May 2025 Commencement Spotlight: Mass Communication Graduate Broadcasts His Next Steps with the York Revolution
As he nears the end of his time at York College, Chase Hellwig ‘25 reflects on the past four years and how those experiences have led him to secure an opportunity to work with the York Revolution.
As the weather gets warm and another semester at York College of Pennsylvania comes to a close, the Class of 2025 prepares for their upcoming graduation.
The Spring 2025 Commencement will take place in the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center on May 17, 2025. There will be two ceremonies, listed below:
9:15 a.m. Ceremony
*Doors open at 8:15 a.m.
- School of the Arts, Communication and Global Studies
- School of Behavioral Sciences and Education
- Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology
3:15 p.m. Ceremony
*Doors open at 2:15 p.m.
- Graham School of Business
- Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Meyers School of Nursing and Health Professions
- Associates
As more than 500 graduates get ready to walk across the stage, York College acknowledges the success and ambition that have allowed its seniors to complete this major milestone. While some will pursue further education, others will enter the workforce. Wherever the students go, the College is proud of how they will continue their journeys and wishes them all the best in their futures.
One such senior will stay close by and work with the York Revolution after graduation. He shares how he got to this point and how York College impacted his growth into the person he is today.
Choosing the Best College Path
Chase Hellwig ‘25, a Mass Communications major with a Communications minor, knew that York College was the school for him from the very beginning. In fact, York College was the only school that he applied to.
During his initial tour of the College, Chase sensed a meaningful bond to the campus, something he hadn’t experienced when visiting other universities. He found himself attracted to the programs it offered and the fact that it was a private institution with small classes. Most of all, the professors' dedication to their students grabbed his attention.
“I felt a connection with the professors, faculty, and staff,” Chase said. “It felt like they actually cared, and that was something that I really valued, was that mentorship.”
Chase entered York College to pursue a Chemistry major, but soon found that wasn’t where his interests lay. When his mother told him he had a voice that could be on the radio, he decided to try switching over to Mass Communications.
It wasn’t long before Chase got involved with the 88.1 WVYC radio station on campus through his Intro to Audio Production class with Jeffrey Schiffman, Audio & Radio Production Instructor and WVYC Radio Station Manager. He became the copywriter for the station, writing PSA promo blurbs, and then was promoted to music director (another name for their version of the vice president). By his junior year, Chase had become president/manager of the station, a position he’s now held for four semesters.
Discovering His Passions
Ever since his first year, Chase has discovered many new interests that have led him to gain valuable experience. He quickly found himself learning important skills such as audio and video production and how to use professional equipment through his classes.
“I also dabbled in the film program a little bit with a World Directors class,” Chase said, something that stemmed from his love of discussing and critiquing movies. “It was…taking a look at some of the directors working in the twenty-first century. And that ignited my passion for film.”
Even now, Chase is discovering new interests. He started taking a photography class in the 2025 Spring Semester, and after doing a deep dive into everything he needed to know, he gained enough experience and knowledge to start photographing York College events and having fun with it.
“I started doing all of that, and now I’m doing paid senior grad shoots,” Chase said. “I just shot the entirety of the opening night for Heathers: the Musical - that was featured on the York College Page…[and] I shot the rock band for YCP Music. So there were a bunch of events that I got to do because of that, and I now have a photo page on my Instagram as well.”
Chase worked hard to improve his skills and find the resources he needed to excel, but he also credits many of the professors with whom he formed close relationships within the communications field. Whether they helped him with his transition to campus in his first few weeks or introduced him to a new aspect of film or media making, Chase expressed an endless amount of gratitude for their support.
“All of the professors in the Mass Comm field are just wonderful,” he said. “They all want to help. They’re all great.”
Gaining Hands-on Experience
It wasn’t just on campus that Chase learned more about his interests and the type of work he wanted to pursue as a career. Mass Communication majors are required to get involved in outside work experience to grow their skills.
“Mass Comm is really heavy into that,” Chase said. “They’re heavy in the outside client work. They want to take things outside the classroom, which is great.”
Chase got this opportunity through an invite-only hospitality class run by Prof. Schiffman, where he participated twice.
The first time he was in the class, Chase and his classmates worked at several breweries in the area, such as Gift Horse Brewery Company, Collusion Tap Works, and Mudhook Brewing Company. There, they made promotional content for the companies, created commercial-type content, conducted interviews, and gathered B-roll film. The students even got to speak with the owners, seeing what they wanted and treating them like real clients.
The second time Chase participated in the class, he and the other students went to the York History Center. They had the chance to interview the staff, including the museum's director, and even study the archives and old documents/replicas.
“The overall point is both projects were an outside client. They were affiliated with York College in some way, but they didn’t work for the College,” Chase said.
As much as the students were doing what was needed to pass their class, there was still an important weight to their work. This wasn’t just a school project; this was their first exposure to real client work.
“It was really helpful that they weren’t a part of the College because it provided this level of caliber that we’re all unfamiliar with,” Chase said.
“So that was my first big exposure to outside client work, and it was a lot of fun. It was a great experience. I wouldn’t take it back.”
Next Step: The York Revolution
If you asked Chase a month and a half ago what his plans after college would be, he wouldn’t have been able to provide an answer. Now, Chase has found himself in an unexpected role: working as an on-field host for the York Revolution, York’s professional minor league baseball team.
“Upon graduating, I’m going to continue doing that, hopefully, if I have the time,” Chase said, “but also move into a more strategic marketing role at the Revs for a full-time internship.”
Chase aims to shift his focus to the marketing/branding and strategy side of working for a baseball team, such as writing newsletters for season-ticket holders and creating social media posts to get the most engagement possible.
He also plans to continue freelance photography work. That type of work has brought him much joy, so Chase hopes to keep up with it through whatever opportunities he can find.
“I’d like to…keep going with that because I really love doing photos, and I feel like that’s the best way to pursue that,” he said.
Looking Back and to the Future
Looking back on his time, Chase expressed how he has never regretted his decision to come to York College and everything he learned during his four years. Initially, he had never used official equipment or interacted with professional clients. Now, he has that experience and knowledge that will take him far.
“It made me grow as a person because it exposed me to things that I never would have [found] otherwise,” Chase said. “...It was a little terrifying, but that’s how you grow, right?”
Chase also shared how one of the College’s biggest impacts on him was boosting his confidence.
“When I came in, I wasn’t that great of a speaker, I wasn’t that great in front of crowds,” he said. “I was a very introverted person, and I can be sometimes still now, but now I have the power to go in front…of 7,000 people and play bubble balls with the kids on the [York Revolution] field. Never would have been able to do that before.”
“It gave me the confidence and the exposure to believe in myself and think I can do it, even when that task is so daunting.”
Chase is excited about what his future will hold for him. Though it can be scary, armed with the knowledge, experience, and confidence he now has, Chase feels ready to move on.
“York [College]’s been really good to me, and it’s preparing me for what’s next, but I think I’m ready to take the next step,” he said.
When asked about what future advice he would share with undergraduate and new students, Chase emphasized how just getting involved on campus can make a huge difference in the opportunities that can come your way.
“I would get involved in as much stuff as you can,” he said.
Looking back at his high school years, Chase regretted not being involved in many activities or events. When he stepped foot on the York College campus, though, he made a decision to change that and make the most of his time there.
And he did; by his third week of school, Chase had joined the radio station. By his sophomore year, he had gained many friends and mentors and a greater involvement within the community through his classes and work experiences. But most of all, Chase made the most out of his time at York College by finding where his passions lay and having fun with them.
“My advice: talk to people, make connections, get involved, just do stuff,” Chase said. “I think, as simply as I can put it, do stuff because you stay busy, time goes by quicker, you make more friends, and it just enhances your overall experience.”
“YCP’s been really really good to me, and I think I definitely made the right choice by coming here. I wouldn’t trade it for anything… I think I’m very well prepared as a result of my experience, and I’m ready to get out there and put it to good use.”
