Assistant Sports Editor Ben Hummel has been named Slater of the Month for March for his contributions to sports coverage at The Slate and his commitment to gaining hands-on journalism experience as a student-athlete.

Hummel, who took on the assistant sports editor role in January, is a communication, journalism and media major with a concentration in broadcast and a minor in marketing who expects to graduate in 2029. He said he sought out student media early in his college career as a way to build real-world experience while balancing his responsibilities as an athlete.

“The Slate fits my busy schedule as a student-athlete and allows me to contribute without sacrificing my academics and athletics,” Hummel said. “From the beginning, it was clear to me that the people at The Slate love what they do and have a strong leadership group that drives The Slate’s success.”

Since joining the paper, Hummel said he has developed skills in writing articles, interviewing players and coaches, learning journalism style and formatting newspaper pages. He said the experience has changed the way he watches sports altogether.

“From now on, whenever I watch a sporting event, I think about how I would cover this event if I were writing about it and how I would structure the story,” he said.

Hummel said he does not have a single favorite story, noting that most sports coverage follows a similar structure. He said what makes each piece memorable is that the events themselves are one of a kind.

“Every game or event offers new statistics and accomplishments by the athletes and coaches,” Hummel said. “I enjoy researching these metrics and learning more about each individual athlete and team.”

One standout moment came when he photographed Tommy Crum Jr. breaking the PSAC conference record in the mile at a meet at Liberty. Hummel said his photo was used on the cover of a Shippensburg University article about the meet and was shared across multiple social media platforms.

Looking ahead, Hummel said his goal is to work in sports media as a broadcast director for live sporting events. He said he expects to start in a smaller role and work his way up through experience and professional networking.

When it comes to personal influences, Hummel pointed to Shippensburg’s Sports Information Director Bill Morgal.

“Bill has been a phenomenal influence on me, and his passion and devotion to his job remind me of my own love for sports,” Hummel said. “I have learned so much in my short time under him, and I look forward to all the other new things he can show and teach me while I am at Shippensburg.”

The Slate staff congratulates Hummel on this recognition and looks forward to his continued coverage of Shippensburg athletics.

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