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From Kickoff to Close-Up: Ad Creative Student Gets Involved with Filmmaking and Football

From Kickoff to Close-Up: Ad Creative Student Gets Involved with Filmmaking and Football

Four MSU students pose in front of large crowd at Kinnick Stadium

By: Olivia Galio

Just like any incoming MSU freshman, Kelly Hickey was curious about how she could get involved on campus. With a passion for sports and keen interest in videography, it was a match made in heaven when she discovered a (then) Twitter job posting for the position of coaches’ videographer for the MSU Men’s Football Team.

Inspired by her friend’s positive experience with the job, she applied and landed the role. Now a junior, Hickey has flourished in her student journey at MSU both on and off the football field. Besides excelling in her film job, she’s also advanced in her major as an advertising creative student. This year she has earned multiple ADDY (American Advertising Federation) awards for her creative school projects.

Hickey credits her growth as an advertising student to her role within the MSU Men’s Football film department. She values the communication skills learned from her job, which she says she thinks will help her tremendously in her future advertising career.

“In this role, you need to effectively communicate with coaches, players, and all staff members to be successful,” said Hickey. “I believe this skill will be valuable in advertising given its emphasis on communication.”

Portrait of a student standing near a large MSU Spartan Helmet logo
Advertising creative junior, Kelly Hickey, says her experience as a coach videographer has prepared her for a promising career in advertising.

Another main contributor to her growth has been embracing challenges that come with the job. Despite having difficulty mastering camera equipment and adapting to different filming environments, Hickey tackled each obstacle with her willingness to learn. By seeking out mentorship and dedicating extra time off hours to practice, Hickey transformed her challenges into opportunities for personal and professional development.

“At this job, honesty is key,” said Hickey. “When you make a mistake or don’t know how to do something, owning up to it is crucial, although admittedly difficult. Learning to do so has definitely improved my performance.”

Not only is coaches’ videography an exciting student job, but it has also served as a stepping-stone toward her dream career in the NFL. Inspiring her to minor in sports business management and media photography, Hickey says she has the goal to advance her career within the sports industry post-graduation.

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An exterior photograph of five students smiling near a large clock.

“I would love to continue the work I’m doing for MSU. Transitioning to the big leagues would be an incredibly exciting experience,” said Hickey. “I also aspire to leverage the skills I’ve learned in this role toward a career in advertising.”

Hickey’s journey demonstrates the power of seizing opportunities and embracing challenges, something she encourages her fellow students to do:

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. When I started this job, I had no experience working with cameras, so it has been an incredible learning experience,” said Hickey.