Journalism major ready for first job after 'amazing' undergraduate experience

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — He’s set with a first job after college, a multitude of memories, and an appreciation for the opportunities he found and support he received while at Penn State.

So, Jon Gross could not be happier. He’s just not thrilled that it’s almost over.

“I just want to enjoy the moment and not think about the fact that I’m graduating in a few weeks,” he said. “I’m a bit excited to move on and get life going because I love doing what I do and I feel Penn State has prepared me very well for the rest of my career.”

Gross, a senior majoring in journalism and international politics from Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, made the most of his college experience from the first day he stepped on campus. He took opportunities at CommRadio, the internet-based station housed in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, eventually becoming the station’s sports director, and completed numerous internships.

He’s called the Rose Bowl, Penn State women’s volleyball, and a variety of other sporting events on campus and off while working for Big Ten Network Plus, C-Net, WCBS-TV in New York City, and WTAJ-TV in State College. Plus, he served as president of his fraternity and thrived in the classroom as well, earning the Jeanne Stiles Williamson Scholarship.

“It’s been amazing here, and the opportunities here have been endless,” he said. “We get regular emails from the internship office with opportunities, and I found all those things through them. Plus, speaking with professors helped clear up what decisions to make.

"There’s been a lot of great support. The biggest challenge was just managing my time through all that.”

After graduation he’s headed to Saugerties, New York, as the play-by-play voice of the Saugerties Stallions, a baseball team in the Perfect Game Collegiate Summer League. He held that same position last summer. He then begins work at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke as the school’s lead broadcaster (football, basketball, baseball, softball and more) in August.

It’s a big step from how he started broadcasting, providing play-by-play of a video game, NCAA Football 2006, for, at best, a family audience. That led to a high school sports talk show with friends and, eventually, Penn State.

“I’m thrilled that I came to Penn State. I wanted to be someone who came here, made a name for myself, and represented Penn State as well,” he said. “I wanted to create my own experience, and I felt like Penn State offered that for me. It made my dreams possible.”