At Nebraska Wesleyan University, senior Ella Mahaffy found the opportunity to explore her wide-ranging interests, including philosophy, religion, communication and marketing. She also found an exciting internship opportunity right in NWU’s backyard at Hudl, one of the world’s top sports technology companies.
Mahaffy is Hudl’s first intern to earn an “elite marketing” title, which gave her the flexibility to customize her internship experience.
“That’s been really cool because I already have a foot in the door at the company,” Mahaffy said, “as well as this base of knowledge from Wesleyan that allows me to step in and thrive wherever I’m put.”
The end result, she said, has been an experience far beyond the stereotype of “an intern getting coffee for their boss.”
Mahaffy has experienced “a lot of the nitty-gritty” of Hudl’s marketing efforts. She’s helped manage Hudl’s partnerships with sports organizations like the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); worked on campaigns to publicize Hudl’s collaborations; coordinated communications with thousands of NCAA coaches and staff; and helped formulate ideas for product campaigns.
Mahaffy credited NWU’s resources for putting her on the road to a successful college experience, even if she didn’t realize it when she first arrived.
“Coming in as a freshman, I was homesick, I was alone, I really didn’t know my place at Wesleyan or the world,” Mahaffy said. “And now as a senior I feel so incredibly established with all the resources that Wesleyan has given me.”
Those resources allowed Mahaffy to thrive away from home. She is an athlete NWU’s tennis team, a campus ambassador welcoming visiting students, vice president of NWU’s chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an a FBLA member.
Mahaffy’s experiences at NWU and Hudl have the Colorado native rethinking her post-college plans.
“I originally thought I’d go home to Colorado right after college,” Mahaffy said. “But I’ve learned over the years that the people are amazing here, and if (a career at Hudl) is an opportunity I’m given, I would definitely be willing to stay for it.”