Central Penn College Partners with Lourdes Regional School to Give Students Real-World Sports Broadcasting Experience
High school students gain hands-on experience in collegiate sports media through a new partnership with Central Penn College Athletics.
Central Penn College is teaming up with Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School to give high school students a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience in sports broadcasting while covering Central Penn College Knights basketball games.
Through the partnership, students enrolled in Lourdes Regional’s sports media and marketing class are stepping behind the microphones to provide play-by-play coverage and color commentary for Central Penn College men’s and women’s basketball games.
The collaboration reflects Central Penn College’s commitment to Career-Ready Education by providing opportunities for students to develop practical skills, gain professional experience and explore potential career paths.
A Partnership Built on Career-Ready Experience
The partnership came together through Central Penn College alumnus Brian Christiana, a 2020 graduate who now teaches English at Lourdes Regional School.
Christiana has been involved in broadcasting Central Penn College basketball games for the past seven years. During his time as a student at Central Penn, he even developed a sports broadcasting opportunity for fellow students as his senior project.
Now, he’s helping create similar opportunities for the next generation of aspiring broadcasters.
“This is a huge opportunity, not just for the Lourdes media students, but for our local area,” Christiana said. “Seeing high school students from the Shamokin and Mount Carmel area getting a chance to learn sports broadcasting skills is so important, and they get to do it in a collegiate atmosphere.”
Students participating in the partnership include Bridget Bradley, Cru Kodack, Leo Losiewicz, Ty Pulaski, Margo Yablonski and Nathan Yablonski.
Christiana and Nathan Yablonski will serve as play-by-play announcers, with other students contributing color commentary throughout the basketball season.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
For the Lourdes Regional students, the experience goes well beyond a traditional classroom assignment.
By broadcasting live college basketball games, students are gaining valuable experience in sports communication, live media production, public speaking and teamwork. They’re also learning to think on their feet, communicate under pressure and deliver professional-quality coverage in a real collegiate athletics environment.
It’s the kind of hands-on learning that connects classroom education with the skills needed in today’s workforce.
The students made their collegiate broadcasting debut on November 3 at East Pennsboro Middle School in Enola, covering a Central Penn College basketball doubleheader.
The Lady Knights earned an impressive 74-27 victory over Penn State Scranton, while the men’s team faced defending USCAA national champion Penn State York.
Christiana, Nathan Yablonski and Margo Yablonski helped bring the action to viewers during the broadcasts.
Building Connections Through Athletics and Education
Central Penn College Athletic Director Kasey Hicks has expressed enthusiasm for the partnership and the opportunity to welcome Lourdes Regional students into the college’s athletics community.
The collaboration creates a valuable connection between secondary and higher education while helping students explore careers in sports broadcasting, journalism, communications and media production.
The Lourdes Regional students are expected to provide coverage for approximately six basketball game dates throughout the season.
Fans can watch the broadcasts on the Knightly News Media Club at Central Penn College YouTube channel, allowing families, alumni and supporters to follow the Knights while supporting these aspiring young broadcasters.
For Central Penn College, the partnership represents another way the college is investing in its community, strengthening relationships with regional schools and demonstrating the value of real-world learning.
At Central Penn College, preparing students for their careers isn’t limited to the classroom. It’s about creating opportunities to put their skills to work, build confidence and discover what’s possible for their futures.
