My Name is Benjamin Levinson
I’m a senior at Lenoir-Rhyne University majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Marketing, and I play on the Men’s Soccer team. Alongside athletics, I work as a creative for Lenoir-Rhyne’s athletic media department, Bears Sports, where I’ve built a versatile skill set in sports media—producing livestreams, operating cameras, managing live stats, and creating photo, video, and social content for nearly every sport on campus, including basketball, lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis, and track & field.
My professional journey in sports media began in the summer of 2023 with a photography internship at Appalachian Football Club, one of the most recognizable brands in American semi-professional soccer. There, I captured everything from the competitive edge of the players to the passion of the Boone community—and even the club’s iconic Sasquatch mascot. That experience sharpened my technical photography skills while deepening my understanding of storytelling, branding, and the cultural role of media in sports.
When my hometown launched its first semi-professional team, Hickory FC, I knew I had to be part of it. I joined the creative team during the club’s inaugural season, leading all social media strategy and execution before expanding my role in year two to direct video production. During that time, I delivered transformative growth—driving a 308.2% increase in Instagram followers and a 953.9% increase on Facebook, growing the club’s audience to over 9,000. My content has generated more than 8.9 million views, 223,000 engagements, and reached over 568,000 unique users, dramatically elevating the club’s brand visibility and fan engagement. I also oversee the club’s creative internship program, which has strengthened my leadership and communication skills while giving me the opportunity to mentor the next generation of sports creatives.
I’m passionate about the power of content to connect communities, build brands, and tell the stories behind the game. I’m currently exploring full-time creative roles, graduate assistantships, and internship opportunities following my graduation in Fall 2025.
Relevant Experience
Social Media Coordinator & Lead Videographer | Hickory FC | August 2024-Present
As the Social Media Coordinator for Hickory Football Club, I am responsible for developing and managing engaging content across all major platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). My role involves crafting a consistent voice for the club online, planning strategic campaigns, and capturing high-quality photo and video content during matches, practices, and community events to showcase the team’s identity and drive fan engagement.
Social Media Internship | Hickory FC | April 2024-August
As a social media intern I helped coordinate posts across all social platforms with the assistance of our creative team. Together we helped build the Hickory FC brand from the ground, up to over 5,000 followers across all platforms.
Creative Intern | Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics | November 2022-Present
Bears Sports helped me discover my passion for sports media. I began by operating cameras for live streams and eventually learned how to produce full broadcasts on my own. The following year, I assisted with the department’s creative media, developing my skills in photography and videography. This experience led me to serve as the head videographer for the baseball team during their run to the 2025 College World Series. Now entering my final year at Lenoir-Rhyne, I’m excited to be one of the senior interns in the department and to work more closely with our incredible athletic teams.
Photography Internship | Appalachian FC | May 2023- July
As a photography intern for Appalachian Football Club during the summer of 2023, I was responsible for capturing high-quality images of players, matches, and team events. This included attending and photographing all home and away matches, documenting the action both on and off the field.
Production Assistant | UNC Asheville Athletics | Winter 2024-2025
Assisted in the execution of live broadcast operations for NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball games. Operated broadcast-quality cameras to capture dynamic, game-relevant footage for both in-house and streamed productions. Set up and maintained live production equipment including switchers, replay systems, graphics stations, and audio interfaces. Executed real-time instant replays using 3Play, contributing to engaging and timely broadcast storytelling. Collaborated closely with directors, technical staff, and student crews to ensure smooth, high-quality productions in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.