As Clara Wenk \u201926 held a microphone up to LeBron James, her inner sports fan was screaming in excitement. On the outside, Wenk was composed, prepared and professional \u2013 the product of practice thanks to a multitude of media experiences she had as a student at East Stroudsburg University.<\/p>\n
For Wenk to be interviewing James, a blockbuster addition to the Philadelphia 76ers this summer and a basketball superstar known around the world, was a defining moment so far in a career that got its start at ESU.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeBron is someone I grew up watching, so being in the same room and having the opportunity to ask him questions was surreal,\u201d Wenk said.<\/p>\n
Wenk, from East Stroudsburg, Pa., graduated in spring 2026 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in communication. After moving to Philadelphia to pursue a master\u2019s degree, she was able to utilize what she learned at ESU to obtain multiple roles in sports media, including the one that brought her face-to-face with James.<\/p>\n
The role, a social media internship with the 76ers this summer, came during a historic, headline-drawing offseason for the franchise. In addition to signing James, the team also acquired another huge star in former Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting to interview Jaylen Brown was an experience I\u2019ll never forget,\u201d she said. \u201cI was able to ask him questions about his transition to Philadelphia, his expectations, and what he hoped to bring to the team. What made the experience so exciting was being able to have a real conversation with someone I had spent years watching on television. At the same time, I had to remind myself that I wasn\u2019t there as a fan, I was there as a journalist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thanks to her time at ESU, Wenk knew what to do. She told herself to stay focused, listen closely, and think about the story she was there to tell, rather than getting caught up in the excitement of interviewing a famous athlete.<\/p>\n
She credited ESU\u2019s communication curriculum and learning opportunities outside the classroom for helping her achieve a professional mindset that might otherwise only come from on-the-job experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cESU prepared me by giving me real-world, hands-on experience while I was still a student,\u201d she said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t just learning about journalism and public relations in a classroom, I was actually putting those skills to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
To build her skillset at ESU, Wenk didn\u2019t need to look further than campus itself.<\/p>\n
Wenk worked with ESU Athletics, completed internships, and joined media-focused student groups like the Public Relations Student Society of America and 90.3 WESS F.M. Through those roles, she gained valuable experience in photography, social media, graphics, interviewing, and game-day operations \u2013 skills she found essential in today\u2019s competitive, fast-paced sports media landscape.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn media, every day can look completely different,\u201d she said. \u201cOne day, you might be photographing a game. The next, you\u2019re interviewing someone, creating social content, or working an event. Being able to jump into different roles and figure things out as I go has been one of the most valuable skills I took with me after graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moreover, with so many opportunities available to students, Wenk didn\u2019t have to choose between journalism, sports, photography, social media, design, or public relations \u2013 she could combine all of them.<\/p>\n
That not only made her more versatile, it also gave her a leg up on other recent college graduates she might be competing with for jobs by helping her build a portfolio before she even graduated.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the time I left ESU, I had actual work to show employers rather than just a degree on my r\u00e9sum\u00e9,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
All those skills built on one another, allowing Wenk to advance in her career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always tried to make myself available and put myself in rooms where I can learn,\u201d she said. \u201cWhether that meant reaching out to an organization, applying for a position, connecting with someone on LinkedIn, or saying yes to an opportunity that sounded a little intimidating, I\u2019ve learned that you have to put yourself out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to her work with the 76ers, Wenk works in game day operations for the Philadelphia Eagles, where she has spent time covering training camp and open practices, as well as events at the Eagles\u2019 home stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, including concerts and FIFA World Cup matches that were played there this summer.<\/p>\n
Additionally, Wenk is the social media manager for the dance team at Temple University, where she is pursuing a master\u2019s degree in journalism, and events manager for the university\u2019s student-run radio station. She recently accepted a job as an event staff worker at the university\u2019s Liacouras Center as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve learned that your next opportunity can come from the person standing next to you at the last one, so I try to always leave a positive impression and maintain those relationships,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Wenk attributes her success so far to attitude, effort and persistence. She encouraged current Warriors considering media careers to get involved, start building their portfolios now, and never give up on their goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cSay yes to opportunities,\u201d she said. \u201cSend the email. Apply for the internship. Ask if you can photograph the game. Introduce yourself to someone in the industry. Volunteer to help with an event. You never know which small opportunity is going to lead to something much bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n