2025 CREATIVE PORTOFLIO
Ricky Lopez
New York Yankees, GCU Athletics
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this guy
ABOUT ME
Hi! My name is Ricky, and I’m from Woodstock, Illinois. I am a senior at Grand Canyon University, where I work for GCU Athletics as a social media assistant. I will graduate with a Bachelor’s in Marketing & Advertising in Summer 2025. I started creating content more than a decade ago but officially started working in sports in 2022. I will be working with the New York Yankees for the 2025 season.
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Outside of work, I love playing guitar, boxing, designing clothes, traveling, hiking, and spending time with family & friends.
A Look at the Numbers…
In Spring 2024, I took over content strategy for GCU Athletics’ TikTok, shifting from general content to a strategic social media lead. Through data-driven decision-making and trend-driven content, I significantly boosted engagement, reach, and follower growth. Here is a breakdown of the analytics, along with examples:
Before vs After leading our TikTok Strategy:
+400%
+350%
Total Views
Follower Growth Rate
TIKTOK EXAMPLES - GCU Athletes & Sports (conceptualized, filmed and edited all) (click any video to watch)
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Say the Same Word
Leveraged viral trend and made it engaging with athletes. Not just GCU exclusive.
Start of Baseball Season
Fast-paced edit with a trending
song cover audio
Favorite Female Athlete
Showcased personalities while highlighting Women's History Month.
10.2k likes, 93.6k views, 11.2% engagement rate
17.1% engagement rate, 5.2k likes, 30.6k views
15.8k likes, 307.3k views
Tied for Best Record in the Country
Owning a stat that leverages
GCU Basketball
Mannequin Challenge
Nostalgic trend that’s in tune
with youth culture
First March Madness Win
GCU inclusivity highlighting
a historic moment
TIKTOK EXAMPLES - GCU Atmosphere & Student Section
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75.1k likes, 875.2k views
7.4k likes, 74k views, 10.4% engagement rate
13.9% engagement rate, 4.3k likes, 33k views
Real-Time Story Coverage
Here’s a look at my real-time Instagram and Facebook story coverage for GCU Men’s Basketball Senior Night where I executed live coverage strategies to maximize engagement and keep fans instantly updated. I collaborated with our photo/video team to manage content for @GCU_Lopes and @GCU_MBB, ensuring dynamic and engaging real-time coverage.
28
58,836
644
stories
total views
total interactions
STORIES: Pregame & Game Coverage
Built excitement with pregame coverage, such as player arrivals and warmups. Transitioned to our Senior Recognitions right before the game started. Once game started, kept fans engaged with real-time score updates, highlight plays, and high-energy moments from the bench.
Warmups
Senior Night
Highlights
Reactions
STORIES: Atmosphere & Student Section
Focused on capturing the electric game-day atmosphere and nation’s best student section, including fan interactions and halftime entertainment. All videos and photos were created using Slate and CapCut with custom templates, stickers, fonts, and graphics to ensure fastest turnaround and quality content.
Atmosphere
Fan Internactions
Student Section
Halftime Show
WHAT CAN I BRING TO YOUR TEAM?
REAL Sports Social Media Experience
I thrive in fast-paced environments, especially in sports, where timing is EVERYTHING. I’ve worked with multiple teams across various sports, quickly capturing and creating content that drives engagement. I understand the pulse of social media, especially with younger audiences. I’m always on top of trends, viral moments, and know what gets people to engage. Whether it’s short-form TikToks, long-form videos, photography, or graphics, my focus is to always create content that truly resonates with the person on the other side of the screen.
A People Person Who Builds Culture
I can connect with athletes and fans authentically, building trust and making content that feels genuine. Whether I’m engaging with players or interacting with fans, I know how to make them feel seen and heard, which simply translates into better, more impactful content. I prioritize building strong relationships with everyone, from players to staff to fans. Whether it’s a security guard, clean-up crew, or an MLB All-Star, I treat everyone with the same respect because we are ALL human beings. Team culture matters to me, and I’m committed to fostering an environment of respect and positivity. That kind of energy builds a stronger, more connected team.
Proactive & Ready to Learn
I know how to stay ahead of the curve and create content that truly resonates with people. I bring a large skill set with the ability to turn ordinary moments into something special. I don’t just "make TikToks," I create moments that fans will remember.
LET'S CONNECT!
You can follow and contact me on LinkedIn, Instagram and more.
I'd be happy to provide my resume upon request.