Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Marquette students produce live television broadcasts for ESPN
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Getting to produce live television for ESPN probably sounds like a dream job to a lot of college students. At Marquette, it's a reality.
A team of students runs the broadcasts for more than 60 D1 events, getting resume ready experience before they even graduate.
On the field, Marquette's women's lacrosse team is taking on UC Davis inside the Valley Fields dome.
Behind the scenes, a different team of Golden Eagles is making sure fans watching at home don't miss a moment.
Everyone from the director to audio, graphics, and the camera operators are Marquette University students.
Nadia Lubowicki is running the main camera.
"So, I'm just following the ball. I have a wide shot of all the action," she says.
She's a freshman who started with the broadcast team a month into the school year.
"I love telling my friends and family that I get to do this, especially as a freshman," Lubowicki says.
A team of 30 Marquette students produces these broadcasts, overseen by instructor Kevin O'Connor.
"Men's and women's soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, women's basketball for ESPN," Lubowicki says.
"I've always had a passion for helping the next generation," O'Connor says.
O'Connor makes sure the students try their hands at each position on the broadcast.
"And that's really impactful for them to be able to become very well-rounded students," he says.
Like all good coaches, O'Connor wants to make sure his team is prepared.
"Once they leave here, they're well set for professional life after he," he says.
And that's Hunter Temple's plan.
"I would love to work somewhere where I'm a broadcast director of any sport," Temple says.
He and Lubowicki are both majoring in digital media and sports communications.
Others are studying everything from physical therapy to AI.
What they're all learning is how to be cool under pressure and work together.
"It never gets old, telling people that I work games that are on ESPN."
"They're all really trying to just show the best broadcast that we can."
For the 30 students who work on the broadcast team, these are paid positions.
O'Connor says it's a great pathway to jobs in local TV and internships at ESPN, or even opportunities with the Packers, Brewers and Bucks.
Marquette won 13-12.
If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie Shepherd a message.