Ashley Beckman grew up in a family of Husker fans. The Lincoln, Nebraska, native is now a senior sports and communication major, and realizing a dream of working courtside as an intern with Nebraska Athletics.

What kind of work do you do in your internship with Nebraska Athletics?

I am a marketing and fan experience intern for Nebraska Athletics. I create marketing plans, graphics and promotional giveaways, and assist in the development, coordination and implementation of marketing and promotional efforts for all 24 Nebraska intercollegiate sports. I was in charge of men’s basketball and men’s and women’s tennis my first year and I am overseeing men’s basketball again this year.

Why did you decide to apply for this role?

I have always loved sports and grew up playing any and every sport I could. When I got to college, I knew that sports was no longer something for me on the player’s side and I decided to coach volleyball for 11-year-olds. It wasn’t until my sophomore year of college that I was told you can major in sports media and communications, and I declared my major. This gave me a genuine excitement for classes and my future. A girl in my sorority worked as an intern for Husker Athletics at the time, so I reached out to her for information and immediately applied.

What is your favorite part of your job?

There are so many parts of my job that I love but the most fulfilling part of my role is seeing your hard work come to life at the events. The hours spent in the office doing all the behind-the-scenes work pay off when arriving at Memorial or PBA for game day. When the game begins and you see a full stadium of fans and students with your giveaway, it makes me smile and all happy inside knowing that I had a part in this.

The inside access and other opportunities I get from being an intern are indescribable. Younger me would have screamed seeing me standing on the sidelines of a Husker football game. It is all really full circle for me to work in Husker Athletics and to work in a field that I genuinely enjoy. I am so grateful to be able to work in an encouraging and energetic environment and I will cherish every last second of it during my senior year!

Is there any memory you have of the Huskers that sparked your interest in either attending Nebraska or applying for this role?

My grandparents have always been huge Husker fans. They have had front-row season tickets for football for over 30 years now. When I was younger, my grandpa would take my sister and mI to so many home football games — the atmosphere of Memorial Stadium on a game day in Nebraska is like no other. Growing up in Lincoln, I did not look anywhere else for college because I knew this was where I wanted to be. Now working for Husker Athletics is truly a dream come true and I am so thankful to have these opportunities.