How many times does a college student get the chance to assist a major television network with covering an event that draws millions of viewers around the world? Twice—if it happens to be a hard-working, energetic Longwood student.
Allyson Stone ’18 and Ryan Carey ’19 both had the opportunity to work with Fox News during the Vice Presidential Debate in October, thinking it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But opportunity knocked again in late November, when Pete Flores, the network’s production manager who had worked the debate, asked them if they were up for another assignment.
Before they knew it, they were headed to Houston for Super Bowl LI.
The pair were among only five “freelance employees” for Fox News during Super Bowl week. Flores, who had been impressed with Stone’s and Carey’s “attitude, work ethic and persistence” during the debate, kept them busy with an assortment of odd — yet essential — jobs.
They escorted guests for the show “Fox & Friends.” They helped with a National Weatherperson’s Day celebration for Fox weatherperson Janice Dean. They rounded up 100 bagels for breakfast one morning and toted at least 100 cases of water.
Stone, a communication studies major from Chesapeake who received internship credit for her experience, especially enjoyed accompanying Fox News anchor Ainsley Earhardt to an interview at the ranch of Marcus Luttrell, a former Navy seal whose wartime heroics were featured in the hit film Lone Survivor. Carey, a nursing major from Virginia Beach, put her skills to work patching up a “Fox & Friends” guest chef who cut his hand.
Odd hours were the norm as well.
“Sometimes we had to go to work at 1:30 or 2 a.m. and work until 7 that evening. On game day, we were awake for 23 hours,” said Stone.
Carey said she and Stone were “running on adrenaline that week. They told us we could take a nap if we needed one, but we never did.”
After that napless 80-plus-hour week, the two students were rewarded with the kind of access that any Patriots or Falcons fan would have died for. After watching the game, they went down on the field, where they took and posed for photos, held a Patriots player’s helmet and stood just a few feet from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady clutching his MVP trophy.
Five days after the big game, the young women were still recovering from the long hours on their feet. But they wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
“Hands-on work with Fox News was the ultimate way to enhance my degree,” said Stone.
Despite different career plans, Carey’s thoughts were similar. “This was an amazing week that I will never forget.”
Allyson Stone ’18 and Ryan Carey ’19 both had the opportunity to work with Fox News during the Vice Presidential Debate in October, thinking it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But opportunity knocked again in late November, when Pete Flores, the network’s production manager who had worked the debate, asked them if they were up for another assignment.
Before they knew it, they were headed to Houston for Super Bowl LI.
The pair were among only five “freelance employees” for Fox News during Super Bowl week. Flores, who had been impressed with Stone’s and Carey’s “attitude, work ethic and persistence” during the debate, kept them busy with an assortment of odd — yet essential — jobs.
They escorted guests for the show “Fox & Friends.” They helped with a National Weatherperson’s Day celebration for Fox weatherperson Janice Dean. They rounded up 100 bagels for breakfast one morning and toted at least 100 cases of water.
Stone, a communication studies major from Chesapeake who received internship credit for her experience, especially enjoyed accompanying Fox News anchor Ainsley Earhardt to an interview at the ranch of Marcus Luttrell, a former Navy seal whose wartime heroics were featured in the hit film Lone Survivor. Carey, a nursing major from Virginia Beach, put her skills to work patching up a “Fox & Friends” guest chef who cut his hand.
Odd hours were the norm as well.
“Sometimes we had to go to work at 1:30 or 2 a.m. and work until 7 that evening. On game day, we were awake for 23 hours,” said Stone.
Carey said she and Stone were “running on adrenaline that week. They told us we could take a nap if we needed one, but we never did.”
After that napless 80-plus-hour week, the two students were rewarded with the kind of access that any Patriots or Falcons fan would have died for. After watching the game, they went down on the field, where they took and posed for photos, held a Patriots player’s helmet and stood just a few feet from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady clutching his MVP trophy.
Five days after the big game, the young women were still recovering from the long hours on their feet. But they wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
“Hands-on work with Fox News was the ultimate way to enhance my degree,” said Stone.
Despite different career plans, Carey’s thoughts were similar. “This was an amazing week that I will never forget.”
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