The Practicum
For her COMM 390 practicum, senior multimedia student Caislyn Hummel decided to do something different. COMM 390 is basically a hands-on project class where students create a full production on their own, track their hours, and present the finished work at the end of the semester. There are no weekly meetings, no group partners, just you, your idea, and the amount of work you’re willing to put in.
Caislyn knew early that she wanted her practicum to focus on ONU soccer media. She felt like both the men’s and women’s teams deserved more coverage, especially with how much talent, culture, and personality they bring. In her words, “There’s not enough media coverage of soccer… they deserve more.”
Once the fall semester hit, she jumped straight in. She filmed practices, interviews, and most home games, creating recap videos, highlight reels, and player stories. By mid-November, she had logged over 250 hours, far beyond what a typical practicum requires. It wasn’t just a project, it became her season.
New Environment New Relationships
That first week on the men’s training field was intimidating. She was the only woman out there during a serious preseason session. But after interviewing players, she started to see their personalities and backgrounds, especially with how international the roster is. Over time, the players she connected with felt “like my brothers,” and she settled comfortably into the role.
The women’s team made an equally strong impression. Their deep spiritual culture surprised her, and she described their environment as a sisterhood that plays “for an audience of one, Jesus.” They welcomed her in and made her feel like part of the group. Seeing the human side of both programs became one of her favorite parts of the practicum.
She also caught big moments on camera. Ati Taki’s free kick, Niels Noordhoek’s scissor kick are some of the clips that brought energy to the season and pulled fans into the excitement.
Above and Beyond
Her work didn’t just document the season, it elevated it.
Men’s Head Coach Jon Forsythe said her content was a huge boost, helping the team tell the story of a historic year and creating material that will support future recruiting. He said she went “above and beyond” what he expected.
Pim Huijgens, who runs the men’s social media, said her videos showed the outside world the team’s level, culture, and brotherhood. Her work helped grow engagement and strengthen the brand they were building.
Women’s Head Coach Bill Bahr said her presence brought confidence to the players and new visibility to the program. Since the team had limited media beforehand, “the sky was the limit” for what she could create, and she delivered.
Advice and Challenges
Even with all the success, the practicum wasn’t easy. Time management was the biggest challenge. She loved the work so much that she often pushed herself without taking breaks, which led to burnout. It taught her the importance of pacing herself, even with something she enjoys.
She also learned through small mistakes like early audio issues how important it is to test equipment, plan ahead, and stay in close communication with coaches.
Her advice for the next student is simple: choose a sport you truly love, because you’ll be watching hours of footage and living in that world all season. “If you don’t love the sport, you’ll burn yourself out,” she said. But if you do, the practicum can help you grow your skills, build relationships, and create work that genuinely impacts the people you’re covering.
