The action on the field, the TV ads, and the halftime show may be getting the attention, but all of those events that make the Super Bowl such a big night require professionals to pull them off.

Here’s a look at seven career paths that help make the Super Bowl such a huge event.

1. Advertising: During the Super Bowl and the morning after, fans and viewers will be talking about the best TV ads and complaining about the bad ones. When the ads are memorable (remember the Betty White and Snickers ad from 2010 that contributed to the 90 year old’s surge in popularity?), it means ad directors and account managers have done their jobs well by bringing attention to their clients.

2. Catering: I’m still setting my Super Bowl Sunday menu, and in the midst of planning, I was blissfully dreaming of using a caterer for game-worthy grub. It’s not going to happen, but plenty of parties are employing caterers to concoct football-inspired appetizers and desserts for the big game.

3. Sports management: Earning your bachelor’s degree in sports management can lead to a variety of career options, such as helping organize big events like the Super Bowl or the Olympics, the World Cup. You can also work for everyone from professional teams to nonprofits. Some graduates work with professional athletes who are involved in charitable efforts or with teams’ fundraising efforts. Others are involved with ticket sales, plan stadium events and promotions, work with the media, recruit players and coaches, and make sure teams comply with league rules.

4. Athletic training: The professionals running out onto the field when a player is hurt can include athletic trainers, who often hold a master’s or doctoral degree. Athletic trainers provide treatment to players before, during, and after the games to help prevent and treat injuries. Other professionals, such as massage therapists, also are used by players.

5. Event planning: Celebrity-studded events are part of Super Bowl week, with some throwing their own bashes and others attending events hosted by magazines and companies. It takes a hoard of event planners to make the events happen – and to create the “it” bash.

6. Video production: Professionals with training in video production are crucial, not just for the Super Bowl (imagine being responsible for hitting the delay button if Madonna’s halftime show gets too risqué?), but for other TV events like Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl or “The Voice,” which appears after the Super Bowl.

7. Journalism: Swarms of media – reporters and editors for websites, TV and radio stations, newspapers, magazines, and wire services – are part of the Super Bowl crowd, covering the teams and madness for their readers. More than 5,000 members of the media received credentials to attend this year’s Media Day, with access to the players, and that’s before the actual reporting on the game.

That’s only a few of Super Bowl-related professions – let us know what others you see when watching the big game!

-Lori Johnston

Pinterest isn’t just an awesome social media place for craft ideas, fashion, makeup and hair tips, recipes, birthday party themes, and home design ideas (they’re fueling my dream of having a custom master bedroom closet). If you’re on Pinterest, and if you can tear yourself away from repining those things to your boards, you’ll notice that one of the categories on Pinterest is education.

A lot of the items posted on the education boards are related to children, but some are more adult-friendly and could encourage you to go back to college or pursue a new degree.

Also, if you’re a “pinaholic,” think about how much time you spend browsing other boards, such as photography, hair and beauty, fitness, science and nature, technology, and history. Your passion for one of those subjects may be clear, and it could lead you to start researching career paths in those areas that have captured your interest for a long time.

Here are some of the latest things we’ve seen pinned that can inform you about potential new careers or degrees or inspire you as an adult learner. Our links take you to the actual webpage, so that those who don’t have Pinterest accounts can see them, too.

The Bachelor’s Job Market
A social media professor (sounds like a cool job) at Syracuse University posted this insightful infographic, created by Rasmussen College, that shows the need for more bachelor’s degree holders and reasons why people don’t pursue their degree.

I’m So Much More Than Just a Teacher poster
If you’re considering going into education, whether to work as a teacher’s assistant at your child’s school or to teach in another grade level, this poster’s message may be the push that you need to head into that direction.

Albert Einstein Quotes
The inspirational sayings on Pinterest range from sassy to sappy, but if you sort through, you can find some that may be worth putting your computer, phone, or near study central for you. The ones by Albert Einstein often pop up, joining others by authors, book characters, and even created by Pinterest members themselves.

Oh, and don’t forget to check us out on Pinterest. Our Boards are a mixture of smart (College-related Infographics and A+ College Stuff) and fun (Because Bacon Makes You Smarter).

Are you on Pinterest? Tell us what you’ve learned so far. Happy pinning!

-Lori Johnston

My 5-year-old son’s letter to Santa this year includes Legos, Green Lantern and Batman action figures, and something to play Angry Birds with (instead of always asking for my iPhone). For him, my wish for Santa is that he continues to learn to spell, read, and develop a strong work ethic in kindergarten through his future school years.

If adult learners made a list for Santa, there’s six things we think would be great wishes for Santa (and we’d give him extra cookies and coffee to keep him caffeinated on Christmas Eve, too!).

1. Faster Internet access
Whether you’re taking online classes or trying to do online research, there’s nothing more frustrating for an adult learner than being bogged down by a slow Internet connection. Or worse, when there’s no Internet at all, due to tech problems in your home, office, or a coffee shop, or storm outages.

2. A tablet
The high-tech movement is evident in education. A tablet can be easier to tote than a laptop if you’re going to class or work, and there’s the option to sync information between computers and tablets, and a ton of apps that can help with taking notes and test prep. iPads and other tablets are pricey, so no being naughty this year – you want to be on Santa’s good side. Tablets and e-readers like the Kindle and Nook also can make it more affordable to buy digital textbooks, newspapers, magazines, and other required reading for school.

3. Peace in the house
Peace on earth is a big wish, but some peace and quiet in your home is necessary as you’re studying for tests or finishing up assignments on deadline. If that seems impossible, maybe Santa can help provide a babysitter for those times when you need to be secluded and studying, away from the kids.

4. Time
Santa’s the ultimate multi-tasker, placing presents under trees around the world in the span of one night. Adult students have the same tough task – trying to fit in studying, working, caring for family, and other activities – in their schedule. The gift of time would be incredible. As you enter 2012, you could take another look at your schedule to see ways you can pare down activities or prioritize so that school doesn’t suffer from the lack of time in your life.

5. Instant knowledge
Being able to master tough concepts in your subject area and quickly grasp the information you need in required classes leading up to your major would be incredible. Until those abilities are possible, adult learners will need to continue to prioritize time to study do required reading, work ahead on projects, and ask plenty of questions to ace the class.

6. A frame
For your diploma, of course!

Happy and merry holidays to all!

-Lori Johnston

I’m sitting in the movie theater, watching “The Muppets” with my 5-year-old son, and I realize that amid the references to past decades, musical numbers, and appearance of favorites like Animal and Beaker, a comeback story like this can apply to going back to college, too.

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Before you say “mahna mahna,” check out these four ways “The Muppets” might inspire you to get on the path to a new career.

1. It’s not too late to do it.

Fozzie Bear’s eyebrows are graying, and a robot from the ’80s drives them around the country. It may seem like The Muppets are past their prime (it is, after all, their first new movie in 12 years), but they don’t let changes in technology or pop culture get them down in their quest to save their old theater. If you’re concerned you’re too out of date to go back to school, it doesn’t have to be that way.

2. Don’t let no stop you.

From TV executives to baddie Tex Richman, who plans to buy the theater and tear it down, there’s plenty of reasons for the Kermit and the Muppets to give up. It’s the same for you – people may make comments that could put holes in your college or career dreams, but don’t let them affect your decision.

3. Have your support team.

New Muppet Walter and humans Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) are huge fans on the Muppets, convincing them to get together again. The Muppets also enlisted the help of old and new friends, with Neil Patrick Harris, Selena Gomez, Whoopie Goldberg, and other celebrities supporting the furry cast during the telethon. Find your own support team who can encourage you along the way as you head back to school to learn more about your field or a new career.

4. If a Muppet can do it, so can you…

Miss Piggy as a high-profile fashion editor; Gonzo as the owner of a successful plumbing company … OK, if a Muppet can have a new or second career, what’s stopping you?

-Lori Johnston

For all of our holiday traditions, it takes hard work to make them happen year after year. We’re not just talking about baking those special cookies, reading holiday books with kids, finding the perfect gift for someone, or taking a little one to meet Santa.

Throughout the holidays, you’ll be coming into contact with people in careers that are super busy this time of year. But some of these fields need workers, and if you’re considering a career change, see how holiday activities and traditions might lead you to one of these five professions.

Event planner
From the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to seasonal tree lightings and parades in other metro areas and small towns, event planners are needed to coordinate all the details and volunteers. Programs such as hospitality management give folks the education to work as an event planner, which also are in demand for company parties and social events tied to the holidays.

Advertising manager
If your child keeps telling you about the toy they’ve seen on TV and just have to have, you have experienced the power of advertising. Toy makers ramp up the marketing this time of year, so that their products become the must-have item, and professionals with advertising expertise and training from advertising programs help generate buzz for companies.

Financial adviser
Before the year comes to an end, many folks touch base with their financial advisor or planner to make contributions to 401(k) and other steps that can help lower their taxes. The know-how you get from a financial planning school prepares you to help individuals and families seeking to save as the year comes to an end.

Nonprofit director
If you’re volunteering with a charitable group or donating money, cans, clothes, toys, or other items to those in need during the holidays, the spirit of giving could take you into a new career. The nonprofit industry is seeking people who are passionate about a cause, who can use their knowledge of business, marketing, finance, technology, and other areas to help a nonprofit group reach more people, all throughout the year.

Photographer
Family and pet photos are the focal point of all of those holiday cards, and it’s wonderful to see kids grow up and people share photos during the holidays.

Phil Bekker, a faculty member in the photographic imaging department at The Art Institute of Atlanta, says there can be enormous satisfaction in being involved in a creative field like photography. To be successful, though, a key skill that a photographer needs is people skills, which will endear them to potential clients. He adds that a personal style sets a photographer apart from others and makes them more in demand that other photographers.

For many holiday cards, those amazing portrait shots require a photographer with the training to get the right shot, and that includes one with all family members smiling!

-Lori Johnston

If you’re still working on your Thanksgiving Day menu or want to see what the experts are making, sure, you could turn on Food Network and see Bobby Flay, Alton Brown, and those Iron Chefs whip up their own traditional and untraditional menu items.

But there’s expertise shared daily with students at culinary institutes, which may be a career field you’re considering, that you can use when preparing for the holiday. Chef instructors shared their favorite recipes for a memorable Thanksgiving meal.

Turkey Breast Stuffed with Sausage, Fennel, and Golden Raisins

From Robert Brener, associate professor at Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte, N.C., campus)

Ingredients

• 4 green onions
• 3/4 pound Italian sweet sausages, casings removed
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 slices of bread crusts removed and cubed
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 3-pound boneless whole turkey breast butterflied & pounded to a half-inch thickness.
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cups chicken stock
• Flour as needed to thicken pan sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Finely chop onions and mix with, sausage, raisins, bread, eggs, and cream, season with salt and pepper.

3. Place turkey on work surface, skin side down.

4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

5. Spoon sausage mixture in row down center of breast.

6. Starting at 1 long side, roll up turkey breast to enclose filling.

7. Tie with kitchen string at 1-inch intervals to hold shape.

8. Brush oil all over turkey.

9. Season with salt, pepper.

10. Roast until thermometer inserted into filling registers 165°F.

11. Remove turkey and allow to rest under loosely tented foil.

Sweet Potato Hash

From Chef Jim Gallivan, department chair, culinary arts, The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 ½ cups green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 ½ cups yellow onions, chopped
• 1 ½ cups sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into ½” cubes
• 5 cups vegetable stock
• 1 cup cooked corn kernels
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• ½ lime, juiced
• Sea salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions

1. Sauté bell pepper, garlic, and onions in 1 tablespoon olive oil until soft.

2. Add sweet potato and stock and simmer until potato is soft.

3. Drain, keeping the stock for future use.

4. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, corn, lime, and cilantro. (Use your gloved hands to avoid breaking up the sweet potato.)

5. Season to taste.

6. Serve at room temperature. Serves 6.

Fresh Cranberry Relish

From the Culinary Institute of America (see this recipe being prepared). The CIA’s main campus is in Hyde Park, N.Y., and it has additional locations in St. Helena, Calif., San Antonio, and Singapore.

Ingredients

• 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier or Triple Sec
• 2 to 3 tablespoons orange marmalade

Directions

1. If using fresh cranberries, wash, pick through, and dry them thoroughly.

2. In a medium saucepan, mix 1/3 cup of sugar with the cranberries and the remaining ingredients.

3. Taste to adjust sweetness and add more sugar if desired.

4. Place over medium-high heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until the berries pop.

Serve hot or cold. Makes 6 servings.

Butternut Squash & Apple Soup

Adapted from the Culinary Institute of America’s The New Book of Soups (2009, Lebhar Friedman). See this recipe being prepared.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups diced onion
• 1/3 cup diced carrot
• 1/2 cup diced celery root
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 to 4 cups vegetable broth
• 3 cups cubed butternut squash
• 1 cup sliced tart apple
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or as needed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper, or as needed
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1 cup crème fraîche for garnish (optional)
• 8 small pumpkins (about a pound each) or one large pumpkin
• Directions
• 1. Heat the butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, ginger, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is tender and translucent, 5 to 6 minutes.
• 2. Add the broth, squash, and apple. Bring the broth to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook until the squash is tender enough to mash easily with a fork, about 20 minutes.
• 3. While the soup is cooking, wash the pumpkins with mild soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and pat dry. Carve a lid off the tops and remove the seeds from inside.
• 4. Purée the soup using a handheld blender directly in the pot, with a sieve or a food mill, or in a countertop blender food processor. Return it to the soup pot if necessary. Return the soup to a simmer over medium-low heat.
• 5. Season the soup as needed with salt, pepper, and orange zest.
• 6. You can serve the soup in heated bowls topped with a dollop of crème fraîche if desired.
• 7. Or, to serve the soup in pumpkins, place each pumpkin onto a plate and fill them with soup topped with a dollop of crème fraîche if desired. If serving the soup in one large pumpkin, place the lid back on top to keep the soup warm. You can also offer the crème fraîche in a separate bowl on the buffet.
• Makes 8 servings.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

From Chef Jim Gallivan, department chair, culinary arts, The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta

Ingredients

• Crust
• 1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
• ¼ cup water
• Cheesecake
• 18 oz. low-fat cream cheese
• 1 ¼ cup fructose
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 4 tablespoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons nutmeg
• 2 ½ teaspoon cloves
• 6 sheets* gelatin
• 4 cups pumpkin, canned

* Can use equivalent plain packaged gelatin

Directions

1. Combine water and graham cracker crumbs

2. Press into a 10 in. cake pan and set aside.

3. Cream together the cream cheese and fructose.

4. Combine pumpkin and spices and mix well.

5. Fold the pumpkin mixture into the cream cheese mixture.

6. Soften gelatin in warm milk.

7. Quickly fold into the cheese mixture.

8. Pour into prepared pan and refrigerate overnight.

Serves 8-16 (depending on serving size).

Students give back as part of their Thanksgiving tradition.

Although the Thanksgiving holiday arrives at a time of the year when students are finishing up projects and major papers, or needing to study for finals, it’s amazing to see adult students take time of their hectic schedules to help those in need.

For example, graduate students at the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business in Winter Park, Fla., hope to collect more than 600 toys in November and December during their second annual holiday toy drive. The toys collected will go to three organizations – Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital, Florida Hospital, and Give Kids the World.

Jesse Merrell, an MBA student and working professional, shares why it’s important that students focus on the needy during the holidays: “The holidays are usually full of celebration and family gatherings; yet, several students in the MBA class have personal connections to this cause, either having spent a holiday in the hospital or having a family member absent (in the hospital) for an extended period of time. The uncertainty and stress disrupts the entire family’s spirits.”

The students want to help alleviate the pain and provide hope by bringing joy to children, especially since adult students often have little ones, too. She adds: “We are grateful for the opportunity to give a little of ourselves to make a difference.”

That’s just one example of college students, from traditional freshman to adult students pursuing associates to doctorate degrees, giving back. Other schools, such as Arcadia University, a private school offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in metropolitan Philadelphia, are holding fundraising dinners to fight hunger and homelessness. Some schools are participating in Thanksgiving food drives, such as Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisc.

If you’re looking at attending a college next semester or year, take a look at the activities students participate in around the holidays, and you’ll get a good idea of how students support their own or help others in need in the community.

And if you are a current student, tell us what your school community is doing to give back this holiday season.

-Lori Johnston

Take a look at the college degree held by Ginni Rometty, who will take over as IBM’s first-ever female CEO and president on Jan. 2, 2012, and you’ll see someone who committed in college to a career in technology. She earned her bachelor’s of science degree with high honors in computer science and electrical engineering from Northwestern University.

Technology is a job sector where more women are needed, and Rometty’s promotion reflects that companies are seeking female leaders with technical experience.

If you’re interested in working in the technology industry, don’t be intimidated by pursuing fields such as computer science while browsing college websites and course catalogs. While the technology field needs people in all types of roles, from human resources to public relations, leaders like Rometty reveal that focusing on science and technology from the onset can be rewarding.

But females are discouraged from technical education pursuits, Caroline Simard, vice president of research at the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, recently told the New York Times. She said:

“Research shows that the majority of people have an implicit bias that associates science and technology with gender, so from a very young age, girls are not encouraged to pursue these careers. Women like Ginni Rometty are a powerful antidote against the stereotype.”

While IBM is a top global company, there are small- and mid-sized technology firms in your own town that need leaders, and by focusing on a technical education in computer science, software engineering, or other tech fields, you could position yourself to take on a leadership role and further help break the glass ceiling.

-Lori Johnston

All the cups of coffee you’re consuming as a college student may not stop, depending on your profession.

CareerBuilder and Dunkin’ Donuts have brewed up a list of the top 15 professions that need coffee to get through the day.

Lots of lattes, mochas, espressos, cappuccinos and plain ol’ cups of coffee are consumed by folks in these fields, who no doubt battle coffee breath daily, too.

Whether you’re starting off in a career from the ground (get it?) up, or going to college to get an advanced education in a field where you are employed, coffee breaks may be part of your regular routine.

Here’s a look at professionals who need a java jolt to get through the daily grind.

1. Scientist/Lab Technician

2. Marketing/Public Relations Professional

3. Education Administrator

4. Editor/Writer

5. Healthcare Administrator

6. Physician

7. Food Preparer

8. Professor

9. Social Worker

10. Financial Professional

11. Personal Caretaker

12. Human Resources Benefits Coordinator

13. Nurse

14. Government Professional

15. Skilled Tradesperson (plumber, carpenter, etc)

If you’re already working in these fields or taking classes in one of these job sectors, are you finding you’re heading to the coffee shop or plugging in your coffee machine more frequently?

-Lori Johnston

Site Offers its First Discount on College Tuition

Groupon keeps reminding me about two purchases I’ve made – two-for-one movie tickets from Fandango and a half-off deal for a photo album that I haven’t gotten around to creating. It’s also helped me take part in unique events, such as a barbecue lunch with the Neelys from Food Network and a symphony performance under the stars.

The other day, a Groupon deal showed me that the trendy site has the potential to remind some folks of their dream to finish their degree or go back to school to pursue a new career or get advanced education.

Groupon was offering more than 50 percent off a $2,232 graduate-level introductory teaching course at National Louis University in Chicago (the Groupon price was $950).

Surprise – a school actually lowered a price for students! In these days of bargain hunting and discount seeking, it seems that a college education is one of the few places where individuals seem resigned to pay higher and higher prices. I’ve seen friends invest in starting a master’s degree, only to find they can’t afford to continue the program or can’t juggle it with jobs and family (and refunds aren’t available for those courses).

The idea of purchasing something like education on Groupon may be a bit “out there,” and maybe the school only did it for publicity, but it is refreshing to see a school willing and able to lower its price on a course.

It got a lot of attention because it’s the first time the “deal is on” coupon site has offered a deal on tuition that counts for academic credit. The school says 18 individuals purchased the Groupon.

Dr. Nivine Megahed, president of National Louis University, said in a press release: “This deal will give participating students a chance to take one course and see if they are ready to make the time and financial commitment to follow through with the entire graduate program.”

Students need an undergraduate degree to be involved in the 10-week course, which counts toward three credit hours, of a 36-hour master’s degree from the school.

University officials told the AP that many of its students – the average age is 34 – are part of Groupon’s target demographics. So adult learners could be seeing more of this, via Groupon, or from other coupon sites. It could be a bonus for students already in pursuit of a certain degree, or it could be just the thing, even if you don’t get that deal, to make you reconsider college.

What do you think? Would you ever buy a Groupon for school?

-Lori Johnston