes into sharp focus for students Ainslee Binkley ’26 and Emmalia Ciccarello ’27, who crouch beside a blazing fire on one of summer’s most sweltering days. As heat radiates from red-glowing coals, they keep a watchful eye on the pieces they crafted using Native American techniques — and wait for the results. 

The pots, some plain and utilitarian, others etched with faint stripes and dots, are shaped from clay that Binkley and Ciccarello dug from nearby creek banks and riverbeds. The firing marks the culmination of a months-long research project, during which both students discovered a powerful metaphor for life and the resilience of the people who once shaped the °”ÍűTV Valley. 

“Recreating the pottery methods forced us to take time and pay attention — to the clay, the water, the fire and the landscape around us,” says Binkley. “The process was slow and challenging, but I think that was the point. It demonstrated how knowledge, culture and relationships to the land were shaped and preserved over generations.” 

Their journey began by looking to the past. To trace original clay sources, Binkley and Ciccarello turned to a large collection of Native pottery shards once owned by Isle of Que native Danny Michaels and donated to Jennifer Elick, professor of earth & environmental sciences and leader of the °”ÍűTV research project.  

Growing up on the Isle of Que, a narrow peninsula in the °”ÍűTV River, Michaels often spotted small pieces of fired clay scattered across the soft, upturned soil after spring planting. Intrigued, he began collecting them on his walks — eventually amassing more than 600 shards, some no larger than the size of a pumpkin seed. Many still bear corded impressions or traces of pigment, possible links to the people who once lived in the central °”ÍűTV Valley. 

Binkley and Ciccarello analyzed some of these pieces by grinding small samples into powder, slicing others to examine with a microscope, and using an X-ray fluorescence instrument to determine the clay’s chemical makeup and that of the temper used to stabilize it.  

“We’re trying to make pots that are identical in terms of the natural resources that Native Americans would have had access to,” Elick explains. “One of the challenges is finding exactly what resources they would have used.” 

The results revealed variations in mineral content — iron-rich clays from one creek, barium-laden temper from local bedrock — helping to map where the original materials likely came from. 

“There is a big gap in the history of the Isle of Que,” Ciccarello says of the area near downtown Selinsgrove. “Because the donated pieces were found in this area, we wanted to understand what kind of routes Native Americans might have taken to source the clay.”  

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Their analysis suggested that the region’s Indigenous people weren’t limited to local clay sources but participated in broader networks of exchange. Some of the artifacts donated with the pottery shards were not native to central Pennsylvania, such as soapstone, metarhyolite and argillite, which may have come from as far south as Lancaster and South Mountain. They also found that barium-rich temper grains were derived from local deposits of chert, which is fine sedimentary rock. Of the little known about the Susquehannock Tribe that once inhabited the central °”ÍűTV Valley, historians believe they might have occupied the Isle of Que on a seasonal basis. 

From lab to field, and back again, the student researchers and their mentor moved between science and craft, theory and practice — each step bringing them closer to understanding how Native Americans created these pots. 

Elick, Binkley and Ciccarello harvested their own clay from nearby Penns Creek, Middle Creek and the °”ÍűTV River. They formed the clay into small bricks and Elick fired them on her grill to test their durability. The clay from the creeks baked into sturdy pieces, while the °”ÍűTV River clay failed, too sandy to hold its shape.  

Once back on campus, they worked the Penns and Middle creeks clays, kneading it and shaping it into bowls using round molds or even small boulders. To mimic Native techniques, they twisted milkweed fibers into ropes and pressed them into wet clay using a paddle and anvil method, leaving intricate corded imprints.  

“When we were making our pieces, we really reflected on how much of an art form it was, not just utilitarian,” Binkley says. 

That trial-and-error process — part science, part art — revealed the project’s deeper value. Each stage asked the students to cross disciplines: geology and chemistry to evaluate the mineral makeup of the clay; anthropology to connect their work with Native traditions; and art to replicate cord markings and decorative patterns — all grounded in cultural respect and research integrity.  

“This project really encompasses what is so powerful about the liberal arts,” Elick says. “They’re thinking like a scientist, an artist and a historian all at once and combining these elements to try to answer some questions that require a lot of critical thinking. That’s the essence of the liberal arts.” 

Then came the real test: the fire. Similar to how Natives would have done it, they arranged rocks on which they built the fire. Once it was ablaze and their pieces had been gently warmed outside the flame’s reach, Binkley and Ciccarello carefully nestled their pots into the coals and covered them with a tent of wood kindling. 

“It’s so nerve-wracking,” Binkley admits. “The whole time you’re holding your breath, wondering if the pots will survive.” 

Slowly, the clay shifted color — from dull gray to red-hot to soft earth tones. All the pots made it through the fire, some bearing a few cracks. A more perfect metaphor for life would be hard to find.  

The project reminded them that curiosity fuels discovery, leading them to pursue answers to difficult questions. It also underscored the importance of understanding that our past and the people who walked this land before us laid the foundation of the world we live in today — literally and figuratively.  

“When you’re making the pottery, you gain an admiration for the people who were once here,” Ciccarello adds. “This experience gave me a real appreciation for respecting the land and the history of a place. That’s something I’ll carry with me always.”  

The Valley’s Earliest Inhabitants  

From °”ÍűTVĂ­s Central °”ÍűTV Valley History Project  

Founded in 1858, °”ÍűTV draws its name from the °”ÍűTV River, which forms in New York and descends through Pennsylvania and Maryland before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay.  

For thousands of years, Native American tribes made their lives along the river’s quiet shores, including the Susquehannock Tribe, the people for whom the river is named.   

By the 17th century, the Susquehannock Tribe had become a prominent community in the °”ÍűTV Valley. They spoke an Iroquoian language that was poorly preserved and much about them remains unknown, including what they called themselves. In Virginia and Maryland, Algonquian-speaking peoples called them Sasquesahanough, or “people of the muddy river.”  

The Susquehannock population had been devastated by disease and warfare by the 1670s. Survivors eventually became known as the Conestoga Tribe. A century later, in 1763, the last remaining Conestogas were massacred by vigilante settlers in Maryland, marking the end of a people who shaped the Valley’s earliest history.  

Article written by:

Amanda O’Rourke

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Launched by the Sigmund Weis School of Business in 2022–23, the mentorship program helps guide business students as they inch closer to affirming their academic and career goals. Every sophomore is paired with two to three mentors who offer an uncommon level of personal and professional support. The model fills a gap faculty and staff recognized: first-year business students benefit from the guidance of upper-level student coaches through Global Business Perspectives, and juniors often find clarity through study abroad or internships. Second-year students, Programs Coordinator Kristie Buriak ’99 Anderson explains, deserve their own dedicated layer of support. 

“Choosing a career path can feel daunting and overwhelming. Having alumni offer a different perspective gives students confidence to make those big, life-changing decisions.”

 Jay Monahan ’07

“Through the mentorship program, students can ask questions directly of someone working in the career they’re considering — what the role is really about, what the path looks like, what skills matter most,” Anderson says. “And because most mentors are alumni,” she adds, “students also receive advice about classes, majors and minors, and ways to maximize their °”ÍűTV experience.” 

The relationships formed through the program have quickly proven transformative. Students connect with mentors for rĂ©sumĂ© reviews, interview preparation, job shadowing and discussions about internships and study abroad. They receive introductions to other alumni and industry professionals and, in many cases, those connections lead to concrete opportunities. 

Mason Winslow ’26, a business analytics major, says the key to landing his first major internship was his mentor, PwC Pittsburgh office Managing Partner Katie Hawley ’05 Mominee.  

“I gained valuable interview skills and great connections with professionals in the field of business,” Winslow says. “After a referral from Katie, I received an interview — and ultimately an offer for a digital assurance and transparency internship at PwC.” 

For Hailey Bowden ’25, the mentorship program “highlighted the strength of the °”ÍűTV network.” The perspective and guidance provided by her mentor, Kelly Jockwer ’16 Gasbarro, contributed to her securing opportunities that aligned with her career goals.  

“Now, as colleagues at Prudential, we often get lunch together and continue those same conversations about career growth, goals and navigating the workplace,” Bowden says. “Kelly has also connected me with other °”ÍűTV alumni at Prudential, which has helped me grow my professional network and build meaningful connections across the firm. Having someone who had been in my shoes — and who genuinely wanted to see me succeed — made a big difference.” 

Mentors, too, speak passionately about the experience. Jay Monahan ’07, who was paired with management major Erin Kavanaugh ’28, remembers how uncertain early college years can feel — while discovering how fulfilling it is to guide someone through them. 

“Choosing a career path can feel daunting and overwhelming,” Monahan acknowledges. “Having alumni offer a different perspective gives students confidence to make those big, life-changing decisions. I’m truly honored to support my mentee through that process. °”ÍűTV shaped who I am today, so it’s rewarding to give back in this way.” 

That sense of shared purpose is reflected across the program, and feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive, Anderson notes. Students gain not only practical guidance, but also the self-assurance that comes from being supported by professionals who believe in their potential. 

“Ultimately, the power of this program is the relationships,” Anderson adds. “Students build meaningful, lasting networks with people who genuinely want to see them succeed.”

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Jennifer Yuricich ’00 Spotts

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Professor Chronicles Family Legacy Through the Lens of His Father’s Jewish Bookstore

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Winter 2026

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Writing about family, Laurence Roth says, is never easy. His new book, Unpacking My Father’s Bookstore, explores his own life and his father’s as owner of one of the United States’ most respected Jewish bookstores and the complicated legacy it left behind. 

“When you’re writing about family, it’s tough,” says Roth, Charles B. Degenstein Professor of English at °”ÍűTV. “You’re figuring out what to write, how to write it and how to navigate all the family issues that are part of the story.” 

J. Roth/Bookseller of Fine & Scholarly Judaica lies at the center of Roth’s story. His father, Jack, now 93 and living with dementia, and his mother, Rochelle, 88, offered their son differing recollections about the store, which was one of the premier Jewish bookstores in America and a Los Angeles mainstay between 1966 and 1994. To better understand his family’s place in a larger narrative, Roth researched the evolution of Jewish bookselling in the United States — from the first Jew who ran a general bookstore in the 18th century to 19th-century Jewish bookshops on New York’s Lower East Side to mid-century ones in Los Angeles. 

He also tracked the growth and decline of independent bookstores in the U.S. 

“In 1994, there were a little over 7,000 independent bookstores in the United States, but there are only half as many today. The rise of Amazon decimated bookstores at the turn of the 21st century,” Roth says. “So many independent stores go unremarked in history and when they disappear, they’re too often completely forgotten.” 

Jack Roth’s bookstore — first at 1070 South La Cienega Boulevard, then at 9427 West Pico Boulevard, and finally at 9020 West Olympic Boulevard — was what he believed a good bookstore should be: “clean, well-lighted” and free of tchotchkes. He wanted to serve the full spectrum of Jewish readers, and as time marched forward, he added more progressive topics from Jewish feminists and members of the LGBTQ community. 

“That became his liability,” Roth says of his father’s decision. “A group of neo-traditionalist, Orthodox Jews boycotted the store and that, combined with the rise of retail giants, led to the store’s demise.” 

Roth’s book is nearly 20 years in the making, first taking seed in 2006 when he presented °”ÍűTV’s John C. Horn Lecture. The presentation later became a book chapter and then a course before Unpacking My Father’s Bookstore arrived from Rutgers University Press last year. 

Part critical analysis, part memoir, Roth’s book shares with readers his personal account of growing up in his father’s bookstore and the toll it took on his family. 

“Everyone thinks it would be so much fun to own a bookstore, but it comes with a cost,” Roth says. “My father exhibited the traits of a collector — everything must be in its place, displayed just right. That kind of impulse, when you apply it to a family, leads to some real tension.” 

Still, Roth sees Unpacking My Father’s Bookstore as part of a larger narrative about the role of independent booksellers in American life.  

“Independent bookstores create community,” he adds. “They give readers and writers a place to meet and talk about the stories we need and want. That’s still essential today.” 

Roth also directs the Jewish & Israel Studies Program and the Build Collaborative at °”ÍűTV. He is the author of Inspecting Jews: American Jewish Detective Stories (Rutgers University Press, 2003) and coeditor of The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Jewish Cultures (Routledge, 2015). 

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AMANDA O’ROURKE

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Makerspace Fosters Collaboration Across Campus

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°”ÍűTV’s new Makerspace is more than a workshop — it’s a shared resource designed to connect creativity, technology and collaboration across campus. 

Located in Seibert Hall, the space brings together advanced tools, including 3D printers, power tools, laser cutters, embroidery and heat press machines, a screen printer, an airbrush kit and more. Together, they open possibilities for departments, faculty and students to design, prototype and build custom projects that support academic and co-curricular initiatives. 

Soon after its fall 2025 launch, partnerships began forming. The theatre department is exploring how the CNC router — a computer-controlled cutting machine — can streamline set construction, replacing hours of hand-cutting intricate designs with precise, computer-guided carving. 

“The goal is to make this space accessible to anyone with an idea,” says Carl Faust, department head and associate professor of physics and director of the Makerspace. “Whether you’re designing a theatre prop, building a research instrument or testing a business concept, this is a place where those ideas can take shape.” 

Derek Straub, associate professor of earth & environmental sciences, asked the Makerspace to assist him in his research. An atmospheric scientist and engineer who studies the organic and inorganic compounds found in fog and, ultimately, the air we breathe, Straub asked for help developing a new low-cost sensor to measure fog or cloud liquid-water content. Commercial instruments that take these measurements are very expensive, so Straub is attempting to build a cheaper version that collects fog droplets on filter material. 

“I’m using off-the-shelf filter packs and filter material, but they needed to be modified,” Straub explains. “That’s where the Makerspace helped out.” 

Staff at the Makerspace, which include Faust and several student employees, used a laser to cut the filter packs to Straub’s exact specifications. They also created special spacers and gaskets for him.  

“Making custom parts in low quantities is very expensive,” Straub adds. “Having a resource on campus during this iterative process to make, modify and remake parts quickly saved a lot of time compared to using an off-campus commercial fabricator.” 

Faculty are incorporating the Makerspace into their courses as well. Faust’s new 3D modeling class allows students to explore design thinking while fulfilling the university’s analytical thought requirement. The course attracts students from across disciplines who learn to model and print functional or creative solutions — from dorm room gadgets to artistic pieces — while developing valuable problem-solving skills. 

“The Makerspace’s interdisciplinary approach ensures that students and departments alike benefit from hands-on experience with technologies that are likely new to them,” Faust adds. “It encourages teamwork between areas that might not otherwise intersect — science and art, business and design, and technology and theatre.”

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Amanda O’Rourke

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Writing about family, Laurence Roth says, is never easy. His new book, Unpacking My Father’s Bookstore, explores his…

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A Golden Anniversary for ‘Miss Tina’

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One person has been greeting students, families, faculty, staff and other dining hall guests for half a century. Tina Landis — also affectionately called Miss Tina — was honored for her 50-year career during °”ÍűTV’s Homecoming–Reunion Weekend.

After receiving a standing ovation at the Milestones Recognition Brunch, Landis was named honorary co-captain of the football game. Donning a No. 50 jersey, she linked arms with players and marched to the 50-yard line to flip the opening coin toss.

“Tina’s the best,” says Kyle Gallagher ’28, an offensive lineman on the team. “Every day coming to Deg in the mornings, at lunch, at dinner, she’s always got a positive attitude. She’s always got a smile. Everybody knows Tina.”

Landis has served in nearly every imaginable dining services role: cashier, food service worker, prep cook, station attendant and supervisor.

What keeps Landis at °”ÍűTV? “It’s the students,” she says. “I feel like they are my one big family. They keep me young.”

Landis’ connection to the university spans four generations. Her mother and grandmother worked at the university, as well as her brother. Landis’ son, Tony ’20, currently works in information technology.

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The post A Golden Anniversary for ‘Miss Tina’ appeared first on °”ÍűTV Currents Magazine.

Alumna Appointed Chaplain

People & Places

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Winter 2026

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The Rev. Kristina “Stina” Schaeffer ’04 returned to °”ÍűTV last December as chaplain and director of Religious & Spiritual Life. 

“I have been blessed to experience the best of what the campus has to offer,” Schaeffer says. “I am thrilled to be a part of this thriving community and to be supporting students on their journey. I look forward to walking alongside them as they consider questions of faith and life.” 

Schaeffer most recently served the Upper °”ÍűTV Synod as assistant to the bishop for mobility and transition, supporting pastors and congregations through periods of discernment and change. Since 2017, she led Salem Lutheran Church in Selinsgrove, guiding worship, fostering spiritual growth and nurturing meaningful connections within the congregation and the wider community. Schaeffer’s earlier ministry as pastor in residence at Camp Koinonia in New York focused on developing retreats and worship experiences for people of varied ages, backgrounds and faiths. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Stina back to °”ÍűTV,” says MarĂ­a L. O. Muñoz, chief inclusion & diversity officer. “Her compassion, deep commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and ability to bring people together will help ensure that every student feels seen, supported and valued on our campus.” 

Schaeffer holds a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and a Bachelor of Arts in music from °”ÍűTV.

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Ahead of the Game

Arye Pulli ’28 has turned that idea on its head. He entered his first year at °”ÍűTV already carrying NFL media credentials, a successful sports media platform and four years of industry experience earned as a high school student. 

Pulli didn’t slow down the summer waiting to start his college career. He reached out to °”ÍűTV’s athletic communications department — a move that helped him plug quickly into the university’s sports media scene. Now a 19-year-old sophomore, Pulli’s already made himself a staple in athletics coverage, operating cameras, directing streams and writing game recaps. This is all, of course, while balancing his full course load as a sports media major. 

“The program’s done a great job of getting us hands-on experience right away, which is vital in the ever-competitive sports media field,” Pulli says. “That’s what’s going to help you in the job market.” 

Despite his young age, Pulli speaks from an impressive amount of experience that backs up this claim. At just 14, he and his friends started an Instagram page after several earlier attempts at building professional sports accounts. 

“The lockdown during Covid made it possible for us to go all in on this one,” he explains. “We named it The Sports Place, and it’s really taken off since then.” 

Saying that The Sports Place has “really taken off” hardly captures the scale. The page boasts over 188,000 followers and multiple brand partnerships. In a saturated industry like sports media, the fact that a group of teenagers managed to differentiate themselves in NBA, NFL, MLB and UFC coverage is remarkable. 

“What sets us apart is that we post the fastest,” Pulli says. “We pride ourselves on regularly being one of the first, if not the first, to get the news out.” 

The ongoing success of TSP has fueled each member’s professional aspirations. For Pulli, that meant leaning deeper into NFL coverage, while teammates have pursued their own goals.  

“We’re trying to do as much as we can to advance our business and break sports news,” Pulli says. “But we also want to do what’s necessary to each become as successful as possible. For me, it’s taking that NFL angle.” 

Breaking into NFL media is a long shot for most, but Pulli’s persistence paid off. After multiple rejected applications, he ultimately secured NFL credentials — as a high school senior. His first NFL-sanctioned event included interviews with players and prospects, and he has since spoken with coaches, agents and athletes at the Panini Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine and during Super Bowl weekend. Last October, he boarded a plane over fall break to cover his first NFL game: the New York Jets and Denver Broncos matchup — in London.  

As Pulli looks ahead to the rest of his career, he plans to carry forward the °”ÍűTV spirit of service. 

“I want to be known as someone who is willing to help out future generations,” he says. “I don’t ever want to be seen as accomplished but unreachable. I want to be available to lend a helping hand because I know how competitive this industry is and how important it is to get your foot in the door.” 

Today, balancing each of these significant and impressive roles is tough, but it’s also in line with what Pulli envisions for his future. He’s striving to become an NFL Insider, after years of looking up to professionals, particularly Shams Charania. Whether it’s for TSP, his own NFL coverage or his work at °”ÍűTV, Pulli remains resilient, hardworking and dedicated to his goals.

Article written by:

Madison Clark ’15

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The post Ahead of the Game appeared first on °”ÍűTV Currents Magazine.

Roth Named Servant Leader

°”ÍűTV women’s basketball player Julia Roth ’26 is one of just 61 athletes nationwide to be named a Kay Yow Servant Leader for the 2025–26 season. Recipients are individuals of remarkable character who selflessly prioritize others, embodying grace, humility, courage and strength.  

“Julia has been a tremendous role model within our community, especially through our youth camps, where she is continuously giving back,” says women’s basketball Head Coach Gabby Holko. “She shows up with enthusiasm and a genuine smile, inspiring so many young girls who may fall in love with basketball because of her. Her perseverance, compassion and unwavering dedication to her team and community reflect the legacy of service, selflessness and love that this award was created to honor.” 

The Kay Yow Servant Leader Award celebrates the enduring legacy of Kay Yow, head coach of the North Carolina State University women’s basketball team and past president and founding member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. She bravely battled breast cancer for 22 years while inspiring others to create positive change. 

“Julia exemplifies the values that Coach Yow stood for,” Holko adds. “Julia has faced significant adversity, tearing her ACL twice. Instead of allowing this setback to define her, she demonstrated remarkable resolve by staying committed to being the best teammate and leader she could possibly be. She continued to serve and support her program with grace, embodying the spirit of selflessness by putting her teammates’ needs before her own.” 

Roth says she was dismayed to learn she was the first °”ÍűTVn bestowed this distinction. 

“I am so honored to receive this award,” Roth says. “Coach told me I am the first recipient in °”ÍűTV women’s basketball history, which is absolutely insane to me because there are so many people here that I have looked up to as amazing leaders.”  

Nominated by their coaches, these leaders reflect Coach Yow’s spirit and dedication, making a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer by improving lives and offering hope. Awardees wear a patch on their jersey throughout the season as recognition of this honor.

Article written by:

Dan Graham

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