Students visit White House to cover Pgh. Penguins
Two students and one professor from the Department of Communication traveled from Waynesburg University to the White House Oct. 5 and 6 to cover the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup Championship ceremony.
It was the fifth time that Bill Molzon, assistant professor of communication and director of TV operations, took Waynesburg students to Washington for such an event. The first occurrence was in 1991 after the Pittsburgh Penguins won their first Stanley Cup.
Kyle Dawson and Tyler Wolfe, senior communication majors, accompanied Molzon. Together, the two students recorded the event and produced video footage reporting on the event. Many other Washington and Pittsburgh media outlets were also in attendance.
Dawson, Molzon and Wolfe all expressed that the trip was a valuable learning experience.
Molzon said his goal in taking students to the event was “to create a learning experience for the students that can’t be duplicated in the classroom.”
The trip is borne of Molzon’s knowledge of media events nearby. Upon hearing when the White House ceremony was happening, he reached out to the White House Press Office with an inquiry, and they approved his request to bring students to the event.
“The trick is finding the name and the contact number or the email address,” said Molzon.
After securing approval from the White House, Molzon reached out to two senior students with the opportunity.
“[When Molzon asked,] I responded saying how awesome that opportunity would be,” said Dawson. “We then had to apply on the White House website for media credentials and give the Secret Service all kinds of personal information, and we were informed Tuesday we got the credentials.”
Once in Washington, Waynesburg alumnus Bill Ingalls, who is now a photographer for NASA, hosted the trio. Ingalls lives in the Washington and has hosted Molzon and his students on each of the trips, including this one, thanks to Molzon’s continued relationship with him.
“I call him our D.C. field producer because he knows the city like the back [of his hand],” said Molzon. “He drives us around. He gave Tyler and Kyle a personal D.C. tour.”
On Thursday morning, the group arrived early to set up equipment in the White House pressroom. Dawson said some Pittsburgh news stations didn’t make it to the 9 a.m. set time, so he and Wolfe were able to set up their camera in a prime location.
Both Dawson and Wolfe said they were in awe of being in the pressroom in the White House.
“It’s not every day that you get to be in a room in the White House, which not many people have the privilege to be in, let alone with all kinds of big-time media members, all of the Penguins’ team and families, on top of dignified and notable government officials and, to top that all off, the President of the United States,” said Dawson.
As a Pittsburgh native and Penguins fan, Dawson said the trip was personally and professionally rewarding.
Wolfe, who served as the TV photographer or camera operator during the ceremony, said he enjoyed learning from the media professionals in attendance.
“We got to network with a bunch of professional photographers from the networks that have been doing this for decades,” said Wolfe, “as well as see part of the daily briefing that is given to the press.”
Molzon also emphasized that networking is an important part of covering the White House ceremony. Meeting people who work in bigger media markets can open opportunities. For instance, one media member informed Molzon of a possible TV journalism internship that may be available at the White House in the future.
Dawson said the experiences were indicative of the way the Department of Communication operates.
“We were the only student or college media members in attendance at the event,” said Dawson. “I think that says something about the department here and the opportunity we receive. This was a once in a lifetime chance.”