BTN Welcomes Students as part of Chicago Ideas Week

Today?s post is the first from the newest member of BTN?s Communications team, Ryan Sullivan. Ryan joined BTN in June after graduating from Loyola University Chicago with a BBA in marketing and sport management. A Connecticut native, Ryan is a huge fan of New England?s teams: Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics. An avid runner, Ryan completed the Twin Cities Marathon in October 2013 and plans to run in another marathon in the near future. – Elizabeth Conlisk, Vice President, Communications & University Relations

Thursday, for the second consecutive year, Big Ten Network will host a group of high school students in its Chicago studios as part of Chicago Ideas Week (CIW).  BTN has partnered with CIW YOU(th) to host 15 high school students from Horizons for Youth in an educational lab from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Horizons for Youth helps children from low-resource areas of Chicago achieve success in school and in life.

As part of their afternoon with BTN, students will sit down for an exclusive Q&A with BTN football analyst and two-time Super Bowl champion Howard Griffith, along with Senior Coordinating Producer Quentin Carter. Griffith and Carter, who both grew up in communities similar to the neighborhoods of these students, are excited to speak with the group. ?Many BTN employees have ties to Chicago and have walked the same paths as some of these kids,? said Carter. ?I think it is important to offer some perspective in hopes that it may spark some interest and help them develop a future career path in sports television.?

Griffith, a standout player at the University of Illinois and 11-year NFL veteran, grew up in Chicago and became a football analyst after retiring from football. Carter, who played basketball at the University of Pittsburgh, grew up in New York City and pursued a career in sports television production after his graduation from college. He has worked in production at ESPN, CBS Sports, and MSG Networks prior to his time at BTN.

BTN is offering the students an all-access pass to watch the behind-the-scenes production of BTN Live, from start to finish. The students will begin by watching our editors as they prepare material for Thursday?s show and then move over to the control room to observe the action while the show airs live. Students will also be allowed on the set to watch our on-air talent discuss Thursday?s news from around the Big Ten. After the conclusion of BTN Live, students will be able to take pictures on the set.

Carter and Griffith will be accompanied by many BTN employees. BTN?s lead studio host Dave Revsine and football analyst Chuck Long will also be on BTN Live with Griffith. Overall, the students will get the full BTN experience and will be able to interact with BTN?s top influencers.

?A lot of kids want to become professional athletes when they grow-up,? Carter stated. ?What we want to share with these students is that if for some reason those plans don?t work out, you can still find a way to be part of the game.?