Score! Winner of sports-communication scholarship announced

We are excited to announce Jessica Whitby as the winner of our first ever sports-communication scholorship, together with the Deakin Melbourne Boomers.

Our Managing Director Barbara Pesel said that competition for the $5000 scholarship – which also includes expert mentorship – was strong.

“Our agency has a great history of championing women in sport, from women’s golf to Olympic sailors and, most recently, to providing media support for elite Australian ultra-marathon swimmer Chloë McCardel,” she said.

“The players are strong, focused elite sportswomen passionate about basketball and dedicated to the Melbourne Boomers being a successful, family friendly and community-minded team. I am thrilled another talented young woman will be joining them to shoot for greater awareness of the team.

“It is great to be able to combine our passion for both communications and sport in this scholarship.”

A recent journalism graduate of La Trobe University, Jessica is sports mad too: she has worked for the Victorian Roller Derby League, Cycling Victoria and the Victorian Institute of Sport. She will now join the Boomers at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South for the 2017-18 season, working part-time with General Manager Justin Nelson and Assistant General Manager Lauren Jackson to create written, visual, online and social media content.

Jessica said she’s looking forward to putting the skills she learned at university into practice in a space she is passionate about.

“I’m excited to work with and be mentored by highly regarded professionals who wholeheartedly support women in sport. My goal is to learn as much as possible from them, while at the same time working to make a difference to the Boomers, and helping them connect with the grassroots community. I hope this scholarship will put me on a trajectory where I can continue to work in this space throughout my career,” said Jessica.

Jessica will also receive one-on-one mentoring and coaching from Barbara Pesel, Megan Hustwaite (SEN, Megan Hustwaite Media) and Brenda Cherednichenko, Executive Dean Arts & Education, Deakin University.

The Deakin Melbourne Boomers enter the 2017-18 WNBL season with great prospects, having signed several key players including Opal Liz Cambage and with growing numbers of members and crowd attendance.