Simanskis '15 Follows Love of Sports to NHL

After earning degrees in journalism and sports journalism from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Simanskis interned with the National Football League’s (NFL) Denver Broncos for the 2019 season. From there, she became a social media intern with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes in 2020 before the global COVID-19 pandemic ended that experience.

“Because the professional sports world had come to a grinding halt, from July 2020 to August 202 I lived and worked in Sheridan, Wyoming as a sports reporter and social media manager for a junior hockey team,” she said. “That experience led to my current position with the Chicago Blackhawks as a social media coordinator.” 

Simanskis points to her experiences at Chatham Hall as the foundation for her professional path.

“Being surrounded by faculty, staff and peers who fearlessly and wholeheartedly believed in girls and young women made me confident, independent and ultimately successful throughout college and my professional career,” she noted. 

 

“Chatham Hall taught me that the best way to support women is to support each other personally and professionally and, in the wake of my mother's death, I learned that Chatham Hall's support, from my best friends to staff to peers, is enduring and everlasting.”

 

During her time at the School, Simanskis was a member of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team. She competed at the 2015 National Championships in Florida, though that week-long experience takes a backseat in her memory to the IEA Zone Championships at which the team found out they would be going to Nationals. 

 

“Our team had missed the opportunity to qualify for IEA's National Championships the year before, and we were nervous to see if the 2015 team would place in the top three and advance to nationals,” she explained. 

 

“Chatham Hall's name wasn't called for third place, and we assumed the worst before a follow up announcement turned our disbelief into elation and many, many hugs and cheers from our team. And the realization that our group would compete at Nationals!”

Other Chatham Hall memories include Samantha Fleming, Simanskis’ Advisor, coach, and “second mom” for three years. Simanskis credits Fleming with teaching her problem solving, leadership, and more. 

 

“She advocated for me and supported me unconditionally, though often with doses of tough love, and treated me as an adult, a hallmark of many faculty and staff at Chatham Hall. I am forever grateful for her support during my time at Chatham Hall and continued love afterwards,” Simanskis said.

 

To today’s and future Turtles, Simanskis has some simple yet valuable advice.

 

“It's so cliche, but enjoy the time you have with your friends and the faculty above all else. I cannot remember any of the assignments I stressed over during my time at Chatham Hall, but I can still recall late nights I spent on dorm with friends.”