Bellisario College student’s summer of 'Banana Ball' is a hit

(Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of stories about students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications completing summer internships.)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Traveling the United States with the country’s most entertaining baseball team was a dream for Sophia Galasso. So, she swung for the fences, got a hit, and this summer she’s been part of what’s known as “Banana Ball.”

The senior telecommunications major from Wyckoff, New Jersey, is interning in the Savannah Bananas ticketing department. Each game, she plays an important role in the fan experience running ticket lotteries, coordinating game-day ticketing, and creating memorable “fan first” moments.

“That’s the only set rule in what we do — fans first,” she said. "I absolutely love it. It's truly so much fun to make someone's day every single day.”

Much like the Harlem Globetrotters in basketball, the Bananas are both athletes and entertainers. The rules of “Banana Ball” are a little different than classic baseball. Games include dancing players, fans catching outs and no bunting.

The games are very popular. Starting in mid-May, Galasso has traveled from coast to coast. Games in Reno, Albuquerque, Charlotte and Grand Rapids — all sellouts. Two games in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium — home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers — drew 148,000 fans.

“That was the biggest crowd we've ever played in front of,” she said. “We've also ever done one day in an NFL stadium. We've never done two, so that was also amazing.”

Galasso does not work behind the scenes. In addition to handling the lottery system, she scans tickets, assists fans with seating, and, when needed, helps resolve ticket issues. Days can be long and travel can be tough, but Galasso said delivering the fun experience to fans makes it all worth it.

“We are a very fan facing part of the organization,” said Kurt Kessler, ticket experience coordinator for the Bananas. “Months prior to the game, all the way up to the week of the game, at the game and after the game — we are interacting with fans.”

Kessler said interns play an important role in the team’s “fans first” mentality. Every member of the Bananas organization takes fun very seriously. He said Galasso had the right attitude from the start.

“Soph has incredible charisma, lots of energy and passion for anything that she does,” Kessler said. “You get that sense after talking to her for five minutes. She really cares about what she does, too. She has a high work ethic and is eager to learn, which is what we love.”

Sports and service

Galasso said she always wanted to attend Penn State. She saw the University as a place with “so many opportunities.” Coming out of high school, her parents suggested she keep her options open, but she had other plans — actually, just one plan.

“They wanted me to apply to 18 schools,” Galasso said. “I didn’t wait for those acceptances. I did one campus tour, and I knew it was right. I immediately chose Penn State.”

Going into her senior year now, she said her expectations were met. From advisers to instructors, she said “everyone at Penn State is supportive” with people who “want to see you win at what you do … and they will help you win.”

Originally an economics major, Galasso moved to the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications to become a telecommunications major. She thought the opportunities at the Bellisario College could help combine two of her passions — sports and service.

Galasso’s mother worked in foster care helping young children and their families. Today she works in elder care. Her father served in the Army for eight years. From an early age, they taught her the importance of contributing and “giving back” to her community. It’s a way of life she hopes to incorporate into her career going forward.

“My mom is a big reason I am the way I am, plus my dad is probably my biggest role model,” she said. “We help run our local Memorial Day parade. We volunteer at a consignment shop … those types of things have always been imprinted on me.”

Naturally, one of the big reasons she came to Penn State was for THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Galasso has danced at THON events and last year served as a security leader for rules and regulations. It’s also what attracted her to the Bananas organization, which runs a nonprofit, called Bananas Foster, that supports foster care programs.

Galasso also grew up loving sports — she played hockey, football and lacrosse — so finding a sports team that doubles as a charitable organization was win-win.

“I wanted to combine the two and not a lot of places do that,” she said. The Bananas did, however, and Galasso sought out the internship herself. Going up against thousands of applicants, she was one of 300 to make it past the first round. Four interviews, a video submission, an essay, a 45-question form, and some significant doubts later, she was offered the position.

The Bananas sent congratulatory letters to both her and her parents. A couple of weeks after the spring semester ended, Galasso was on the road to Savannah. The process was evidence that the organization took its culture seriously.

“Here in Banana Land, we are looking for bar raisers. All of our interns raise the bar,” Kessler said. “And, because we’ve done these interviews, we feel comfortable giving an intern a responsibility and letting them run with it.”

For example, in Charlotte, Galasso ran a ticket gate by herself.

“Just three weeks into her internship, Soph runs a gate at one of our biggest stadiums all season,” Kessler added, “And she absolutely crushed it.”

Extra innings

Galasso will return to the University Park campus for her senior year on Aug. 24, just two days after her Bananas internship ends. She is not shy about her dream of working for the Bananas after graduation.

“I absolutely love this company, and I want to see myself here in the future,” she said. “I hope to come back after graduation.”

Until then, Galasso wants to enjoy her last year at Penn State, go to some football games and spend time with friends. However, that might be easier said than done.

“I'm a very busy person. I love learning and I love taking advantage of new opportunities,” she said. “I'm always thinking about the next thing, but I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot, so when the summer is over, I really want to focus on my senior year.”