Students’ Little League Design Work to Be Seen by Millions

Two Pennsylvania College of Technology students are experiencing the monumental preparation and communication that occur in the months preceding the Little League Baseball World Series, and sharpening their skills as they help.

Austin L. Fulton, a graphic design student from Montoursville, and Olivia J. Hawbecker, a web and interactive media student from Chambersburg, are serving internships at Little League International Headquarters in South Williamsport, just a few miles from the Penn College campus.

The 11-day international Little League Baseball tournament in South Williamsport, however, is only part of the purview of Little League International. The organization encompasses Little League Baseball and Little League Softball leagues in 80 countries, where nearly 2.4 million children take the field with the support of more than a million adult volunteers.

“I think it’s amazing all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes on here that you don’t see when you come to a game,” Fulton said.

Fulton’s design work has included pages in the Little League World Series official souvenir program, updating parking passes, and developing 8-foot-tall flutter banners for Little League Baseball’s Southeast, Southwest and Central regional tournaments, among other projects. This is the first year the organization has used the banners at regional locations.

“Penn College prepared me for this internship with a lot of instruction,” he said. “Working one-on-one with the professors over the last couple years has helped me greatly in the design process, and now I get to share what I’ve learned with the world.”

The students said that exposure to the professional setting has been valuable. Through working with the many clients within Little League International, they have received friendly and positive feedback.

“I’m really using the web design and web development aspects that I’ve learned in class and learning more on top of it that I’m excited to take back,” said Hawbecker, who is entering her junior year of study.

Among a variety of web design/development and social media work, Hawbecker has dug into the analytics of who visits Little League’s websites and how those visitors use the sites; joined in creating and launching the 2017 Little League World Series website; and continues to work on the site each day, updating schedules and scores as regional tournaments continue.

“I’ve been excited to be involved and learn how everything is run,” Hawbecker said, “and to be able to help in every way I can.”

The students’ internships will continue through the Aug. 17-27 Little League Baseball World Series. Over the next few weeks, their work will capture the attention of a worldwide audience that numbers in the millions.

Penn College’s bachelor’s degree in graphic design provides students with a background in the visual arts, from drawing, photography and bookmaking to computer graphics and Internet-based design. It balances technical courses with visual arts and liberal arts courses to prepare students for diverse, creative positions in graphic design.

The bachelor’s degree in web and interactive media teaches its graduates to integrate skills in web design/development, interactive marketing, social networking, digital communications, audio and video production, digital publishing, and production to create interactive, user-defined products and services.

To learn more about the web and interactive media and graphic design degrees, visit the Academics page.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.