Designed for high school students who dream of entering the world of sports communications, this immersive one-week experience offers an unforgettable introduction to one of the fastest-growing industries in the world.

Led by Nick Pietruszkiewicz, assistant professor of journalism and interim program director of sports communications at Quinnipiac, “Game Changers” brings real-world knowledge to the classroom and studio. With over a decade of experience at ESPN, where he helped shape the digital coverage of Major League Baseball, college basketball and golf, Pietruszkiewicz brings a deep understanding of sports storytelling and industry insight to every session.

From July 14 to July 18, the first group of 23 students is diving into a curriculum that blends theory with hands-on practice. Whether their dream is to anchor “SportsCenter,” craft compelling social media campaigns for the NFL or WNBA, or create the next hit sports documentary, students are discovering the vast range of careers available in sports media.

“I'm kind of trying to figure out what I want to do for college,” said Sophie Marcus, a rising senior at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs. “I’m going into the college application process. I am interested in sports. I play soccer. I used to play softball and I love baseball, so I am here to kind of explore the program and the industry and see if it might be something that interests me.”

Marcus said the program has helped her consider a career in broadcasting, adding that she was happy to see six females participate in “Game Changers.”

“There's definitely not enough women working in sports right now,” she said. “We hope to expand that.”

Guest speakers included Quinnipiac alumnae Nicole Gartner, who works as a senior manager for content revenue and strategy at Yahoo Sports after about six years at ESPN, and Elanna Rubenstein, senior coverage producer for ESPN.

“It’s doubtful your first TV job will be at ESPN,” Rubenstein said. “You’re going to have to start somewhere. You don’t just immediately walk into a top 10 (television) market. I will say this, as someone who worked in the Connecticut media, we are very fortunate where we are geographically placed between two massive markets: New York and Boston, so where you start won’t necessarily be where you end up.”

The students worked inside Quinnipiac’s state-of-the-art production facilities to write, record, produce and edit stories. Through workshops and mentorship, they are learning how to conduct professional interviews, build compelling narratives across video, audio and written platforms, and gain exposure to key disciplines like sports journalism, PR, advertising and social media.

For one exercise, they interviewed Quinnipiac women’s basketball player Karson Martin during a mock press conference.

“What’s so exciting about this program is that it opens students’ eyes to just how many doors sports communications can open,” said Pietruszkiewicz. “This isn’t just about who’s on camera – it’s about who’s shaping the story behind the scenes, who’s designing the fan experience, and who’s bringing the energy to every platform where fans connect.”

Beyond technical skills, students walk away with something even more valuable: real connections with working professionals embedded in the industry. Guest speakers and mentors share their career paths and insights, offering guidance to the next wave of sports media talent.

“I want them to have had a good week and, on top of that, I want them to know that there are more opportunities in sports than maybe they're thinking of so that we open their minds to other possibilities,” Pietruszkiewicz said. “Being on ‘SportsCenter’ is great. Being the host of ‘College GameDay’ is great, but there are other opportunities where you can experience a life working in sports.”

A second session wrapped up late last week.