NBC Interns Receive Olympic Assignments
11/18/2011 6:24 PM
Students assigned 2012 Olympic Games posts in either New York or London.
Pictured L-R are New York interns: Kristina Puerto, Christopher Morgan, Montel Hardy, Matt DeFreitas, Elise Andert, Kevin McClelland, and Miles Himmel
By: Brigitte Graf ’13
The ten communication students who earned internships with NBC for its coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games in London have received their assignments. Three interns will go to London, England, and seven to New York City.
The three going to London are Zach Keesee ’12 from Ransom, Ill., Elise Dismer ’13 from Alpharetta, Ga., and Justine Harris ’11 from Normal, Ill.
Those preparing for New York are Elise Andert ’13 from Bridgeton, Mo., Matthew DeFreitas ’13 from Metamora, Ill., Montel Hardy ’13 from Calumet Park, Ill., Miles Himmel ’14 from San Diego, Calif., Kevin McClelland ’11 from Berea, Ohio, Christopher Morgan ’14 from East St. Louis, Mo., and Kristina Puerto ’13 from Chesterfield, Mo.
All of the interns expressed excitement over the news of their assignments. Those going to New York will fill behind-the-scenes positions, while the students going to London will be able to experience the Olympic Games first-hand.
“London is where you’re at the games; you can interact with NBC executives and journalists,” Zach Keesee said. “It’s a great opportunity to learn the industry.”
Kristina Puerto, one of the New York interns, is looking forward to seeing how a large network like NBC operates.
“All my internships have been with small companies as of now, so it will be really different working for a big corporation with that big of a spread,” Puerto said. “They do so much, so it will be interesting to see everything that goes into the NBC product.”
The internships are also offering the students an opportunity to participate in and view the Olympic games in a way few get to experience.
“These games are what these people have been striving for their entire lives,” Elise Dismer, one of the London interns, said. “I’ll be there to witness the last leg of their journey to try and be the best in the world. That is just mind-boggling.”
While sight-seeing is something each of the interns is looking forward to, they are more than aware of the long hours they will be working.
“[NBC] has already told us to be ready to work 12 hours a day for three weeks straight,” Dismer said. “I’m preparing to be there to do whatever they need me to do.”
With all this in mind, the students are ready for the challenges this summer will bring.
“I feel like it’s such a cool opportunity and I’m very blessed to have been given it,” Dismer said. “I really appreciate Bradley just getting us this far as students.”