Interning for the NFL has been an interesting, educational, and entertaining experience.

It is our pleasure to introduce to the NFL, Ms. Sarah Louise Gildea. Although Sarah has only been a member of the NFL staff for a short time, her history with the NFL is quite impressive. Sarah earned membership in the NFL as a student at Ankeny High School in Iowa on January 23rd, 1997. She enjoyed an outstanding high school debate and speech career. In both 1999 and 2000, Sarah qualified for the NFL National Speech Tournament. She received her Quad Ruby in 2000.

After leaving Ankeny High School, Sarah attended the University of Iowa where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and a Certificate in the Philosophy and Ethics of Politics, Law, and Economics Program. During her four years at the U of I, Sarah worked as an assistant debate and speech coach at Iowa City West High School.

During the summer of 2003 and the spring of 2004, Sarah worked in both Italy and Germany for the United States Army as a civilian contractor in the Morale, Recreation, and Welfare Department. In the summer of 2004, Sarah began an 8-month internship with the NFL. Her primary responsibilities have been to organize and implement an initiative entitled The People Speak, which is a public discussion program sponsored in joint partnership with the United Nations Foundation.

In addition to her outstanding work on The People Speak, Sarah has assisted in many important projects in the national office. For example, she has created many new pages of the NFL website, including primary work on the new “Coach Resource” section. Sarah has also developed the initial organizational structures for the new NFL Teacher Workshop Program. She has served as an assistant editor for Rostrum and has been responsible for designing and authoring the coach profile and student challenge sections in each month’s issue. Sarah has been a true asset to the League over the past 8 months.

In May, Sarah will begin a summer internship in Austria with the United States Department of State working for the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. After her work with the State Department, Sarah plans to attend graduate school in Germany where she will pursue a Master of Public Policy Degree.

Meet Sarah

Top Ten favorites...

1. Traveling

2. Spending time with friends/family

3. Laughing

4. Meeting new people

5. Making a valid & sound argument

6. Reading

7. Singing along to the car radio

8. Listening to a new CD for the first time

9. Watching movies

10.Peanut-butter chocolate malts

Best Wishes from the NFL Staff