Academics

Communications student extends off-field Penn State streak at Super Bowl

Penn State student Katie Karsh is working as a paid intern for the NFL at the Super Bowl. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

For the fifth consecutive year, a Penn State College of Communications student will be working at the Super Bowl as part of the NFL’s public relations staff.

Katie Karsh, a junior advertising/public relations major from Drexel Hill will represent the University at Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Arizona, this week.

The game, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, will feature the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.

“I’m a little nervous, but I’m pretty excited,” said Karsh. “I’m just going to go and whatever they tell me they need, I’m ready to go and ready to do it. I’m looking forward to the whole week. I think the game is going to be awesome.”

Karsh has been on site since Jan. 23 and will work through Feb. 2 in a paid position. The public relations team at the Super Bowl consists of approximately 75 NFL team personnel and a select number of college students.

Karsh and other staffers have responsibilities such as transcribing player and coach interviews, editing and fact-checking press releases, escorting former players and football celebrities to interviews along Radio Row at the Super Bowl Media Center and staffing a media information desk. There will be approximately 5,500 media members covering the Super Bowl and related on-site events in Arizona.

Having interned with Penn State football since her freshman year, Karsh is a fan of the sport. The opportunity is a beneficial to Karsh, who has always wanted to work in the NFL or with college athletics post-graduation.

“I wanted to go into community relations or public relations,” said Karsh. “I’m not sure exactly which part I want to go into anymore. I’m kind of leaning more toward community relations because I like event planning and I love talking to people. I don’t like being by myself. I don’t like sitting down. I like a different thing every day. I like a challenge. That’s why I’m leaning more toward community relations and event planning and maybe football operations.”

Karsh first learned about the opportunity from her friend and fellow Penn Stater Hannah Biondi, who represented Penn State at the Super Bowl last year. Karsh used her connections at Penn State and contacted Michael Signora, a Penn State alumnus who earned his journalism degree in 1996 and serves as the NFL’s vice president of football communications. Karsh was offered the chance to go to the Super Bowl and accepted.

“Penn State has one of the premier communications programs in the country,” said Signora. “It’s great to again see a deserving Penn State student contribute to our media relations efforts at the Super Bowl and hopefully have a tremendous experience.”

“Penn State has done a ton for me,” said Karsh. “The College of Communications has meant the world to me.”

In addition to Signora, other notable Penn Staters at the Super Bowl include one active player and two media members. They are:

-- Garry Gilliam, who majored in advertising/public relations, graduated in December 2013 and plays offensive tackle for the Seahawks;

-- former Penn State standout Michael Robinson, who earned degrees in advertising/public relations and journalism, and is credentialed to cover the game for the NFL Network; and

-- Kimberly Jones, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in exercise and sport science, who works as a reporter for the NFL Network.

Last Updated January 27, 2015