York College golfer plans to go from the green to the newsroom with Mass Communication degree

Whether she’s on the golf course or in the classroom, Lindsey Bonner ’21 is doing something she loves. The York College of Pennsylvania Mass Communication major left her home in Cartersville, Georgia in 2017 to join what was then a brand-new Women’s Golf Team and embark on an exciting endeavor.

It meant something to her that she could be part of an emerging squad and build it from the ground up, but it wasn’t just that opportunity which drew her to YCP. “I loved playing golf, but I’ve dreamed of being a sports reporter,” Bonner says. “I knew I could play the game here and earn a degree that would get me where I want to be.”

Living in the northeast was also a new experience for Bonner, who has spent most of her life growing up in the South. When she stepped onto the York College campus, she felt she was in the right place. Being able to go from the classroom to improving her golf game meant a lot.

“I knew whatever I was going to do in life had to involve sports,” she says. “Being able to pursue two things I love—playing sports and then reporting on sports—has enhanced my college experience and made it a lot more fun.”

Setting up the team

Joining the Women’s Golf Team just as it was getting off the ground was exciting for Bonner. “What this program could be in the future depended on how we set it up,” she says. “That felt personal for me. I wanted that challenge.”

As a sophomore, she helped the program capture a conference title, earning a spot on the second-team All-Capital Athletic Conference team.

By working hard and setting a good example, Bonner felt she had a role in helping the team get to a place where it could recruit other golfers to come to York College and join the program. “It’s been an honor to be part of the process,” she says.

Reporting live

Bonner recently completed an internship with ABC27’s sports department. She spent the first half of the year going to Friday night football games, shooting highlights and helping to get the content together for broadcast. Even in the spring, after COVID-19 impacted a lot of opportunities, Bonner still gained valuable insights. She learned how to put together special packages and do sideline reporting. “It just showed me even more that it is definitely what I want to do,” she says.

For her final year of college, Bonner plans to do an audition reel and develop her camera skills before she begins reaching out to news directors. She’s ready to build those final skills she’ll need before jumping into a career.

“York has really left an impression on me,” Bonner says. “I never thought a small school was for me, but they changed my mind. Now, I see that this is where I belonged.”