Internship at Maccabiah Games provides big stage for hard-working student

Editor's Note: This is the sixth in a series about Bellisario College students completing summer internships.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — One of the world’s largest international sporting events offers a big stage, and one Penn State student plans to make the most of that the next few weeks during a special summer internship.

Broadcast journalism senior Zach Gershman earned a spot on the inaugural 14-person media team for the Maccabiah Games after a highly competitive application process that included a demo tape, resume, references and an interview.

He was confident from the moment he applied, though. “The day I saw the opportunity and was getting ready to apply, I texted my dad and asked him if it was OK for me to spend my summer in Israel,” Gershman said.

His faith was well-founded.

Gershman left for Israel on July 5, and he’ll be there most of July covering a variety of sporting events and creating content about the Maccabiah Games — quadrennial Jewish Olympics, held in Israel the year following the Olympic Games. Every four years, the best Jewish athletes from throughout the world compete in Open, Masters, Juniors, and Disabled competitions. The first Maccabiah Games were held in 1932.

It’s Gershman’s third trip to Israel (he’ll work mostly from Jerusalem) after earlier visits as an eighth grader for two weeks and as a high school junior for three months.

“To say I’m going with an Olympic-style delegation to one of the world’s largest international sporting events, and that I’m part of an inaugural program, being among the first to share action back to the United States — that’s pretty cool,” Gershman said. “So far, it’s been a very cool and gratifying experience.

“Honestly, I didn’t fully embrace the experience of what I had there as a junior in high school and I always told my parents when I have the chance to go back, I want to do it my way. This internship has made that a reality.”

Chasing a dream internship pretty much summarizes Gershman’s approach to all he does. As an incoming student, he arrived at Penn State with a portfolio of sports media experience, including his own podcast — ZachOnSports — where he secured A-list guests.

During his time at the University, he has strategically added to his career-building portfolio. That includes production opportunities with Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics, a position as a producer with ESPN Radio in State College, a role as a marketing director for the Penn State Sports Business Conference, and an internship with the Northwoods League, a summer college baseball league.

He also completed some of his classroom work a little ahead of schedule, including the 400-level class that produces the award-winning “Centre County Report” newscast. He’ll serve as an executive producer for that newscast this fall.

“I like to look at myself as a hustler and go-getting and do as much as I can,” Gershman said. “To be able to take that class as a junior gives me a completely different playbook for my senior year.”

His approach for the Maccabiah Games has followed a familiar playbook. That means abundant preparation in recent weeks.

After all, the games include nearly 10,000 participants from almost 80 countries in sports ranging from basketball and ice hockey to bridge and chess. As a member of the U.S. contingent of about 1,500 people, Gershman will walk in the opening ceremonies on July 14. The games continue through July 26.

“The thing I’m most excited about is the opening ceremony,” Gershman said. “I’ve seen it in the Olympics and watched in the Maccabiah streams. We’ll have to work, but the U.S. delegation made a point that even though we’re working we can walk as well.”

Penn State played a vital role in Gershman’s preparation and success. For example, his application required a feature story about an athlete participating in the games, and because Penn State was hosting the Big Ten Conference men’s gymnastics championships, Gershman was able to work with a Michigan student-athlete in person.

“He’s a gymnast who broke his back right before his freshman year and who eventually got back as a junior and then COVID hit. Then he tore his meniscus, losing another year,” Gershman said. “But, once the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility, he made the championships and because they were at Penn State it worked out.”

Many things have worked out at Penn State for Gershman. His approach and work ethic consistently draw praise from those who work most closely with him.

“Zach is a great example of a student who makes the absolute most out of every opportunity,” said Steve Kraycik, an associate teaching professor and director of student television in the Bellisario College. “He finds interesting and unique stories to tell, then uses his creativity and energy to bring them to life for TV and other platforms.”

Once the Maccabiah Games end, Gershman will move headlong into his final year at Penn State. He’s excited about what awaits, but also hoping to slow it down just a little.

“It bothers me that it’s flying by, that I’m not enjoying it as much as I should,” he said. “Still, there have been so many good things that I can’t wait to add more.”