Like most Pittsburgh families, Samantha Lancaster’s living room was filled with the sounds of sports, whether it was football, hockey, or baseball. That early exposure fueled her unparalleled passion for sports. As she grew older, her parents continued to encourage her to pursue that passion. They even suggested that if she worked hard, she could work for the Pittsburgh Steelers when she got older. For Sammy, her degree in Communication: Rhetoric & Society became another way to pursue the passion for sports she carried with her since childhood.
Sammy began her college career with doubts about moving to the big-city Oakland campus, so she decided to begin her college journey at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. By the time her sophomore year was coming to an end, she knew she was ready for a big change. While she enjoyed her time at Greensburg, she transferred to Pitt’s Oakland campus at the beginning of her junior year.
“It was a good experience for me to come [to Oakland] after two years. I feel like they made a difference in finding out who I was before coming to such a big school,” Sammy reflected.
After transferring, Sammy had the opportunity to pursue a certificate in Sports Studies, something that is only offered by the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences in Oakland. The certificate gave her a way to explore her passion for sports while continuing to work toward her degree. Being on the Oakland campus also gave her more opportunities to experience Pitt’s Division I sports and the sports culture of Pittsburgh. With a wide range of electives that fulfilled her certificate and major requirements, Sammy was able to explore new topics while staying connected to her interests. She took a particular interest in learning about the history of women in sports and how women in the industry have reached where they are today.
“The D1 sports atmosphere has its own unique energy, but the passion from the fans is just as strong. It’s amazing to see so many women involved in every part of the sports process.”
Sammy also shared one of her favorite memories. In her Broadcasting class with Professor Lisa Johnson, she was able to tour Pitt Studios and participate in an “Anchor Day”. Sammy was able to sit down at a news desk with professional anchors, read scripts alongside them, and ask questions about their work and experience. Experiences like these helped her see the different career paths available within sports and communications.
During her senior year, Sammy was given the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom and intern with Pitt Athletics through the Strategic Communications Office.
Each week, she would go into the Strategic Communications office to assist in any area the office needed. Some days that meant she would update stat spreadsheets, sort through photos for the website, or pick the best action shots for players’ profiles. Through the internship, she worked with an assortment of different sports. For softball and baseball games, she handled the scoreboard. During gymnastics meets, she edited video clips and held up each score for the judges.
“Seeing the behind-the-scenes during my internship was amazing. It helped me understand what a job would really be like.”
From watching sports in her family’s living room to gaining behind-the-scenes experience with Pitt Athletics, Sammy’s college experience allowed her to turn a childhood passion into something she could pursue professionally. For Sammy, graduation being held at Acrisure Stadium was the most surreal experience in her four years of college. As a huge Steelers fan pursuing a career in the sports field, this full-circle moment was special for her and her family. The place where she had watched the team she loved became the place where she celebrated a major milestone of her own.
“I had finally graduated college,” Sammy said. “I couldn’t have done it without my family’s support and my experiences I gained during my time at Pitt!”
Written by Hannah Treanor for COMMRC Connect