UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State branch of the Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM) was selected June 15 as the national organization’s student chapter of the year.
The Penn State chapter had 55 dues-paying members in the 2019-20 academic year and a hectic fall schedule of speakers and events, including an in-person question-and-answer session with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe, a tour of the press facilities at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, and a tour of the “College GameDay” set in October, when the show visited University Park for the Nittany Lions’ football game against Michigan.
“Penn State has once again proven to be a strong branch of our organization at the student level,” said Ashley Colley, AWSM’s president. “These young women know the importance of providing ways to expand their connections and explore future career paths through AWSM while furthering their education on a consistent basis.”
Colley also noted the Penn State chapter continued regular online meetings in the spring after classes went online because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am incredibly proud of AWSM@Penn State for receiving the national Student Chapter of the Year award. Every member has played a huge role in this achievement, but I cannot thank my executive board enough,” said Ally Lutter, the chapter president for 2019-20. “We faced our fair share of challenges throughout the year, but we grew stronger together, and I’m so glad I get to share this amazing honor with them!”
Lutter was separately named one of eight national AWSM Scholars, college students who receive an internship with a major sports media outlet. Lutter’s internship is with CNN Sports.
AWSM (pronounced “awesome”) was founded in 1987 as a support network and advocacy group for women who work in sports media. The group began honoring student chapters in 2013. There are currently 20 student chapters listed on the AWSM national website.
This marks the second time in three years Penn State has been awarded the student chapter of the year honor. The chapter also was selected in 2018.
“Our student leadership in the AWSM chapter has created a true community of young women interested in sports media at Penn State,” said John Affleck, director of the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism and the faculty adviser to the group. “They’ll be professional colleagues for years to come, but they also are friends and they are well organized. That’s where it starts.”