Montclair CCOM Alumni Spotlight: Beyond the Soccer Field With Samantha Ondrush

From a young age, Samantha Ondrush was immersed in the world of sports. Heavily influenced by her father, his encouragement gave her the opportunity to explore a variety of sports. “I started soccer when I was three years old. I played a little bit of volleyball, tennis, basketball and lacrosse. I continued with soccer my entire life and even had the opportunity to play Division III soccer at Montclair, as it was the one I loved the most and was probably the best at.” 

Before enrolling in the College of Communication and Media (CCOM), Ondrush knew from the moment she stepped on campus it was an ideal fit for her. “I toured other campuses and none were comparable. I immediately saw the potential for my future and personal growth here.” While at CCOM, Samantha majored in Sports Communication. In addition to the soccer team, she joined two sororities, and The Hidden Opponent, an organization dedicated to promoting athletes’ mental health.

If that wasn’t enough, Ondrush completed three internships, including at Stony Brook Athletics in Athletic Communications, Slam Media Inc. and at the New Jersey State Golf Association as a P.J. Boatwright Communications Intern. In terms advice for securing internships, she said, “Try new things. Don’t just reach for the best team in the MLB or whatever league it may be. Internships are important for learning about what you don’t like just as much as what you do like.”

Her journey of dedication, hands-on experience, and passion for sports communication ultimately led her to her current role as Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at Felician University. “I serve as the primary contact for six sports and love being able to showcase our athletic programs and student athletes. Creativity in social media and bringing new ideas to the table are some of my favorite parts of the job. My role, also known as a Sports Information Director, consists of working on various games, managing statistics, writing game recaps, creating social media posts/graphics, and a million other things!”

Ondrush had always been open to learning and taking on new challenges. Whether that was through a new sport or opportunity at Montclair, she made sure to apply the skills she gained to grow and excel in her career. When asked about her current position, she said, “working in higher education is an eye-opening experience. It is great because I get to use my ‘athlete mindset’ to translate into my work and the institution as a whole.”

Story by: Jennifer Barrales-Solis

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Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?

Prospective Students and Parents: Plan your visit and take your first step in applying to become a Red Hawk. Learn more about our Sports Communication program in the College of Communication and Media.

About the College of Communication and Media: The College of Communication and Media (CCOM) offers a range of dynamic programs to a talented and diverse student population of over 2,000. Offering degrees in advertising, animation and visual effects, communication and media studies, film and television, journalism and digital media, social media and public relations, sports communication and an online, asynchronous MA devoted to strategic communication and media, the College prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. Founded in 2012 and housed in world-class, state-of-the-art facilities just 12 miles from New York City, the College is the only program in the country that offers the following opportunities for students: a radio station (WMSC), newspaper (The Montclarion), strategic communications agency (Hawk Communications), sports network (Red Hawk Sports Network) streaming platform (Hawk+), digital newsroom (News Lab) and studio, and a social media listening center (Joetta DiBella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication). The College also has a Student Success team, including dedicated Career Services and Advising professionals who are  prepare students for the internship and job search process. Student projects and programs have recently received national recognition from PRSSA’s Bateman Competition, an Edward R. Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and College Television Awards (“Student Emmy” awards) from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The College is also home to the Center for Cooperative Media, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism and media. Through $7.1M in grants awarded over the last five years, the Center focuses on collaboration in journalism, media equity, media coaching and training, civic science and research. The Center is also home to the NJ Civic Information Consortium, the largest funder of media and journalism in  New Jersey, granting more than $10M over the last five years to support independent local media, journalism and training initiatives.