Southeastern student chosen for ESPNU Campus Connection
Friday, August 15, 2014
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University graduate student and sports reporter Kati Morse has been chosen by the ESPNU college sports television network as one of its on-camera reporters for ESPNU Campus Connection.
Beginning this fall, Morse will serve as Southeastern's correspondent for live ESPN game broadcasts involving the university's athletic teams for the year, including sideline reporting for four broadcasts slated for ESPN3 and ESPNGamePlan during the upcoming football season.
As an ESPNU Campus Connection reporter, Morse will write, report and produce feature stories about Southeastern's athletes, coaches and campus for SportscenterU, ESPNU's flagship show. She will also report for College Football Daily, a weekday show covering the latest in college football news.
"This opportunity with ESPNU seems to be all of my dreams coming to light," said Morse, a former Southeastern softball player. "ESPNU is a world leader in broadcasting college athletics, and it's what athletes and TV personalities alike see as the 'big show.' The best of the best work for this company, and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity."
Morse will also contribute online content about Southeastern athletics to ESPNU.com, the online companion to ESPNU and the home for college sports multi-media content.
Launched in 2008, ESPNU Campus Connection brings viewers the latest sports news from campuses around the country through student-generated content. It is designed to spotlight campus life through the eyes and voices of students and enable ESPN to find and develop young, talented people who could potentially work with their company. Morse is the first Southeastern student selected for ESPNU Campus Connection.
"This year with ESPNU will broaden and enrich my industry experience immensely," Morse said. "I will be working on a real-world deadline, as well as having to tailor stories to a national audience. Not only will I get valuable professional experience, but I will also be able to show the charm of Southeastern to the world."
Morse is currently a reporter, anchor and producer for the Southeastern Channel's award-winning, student sports magazine show "The Big Game," modeled ESPN's SportsCenter. She also produces and hosts "Lion Tracks," a sports talk show featuring Southeastern coaches.
"My experience at the Southeastern Channel has more than prepared me for this opportunity," Morse said. "Since I will have to shoot, edit, write and report every piece that I turn in, my time behind and in front of the camera for the Southeastern Channel will allow me to fulfill my obligations more quickly and professionally."
"Kati has the talent, motivation and work ethic to achieve great success in television sports broadcasting," said Southeastern Channel general manager Rick Settoon. "It's only fitting that she's been chosen by ESPNU, since she has the vision and ability necessary to one day work full-time for ESPN."
A native of Ponchatoula and former Lady Lions softball pitcher, Morse was selected by the Southland Conference television network and ESPN3 to serve as color commentator for the 2014 SLC softball tournament.
A graduate in communication with a concentration in electronic media, Morse is currently a graduate assistant in the Southeastern Sports Information Department, pursing her masters degree in organizational communication. Her various duties include live sideline and stadium reporting that appears on the Strawberry Stadium scoreboard during Lion football games.
In 2013 Morse was named the only female athlete in the country to win the prestigious Jim McKay Post-Graduate Scholarship. She was recently honored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) as winner of the 2014 Langston Rogers Scholarship for Women and Minorities in Sports Media. Morse has also been awarded a Florida Parishes Bank John McGee Scholarship.
