By Mary Pritchard, OMAHA, Neb- On May 29, at the 7th annual Omaha Sports Commission Awards Show (OSCAS), history was made. That night, surrounded by fellow sports casters, journalists, athletes and coaches Ana Bellinghausen became the first woman nominated and awarded the Steve Pivovar Sports Media Person of the Year.
The prestigious award, presented by the Omaha World-Herald, is bestowed upon an individual who presents media talent, provides outstanding sports coverage to the community, highlights local sports accomplishments and increases awareness of the Omaha-metro community. The award is named in honor of Steve Pivovar, a former sports journalist of over 45 years, for the Omaha World-Herald.
This year, selected by a committee of her peers, Bellinghausen accepted one of the top honors of the night.
As most folks would, Ana started out by thanking her parents, friends, coworkers at Hurrdat Sports and CBS sports, fellow journalists, and finally the women in sports who came before her and made it possible for her to be nominated in the first place.
“Hire women, invest in women, believe in women because we’re here to stay. Thank you,” Bellinghausen said at the conclusion of her speech.
Growing up in Omaha, Neb. Bellinghausen was inspired to become a sports journalist by watching College Game Day with her family and seeing American sportscaster Samantha Ponder on T.V.
Bellinghausen started in sports media and journalism career at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). While enrolled, Bellinghausen co-founded and served as president of the Women in Media club. She, along with fellow Women in Media members Avarie Howard and Alexa Blase, produced a Friday morning sports-related talk show called By the Horns. Bellinghausen even called UNO athletic games on MAVRadio and served as the general manager.
Now, entering her third-year post-graduation, Bellinghausen still finds inspiration in Ponder, but has added other women in sports to her list of mentors.
“Jenny Taft has been a huge mentor of mine. I cold emailed her one day and was like can I shadow you at a college football game and she said, ‘Let’s do it.’ Katie Storm, a reporter for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Twins. She also let me shadow,” Bellinghausen said.
After years of finding inspiration in other women in sports. Bellinghausen finds herself as a source of inspiration for the new generation of women in sports. Bellinghausen says she cherishes any opportunity to work with girls and women who share a common interest.
“I think having that visibility for women, especially young women, saying ‘Okay, I can do this, I can be here, I want to be here.’ That’s what I want.”
Dawson Anderson, a former UNO athletic media intern, says she finds Ana to be an inspiration in a multitude of ways.
“Ana serves as an inspiration because she’s been a big figure for Omaha, showing that you can still do big things in a smaller city or community and make an impact in the sports community.”
With her future ahead of her, Bellinghausen says she’s got more than a few goals set for her career.
“My number one goal, at the end of my career, is I want to work Sunday Night Football. That’s my end game goal. My number one goal is to always inspire young women and hopefully someday have an organization where I can help other women get started in this business.”
Ana covers sports games across the Omaha-metro and Lincoln area for Hurrdat Sports. As well as works as a sideline reporter with CBS sports. To learn more about Ana visit unomahanews.edu
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