By Danielle Colston, Gaylord College Class of 2025
Over the past couple of years, Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication has had the honor of hosting a space for women looking to step foot into the sports media industry. This group was a chapter of the Association for Women in Sports Media before it became unique to Gaylord College and the organization’s name was changed to Gaylord Women in Sports.
Gaylord Women in Sports began with a focus on women in the college who had their eye on pursuing a career in the male-dominated industry of sports. GWS consisted of meetings where guest speakers would tell their stories and offer advice to those in attendance; most of the time, these guest speakers also provided opportunities to give these Gaylord students hands-on experiences. In the spring of 2023, GWS merged with Sports Girls Club, an organization that reflects the essence of GWS but is open to students across the university.
“Sports Girls Club involves everyone on campus. It’s the same concepts and ideas of including women in the conversation of sports as a career, because there’s so many of us that want jobs in sports, but don’t have a gateway to get there, so this [Girls Club] is a way to give people connections. Now it’s open to all majors instead of just Gaylord majors,” said Lilly Boehm, advertising major and co-vice president of Sports Girls Club at OU.
Gaylord College–with its many resources–is the perfect setting for this group focused on advancing opportunities for women seeking careers in the sports world. As members of the conjoined club, the women of Gaylord are now better positioned to assume leadership roles and guide other women around campus to opportunities they may not have realized existed.
“Sports Girls Club provides a way for women who want to work in sports to grow as a community and create a support group for one another. It’s also a way to get help with building a resume, creating a LinkedIn presence, learning how to network, and overall building a personal brand,” said Lauren Simpkins, public relations major and fundraising chair.
Amy Acevedo, a Gaylord student on the broadcast journalism track, was involved with GWS as the Twitter (X) manager. Acevedo is now one of the co-vice presidents of SGC, alongside Lilly Boehm, and together they help oversee club meetings and events and make sure the club is in compliance with university standards; they also take on additional tasks, as needed.
“I stress the importance of getting involved in Gaylord clubs and practicums. My exec team and I also tell our members to keep in contact with speakers and reach out to them. These connections can often provide great opportunities for real-world experience and internships, so it is vital to form these relationships,” Acevedo said.
“Our goal for Girls Club OU is to make it one of the most impactful clubs in Gaylord, and across OU’s campus,” she added. “We hope to leave the club better than we found it for the future exec board so Girls Club can continue to impact the lives of young women on this campus for years to come.
It is an understatement to describe this year’s OU/Texas game as a memorable one. Between the nail-biting score in the last minutes of the game, and the exhilaration of the crowd, it is fair to say that if you were able to attend this year’s Red River Rivalry, you witnessed OU history.
Over the past couple of years, Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication has had the honor of hosting a space for women looking to step foot into the sports media industry. This group was a chapter of the Association for Women in Sports Media before it became unique to Gaylord College and the organization’s name was changed to Gaylord Women in Sports.
Empathy must be earned, so seek the unknown. We live in a bubble. All of us. Our safety net. Our personalized networks of people who lift us up and reinforce our actions, beliefs and opinions, regardless of their true impact on others. We shun and ostracize those who are different from us.
Everyone in Gaylord College is familiar with the required minor to accompany each degree and expand the field of learning, but what do our students know about pursuing a dual major? Gaylord students with majors in Gaylord and another college are fully immersed in their learning experience by taking their interests to the next level. Double majors within the college find ways to enhance their experiences outside of the college.
Erin Semine Kökdil never planned on becoming a filmmaker. She was unsure where to go next when she graduated from Smith College with a bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies and Spanish.
