L to R: UW-River Falls students Matt Weis, Madeline Steil, Sarah Crowe and Emmanual Walyaula at US Bank Stadium preparing for Super Bowl LII.

Students score big with Minnesota Vikings internship and work at Super Bowl LII

February 15, 2018 -- Throughout the 2017-18 football season, University of Wisconsin-River Falls students Matthew Weis, Madeline Steil, Sarah Crowe and Emmanuel Walyaula worked as public relations game day interns for the Minnesota Vikings.

During their time with the Vikings, the UW-River Falls marketing communications students spent time recording and transcribing player interviews, connecting with and assisting media in the press box, and even had the chance to work on the Super Bowl LII staff. The students gained real world experience in the field of sports marketing and made lifelong, valuable connections throughout the season.

Along with the chance to work with the Vikings, students were offered an opportunity to work on the Super Bowl LII staff in February. For the Super Bowl, students were in charge of distributing quotes, assisting media and providing a pleasant experience for the hundreds of media personnel attending US Bank Stadium.

“It was an opportunity of a lifetime, something that I will look back on years from now and wonder how it was actually a possibility for me” said Steil. “The whole internship felt like a dream, and I was able to make incredible connections with media, employees at the Vikings and other interns.”

“This was one of the coolest experiences of my entire life and is something I will never forget,” said Weis. “We were witnessing history, and it’s a day I will never forget.”

Marketing communications students at UW-River Falls enroll in classes such as public relations, sports marketing, advertising, writing for the media and branding.

“Our program positions students to excel and prepares them for a career in marketing communications,” said Amelia Reigstad, visiting assistant professor. “I’m thrilled that Madeline, Sarah, Matt and Emmanuel had such a terrific experience working with the Minnesota Vikings.”