Academics

Little League internship provides big-time experience for film major

Ethan Zerbe has helped viewers around the world see action from the Little League World Series as part of a summer internship. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

This is the 17th in a series of articles about summer internships for students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As the Little League World Series moves toward its conclusion Aug. 27, one Penn State undergraduate has an important role in how many people watch the action.

Ethan Zerbe, a film-video major and Schreyer Honors Scholar, edits highlights that appear on the Little League website. He’s completing a summer internship that provides “an amazing opportunity” — especially because he’s secured it after his freshman year.

“It’s great to get an internship like this so early,” said Zerbe, who started his position in late July.

After MLB Advanced Media, one of Little League’s partners, cuts highlights from game action, Zerbe formats the video content with graphics and information before it gets posted online.

Zerbe grew up just 17 miles from picturesque Lamade Stadium and Little League headquarters, so he was understandably excited about an internship that allowed him to stay at home during the summer and hone his skills wile working for an organization with a worldwide reputation.

He worked almost daily — and especially as action in the overall tournament reached the regional level, with ESPN and its channels televising games almost daily in mid- to late August. As the World Series began last week, Zerbe continued working.

This week, though, with the start of Penn State classes, he’s back on the University Park campus before returning to the World Series to complete his internship during championship weekend.

He’s following in the footsteps of several Bellisario College students in recent years who have earned internships with Little League. A few communications alumni are completing postgraduate internships with Little League this summer, too.

In addition, a team of students from the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism has been covering tournament action as part of a partnership with The Associated Press.

Zerbe is the son of Kimberly and Daniel Zerbe, of Hughesville, Pennsylvania. His brother, 26-year-old Seth Zerbe, graduated from Penn State and is serving in the Army.

The youngest Zerbe appreciates his family connections and the opportunities the University provides. Along with maintaining solid grades, he has worked with the student-led television network, PSNtv. He also joined and has worked to promote the Critically Acclaimed Movie Club.

He’s known for a long time that he would attend Penn State. Along with visiting his brother on campus, his high school’s video production club made a visit to campus. That included a tour of the Bellisario College’s state-of-the-art facilities and the Steve Jones Broadcasting Complex housed in Rec Hall.

As he enters his sophomore year, he’s excited about more chances to hone his skills and move toward an eventual career in film-video production.

“There’s the classes, there’s the internship, there’s just so many things you can do at Penn State,” Zerbe said. “Little League this summer has been great, and it’ll be great to keep trying different things the next few years.”

Last Updated June 2, 2021