SAEM Student Profile: Sean Dillon, Media Relations Intern for the Penguins Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Meet Sean Dillon
Internship: Media Relations Intern for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Major: Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management
Expected graduation: May 2017
College activities: SAEM Club and Pittsburgh Center for Sports Media and Marketing
Scholarships from Point Park: Presidential Scholarship and the Frank Sinatra School of Business scholarship
Hometown and current residence: McCandless Township, Pa.
High school: North Allegheny Senior High School
Hobbies/interests: Hockey, baseball, music and concerts
Twitter: @Sean262
How did you land your internship with the Pittsburgh Penguins?
I've been a Penguins fan all my life and applied online as soon as I saw the internship position. During that time, I was taking Sports Communication taught by Jen Bullano Ridgley, senior communications director for the Penguins, and she recommended me for the intern position.
Also, the semester before, I took Sports Media and Marketing with Tom McMillan, vice president of communications for the Penguins, and that definitely helped as well with landing this internship. Jen and Tom are not only great faculty members, but also great Point Park alumni.
What factors made you choose Point Park?
In high school, I took a sports management class in which SAEM Professor Ed Traversari came in and talked to us about the entertainment management field. That is what really introduced me to the SAEM program at Point Park.
Additionally, my dad, who is a journalism alumnus of Point Park and works for ESPN, has always encouraged me to go here. Also, the scholarship money I received from Point Park really helped in my decision, too.
How have your SAEM classes helped you in your internship?
Overall, the classes I've taken have really helped me regarding the content I've learned and the connections I've made. In one of my SAEM classes, I wrote a press release that I ended up using almost word for word in my internship. Additionally, my classes in sports management have taught me how to work professionally with athletes.
What are you looking forward to most about being a senior at Point Park?
As a senior, I'm looking forward to Point Park's Welcome Week, and, of course, graduating and getting a job in the sports field.
What are your career goals?
I'd definitely like to work in sports, particularly in hockey or baseball. I really enjoy the public relations side of the sports business because you have the opportunity to work with both the media and the players.
Final thoughts?
The SAEM major at Point Park is really interesting and unique. I don't know of any other university that has a major like this. It's one of the main reasons I came here. Also, Point Park has so many professors who are active in the fields they are teaching as opposed to being career professors. I really enjoy that the faculty are actually doing what they are teaching.