Bellisario College student takes every available opportunity at CW internship

Editor’s Note: This is the eighth in a series of stories about internships being completed by students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Derrick Stilley knows he has the talent and charisma to be a leading voice in sports. He also knows thousands of other college students have the same dream. That’s why he’s spending his Penn State career taking every opportunity to stand out. 

Stilley’s latest endeavor is a summer internship at the CW. The broadcast journalism major from Rockland County, New York, is working with the television network and getting a firsthand view of its sports department in action.

The internship is hybrid and, since early June, Stilley has been commuting to the CW’s flagship station in New York City two to three times a week. He works on promoting CW sports programs by editing clips and creating TikToks. Through the remainder of the internship, he hopes to work closely with as many parts of the operation as possible.

“It’s a very fast-paced job,” Stilley said. “I think I’m very good with media things, but I am always striving to get better. This is a great learning experience.”

Stilley loves sports. Growing up, he played basketball and football. When exploring careers, he found that broadcast journalism was a perfect way to combine his love of sports with his natural outgoing personality.

“I'm a very charismatic person, so I thought I would be a good fit for TV,” Stilley said. “Penn State had one of the best schools to offer that, so that's what I decided to do.”

Stilley transferred to University Park last fall from Penn State Altoona. He joined the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications and discovered a wealth of opportunity. He got involved immediately. He said the resources available through the college are important to him because they help set him grow professionally.

“When I say resources, I mean actual studio shows, actual cameras, actual recording sessions … classes like [‘Centre County Report'] and classes that really teach you what's going on,” Stilley said. “I made the most of it, and I plan to do that again this upcoming year.”

The rewards were instant.

“I went into the CW offices a couple days ago. They were shooting and filming, and I was familiar with a whole bunch of things my boss told me a lot of people aren't familiar with at my stage,” Stilley said. “I feel like Penn State really prepared me well in that sense.”

Stilley said every class, every opportunity and every resource are steps toward his ultimate goal — to have his own show. Technically, he’s already achieved that with his podcast “Beyond the Mic,” a program that combines entertainment, politics and sports. Stilley is the executive producer, and he said the show is more than a passion project.

“I have big plans. I am going to put some real time into it,” he said. “I want it to blow up.”

Gary Abdullah, assistant dean for diversity and inclusion at the Bellisario College, said Stilley has the determination and energy to achieve every goal he sets.

“How would I describe Derrick as a student? He is outgoing. He is focused. He is smart, fun and funny,” Abdullah said. “And yet, he has those things that he is locked into. So, I'm excited to see where he goes.”

Abdullah said he saw Stilley’s affability and charisma this past semester at the Martin Luther King Jr. banquet, an annual commemorative event held on the University Park campus. Stilley was one of two student representatives at Abdullah’s table. Never the shy or timid one, Abdullah said Stilley fit in immediately.

“Right away, Derrick was interviewing people. He sat there and started talking like he belonged,” Abdullah said. “Derrick will talk to anyone, and that’s one of the great things about him.”

Entering his senior year, Stilley said he wants to put that charm to good use. The CW internship has covered a lot of different areas — writing, editing, radio and social media, but before summer’s end, he hopes to work with on air talent. He also hopes to boost his interviewing and reporting experience before he graduates. Every new experience is another line on the resume.

“I am learning a multitude of different things,” Stilley said. “So, when it’s time to get a job, I can show that I have a lot to provide, and I can separate myself from the rest.”