Hi, my name is Stephanie Kovacs and I am currently a sophomore at Penn State University majoring in Advertising/Public Relations with a minor in Digital Media Trends and Analytics and a certificate in Sports Administration. At school, I am an active member of the Student Programming Association (SPA), an organization that brings a variety of acts to campus, such as concerts, comedians, lecturers, and magicians. These events are free for Penn State students to attend and I have the opportunity of planning, marketing, and running them. Some acts that have come in my time as a member are: Matt and Kim, Bleachers, Abby Wambach, and Brandon Stanton.
In addition, I have had two internships to date. The first was over the summer of 2015 with the 14th Legislative District at the Office of Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo. Here I assisted staff with community outreach, data collection, and office organization, as well as learning a lot about the industry. I am currently working at my second internship with Penn State’s College of Communications External Affairs Office. I help to organize and plan alumni mentoring and networking events for College of Communications students. To do so, I make programs and flyers, market the events to professors and clubs, and work with the two Communications alumni boards to plan the events. I also assist in spreading the word of job openings to communications alumni through LinkedIn with weekly job postings. Finally, I write bios for many of the board members for the College of Comm website.
This summer, I will be studying abroad in Florence, Italy for 6 weeks. There I will be taking two courses, a Black and White Photography course and a Design Communications course, as well as exploring many cultural aspects.
My brother, Tim, introduced me to FIRST and I could not be more grateful to have had the opportunity to be involved with something so unique. I began my journey with FIRST in 2010, right where my brother left his. Being a part of this team has not only helped me to grow academically and professionally, but also personally.
During my time on Nemesis, I worked with the business team as the Lead Photographer and Marketing Manager. With the help of my teammates and mentors, I learned how to plan trips, photograph meetings and competitions, present to judges, write a business plan, and organize and run professional events. However, more than anything, I learned that hard work, dedication, and passion will get you to your goal. I could not be more appreciative to have been able to work with this team, and to have the pleasure of calling them my family.
Being a member of Nemesis for four years changed my life in every positive way possible. I have learned business, design, and leadership skills that will assist me through college and in a future job. I was fortunate enough to experience Nemesis’ transition from teammates to family. Although I have graduated, I will continue to be a part of this family. I am a registered mentor for the team and I will continue to be involved in the team’s activities by assisting members in any way I can.