Cat Klein was wanting down at a sheet of ice when she was thrown into the hearth.
An Illinois State University senior from Yorkville, Klein was midway by way of a social media internship with the Bloomington Bison in January when her fast supervisor took a job elsewhere. That left Klein as the only supervisor of the minor league hockey crew’s flagship social media accounts.
She was abruptly the Bison’s interim director of social media, charged with sustaining and elevating the crew’s picture on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.
“The amount I learned during that time was just exponential compared to the whole time I’d been there previously,” Klein stated. “I proved to myself I could do it, and it gave me so much more confidence in everything else I did after that.”
The expertise with the Bison, the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers, was an ideal complement to Klein’s schooling in the School of Communication, the place she turned one of many first college students to declare a significant in sports communication, a program launched this previous fall.
“I think you can look for her to be working for the Chicago Blackhawks someday. Between her intelligence, and her work ethic, and our alumni network, I think she has a really bright future.”
—Director of Sports Communication Joe Blaney
A switch scholar who took two hole years between junior school and enrolling at Illinois State, Klein as soon as puzzled if she’d end work on her diploma. But that doubt will subside when she walks throughout the graduation stage on May 8 as one of many first graduates of the sports communication program.
And she’ll graduate summa cum laude, the best potential tutorial honor, after one other semester of straight-A’s this spring.
“I’m just very proud of myself for going back to school after thinking I wasn’t going to do it,” stated Klein, a primary-era scholar. “And I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had and where they’ve led me. It’s just been a great experience for me.”
Klein transferred to Illinois State from Waubonsee Community College, the place she performed basketball. Between the 2 faculties, she modified majors “maybe 11 or 12 times” earlier than lastly discovering a house in sports communication this yr.
There, in the School of Communication, Klein discovered mentors like Dr. Joe Blaney and Tom Lamonica. She discovered supportive advisors invested in her success. She discovered alternatives like her internship with the Bison and a management function in the Association for Women in Communication.
The former student-athlete additionally discovered a path again to athletics the place she may as soon as once more be a part of a crew.
“There’s no experience like having teammates and being on a team, whether that’s playing for a team or working for one,” Klein stated. “I just love being part of that environment.”
Klein spent over a yr with the Bison, first as a group relations intern for seven months earlier than transferring into the social media place final September. She’s discovered extra mentors and mates working with the hockey membership that performs its residence video games on the 7,000-seat Grossinger Motors Arena in Downtown Bloomington.
“Everyone has been super supportive and taught me things. I’ve learned so much,” Klein stated. “A lot of times, we wouldn’t even talk about hockey. I’ve just really enjoyed interacting with them and forming those relationships.”
“I’m just very proud of myself for going back to school after thinking I wasn’t going to do it. And I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had and where they’ve led me. It’s just been a great experience for me.”
—Cat Klein
Klein is a superb consultant of the sports communication program, which is able to graduate its first 4 college students subsequent week, stated Lamonica, an educational assistant professor and director of subject experiences.
“Cat’s quiet confidence and leadership are exactly what the sports profession wants and needs right now,” Lamonica stated. “She is artistic, however collaborative; smooth-spoken, however sturdy-willed; proactive, however affected person.
“She has been the ultimate classroom student, a superstar intern, and will be a valued alum of the sports communication program.”
Blaney, professor of communication and director of the sports communication program, sees a vibrant future for one of many program’s first graduates. Klein might be an inaugural recipient of the sports communication program’s Outstanding Senior Award later this week.
“Cat is the quintessential example of a bright student who played sports, sees the value of sport, and wanted to continue in sports during her collegiate experience. The sports communication program was a natural fit for her,” Blaney stated. “I’m not in the slightest degree shocked that she’s turn into a key workers member with the Bloomington Bison. I believe you may look for her to be working for the Chicago Blackhawks sometime.
“Between her intelligence, and her work ethic, and our alumni network, I think she has a really bright future.”
Klein is on the job hunt now as she winds up finals and her internship with the Bison, who not too long ago certified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs. She’s assured she’ll discover a job working in sports social media because of the help she’s acquired from her household and mates, the Bloomington Bison, and everybody at Illinois State.
“I’d absolutely recommend Illinois State, the School of Communication, and sports communication,” Klein stated. “I’ve had nice experiences with my professors, the chums I’ve made, the help I’ve acquired, getting internships {and professional} growth.
“All of it has been amazing.”
This story is from a collection of profiles that includes Redbirds who are graduating this May. For extra details about how Illinois State is celebrating graduation, go to the Graduation Services website.