The 2007
MASSMEDIAMESSENGER
chair letter three
insidethemessenger
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department news six
mor a thriea ecothan rte de an en r e g r e finunfdreanncbe ten
student news eight alumni news twelve
succe s siaxlteese ssful n
technology eighteen class notes nineteen graduates twenty-two table of contents
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r i a h c e h t m o r f Letter “
barbara desanto
Once in a blue moon the planets align and things just come together. Whatever the reason, things seemed to fall right into place as Washburn’s Mass Media Department searched for a chair and I searched for an opportunity to move from the professorial to the administrative ranks. Not just any chair’s position or just any university – I was searching for a department with excellent faculty, dedication to students and their education, students interested in learning, and a university administration ready and willing to support cutting-edge mass media education. For both parties, I think, the wait was worth it. Since earning my doctorate from Oklahoma State University in 1995, I have had fortune to be involved with and mentored by many academic and professional mass media stars in national and international learning ventures focused on providing quality educational opportunities for students. At the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, I created, funded, and directed graduate student exchange programs with universities in Sweden, England, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland. I also created, taught, and currently direct a month-long seminar in public relations in London, England, each May and June. As my involvement with these ventures
grew, my mentors and colleagues encouraged me to think about being a chair. Good leaders, they said, were scarce. At first, I resisted, but as I gained more experience as a graduate director and director of international studies, I saw where and how I wanted to make my leadership contribution. I also determined in what environment I hoped this work would be, not just any place would do. When I interviewed at Washburn, I knew the time was right – now – and the place was right. I find a faculty eager to continue to provide good solid media education not only for practice in this country, but also for participation in international ventures. My international colleagues in Germany, England, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden are already eager to explore creating new student and faculty exchange programs with Washburn, which will expand all kinds of horizons for all types of media practitioners, from writers to broadcasters to public relations and advertising on all sides of the ocean. Washburn’s size and commitment to international education as one of its four transformational experience components is the perfect framework in which to build these types of programs. Within the first year, I hope to establish the first student and faculty exchange visit with one of my partner universities. While the globe is shrinking, Washburn has the potential to expand its influence and reach. Being an accessible capital city is a special gift for Washburn’s Mass Media Department. One
Once in a blue moon the planets align and things just come together.
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of the greatest documented needs in American government today is the lack of qualified, socially responsible public affairs and politically savvy media professionals. Washburn’s physical location in the Kansas capital and its intellectual location as a sane, responsible Midwestern city makes it the perfect incubator for educating media practitioners ready to step into local, regional, national and international practitioners with a firm background in social, political and economic affairs. To this end, I am already exploring what types of media partnerships I can develop in Washington, D.C. I spent an hour with students during my interview and if the majority of students are as grounded as these students were, I am confident that students will relish these opportunities. I have been fortunate to learn a great deal as a newspaper reporter and editor,
as a public relations professional working in tourism, and as a public information officer in government. My time as a professor has been an equally rewarding learning experience. The good fortune continued when Washburn professor Dr. Kathy Menzie met me at a conference at Kansas State last fall and encouraged me to apply for the chair’s job at Washburn. She was right – this is going to work well – just see how things are coming together. Barbara DeSanto earned her bachelor of science in mass communications and her master of science in special studies at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn. She also holds a doctor of education in mass communication and higher education from Oklahoma State University. She has held numerous teaching positions, has had several works published and comes to us from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
chair letter
THREE
Down the red “ carpet Walking from the red carpet to the door, students posing as paparazzi were on hand to ask about designers and get lots of pictures of all the attendees. It was easy to see this was going to be the event of the season.
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amanda artzer
The glitz and glamour of the annual mass media banquet was reflected in this year’s theme, Media Choice Awards. Attendees dined like stars on chicken cordon bleu, green beans, duchess potatoes and New York style cheesecake. Door prizes and a short film about the student news show kicked off the evening. Barbara DeSanto, the new mass media chair, was the event’s speaker. DeSanto spoke about her experience and her journey to Washburn. She challenged students to think creatively, be more than “bumps on logs” and shared a pet peeve of papers being shoved under her door. Although there were no acceptance speeches, Amanda Schuster and Brenda Snyder received outstanding public relations student honors, Sarah Van Dalsem took home the outstanding media writing and publishing student honor, and Jayna McFarland received outstanding electronic media student honors. Kathy Menzie’s Public Relations Campaigns class planned and orchestrated the event as it does every year. “Planning the banquet was hectic, and trying to put everyone’s ideas together was
Photo by John Anderson
A group of paparazzi waits for its next victim. Pictured from left to right are Jerika Swatek, Tricia Friesen, Amanda Tompkins and Cassie Taylor.
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Illustration by Ryan Sinovic
Scenes from the carpet a challenge. But, it all came together nicely,” said Carrie Koch, junior mass media major. “It was really cool to see our hard work come together.” The department gave out many scholarships; the Zula Bennington Greene Endowed scholarship went to Karl Fundenburger, the David C. Beeder mass media scholarship went to Courtney Cook, Thad Lockard received the Thad M. Sandstrom Memorial scholarship, Alicia Phillips was awarded the Oscar S. Stauffer scholarship, the Topeka branch of the National League of American Pen Women scholarship went to Amanda Schuster, and she also received a mass media department scholarship. The professors and students gave Bruce Mactavish a warm and well-earned thank you for his time as interim chair of the department. Students and instructors enjoyed the evening and felt it was a good ending to a very productive year in the department. “ I felt rewarded for all the hard work that I’ve completed throughout the year, while working on the yearbook as well as in class,” Schuster said. Alumni are always welcome to attend the banquet each April. Call the office for more details.
And the award for outstanding MM student goes to....
Amanda Schuster - Public Relations Dan Wiggs and Amanda Tompkins pose for the paparazzi.
Photo by Regina Cassell
Brenda Snyder - Public Relations
Photo by Regina Cassell
Allison Kimble, right, and Jenni Ponton, left, work at the registration table.
Jayna McFarland - Electronic Media
Sarah Van Dalsem - Writing and Publishing
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FIVE
Mass media faculty study curriculum dave ford
Illustration by Tully Corcoran
Department members for the mass media program at Washburn University are searching for ways to improve the department’s curriculum. “Media is transitioning from newspapers to the Internet and in order to keep up with this fast paced business we have to teach our students the latest technologies.” said mass media professor Frank Chorba. Maria Raicheva-Stover, an assistant mass media professor,
said she is teaching a class in the summer of 2007. The class is Reporting for the Converged Environment, an experimental class that deals with print stories and taking it to the next level. By using audio and video clips, the class will turn print stories into Internet stories. Should the class succeed, it will be added as a part of the regular curriculum. Stover has worked in Internet reporting and said it is a way to
take the next step in mass media technology at Washburn. “We are working toward many changes in the core curriculum. Discussions have started, but we are confident that with a new department chair, changes will soon follow.” said Regina Cassell, assistant mass media professor. The department hopes to get new computers in the lab and other new equipment for the Fall 2007 school year.
Chorba teaches Sports in the Media class jimi norman Now in its second year, Frank Chorba’s sports and media class is currently attracting attention. Chorba, professor in the department, said his early life experience helped lead him to create the class. “As a child, my father would take me to various sporting events and I guess it just kind of stuck with me,” Chorba said.
“I was also affected a great deal by sports heroes growing up like Jim Thorpe.” This class draws heavily from Chorba’s background as not only a professor of mass media, but as a sports coach and fan. He believes this class has a lot to offer to students interested in sports reporting and the like. “There’s not a lot of sports and media classes or material out there right now,” Chorba said. “I just wanted to make something
like this available to students.” In addition to sports writing and reporting, students are exposed to various professionals in the field. This last semester featured WIBW Sports Director Mark Ewing and Washburn University’s Sports Information Director Gene Cassell as guest speakers. As for the future, Chorba sees the class progressing and coming in to its own. “I would like to incorporate
more multimedia aspects to the class, and to bring in more Frank Chorba professional sports personalities from the Kansas City area,” Chorba said. “I would also like students to attend more sporting events as part of the class, although we would have to have an academic reason to do so.”
Department site has new look erin mohwinkle The mass media department has received a fresh new look on the Web. Maria Raicheva assigned her Online Publishing class the task of designing, organizing and building a Web site for the mass media department. The students spent the semester working on these pages. In the end the information was merged and final layout was completed by Karl Fundenberger, advertising, during the fall of 2006. “A change to our outdated Web site was long overdue.” said SIX
department news
Raicheva. Not only does the new site offer all the information as before, but it is also now current and more extensive. One addition was links connecting viewers to local media such as WIBW and The Topeka Capital-Journal. The department will be working on expanding the site. This new look will be an asset in adding interest to our department not only with current students but also potential students looking for a program in a high demand. The department hopes more visitors will travel to the site.
“This is just the beginning of our online presence. There is always room to add but this shows we are enthusiastic about technology, it just represents us better,” Raicheva.
Screen shot by Tully Corcoran
Web address: www.washburn.edu/cas/massmedia/
Photo by Tully Corcoran
New research found ...
Small town news not using Internet trista pinick A research project led two faculty members and two students to surf the net last summer. “We wanted to answer questions about what small town newspapers were doing with the Internet,” said Maria Raicheva, assistant mass media professor. The idea for the survey came from a group of questions the National Newspaper’s Association had asked at one of its conferences. On the research team with Raicheva was Kathy Menzie, assistant professor, and two students from the department, Sarah Van Dalsem and Pernilla Schickhardt. “I really think more students should try to find projects like this where they can work
on things with the teachers,” Raicheva said. This particular project turned out to be one that consumed the students’ summer. However, the project was beneficial for the students in many ways, as they were given the opportunity to look at more than a hundred different Web sites of small town newspapers. “I saw so many different aspects of Web sites. It will give me more ideas if I work on sites in the future,” Van Dalsem said. VanDalsem said she also learned how to code the different sites, which will help her in future research projects. “You learn so much working with professors outside of the classroom,” Van Dalsem said. The group found small town newspapers weren’t utilizing the Internet as a resource.
“We found a lot of storefront pages,” Raicheva said. “Those were the sites that were just a picture of the paper and their name without any news or links, just some contact information.” Out of 123 home pages from newspapers, there were 93 that weren’t storefront pages. The sample was taken from Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma to make the project manageable. “Hardly any of the editors reported making any money off their sites,” Van Dalsem said. Raicheva-Stover said the Internet could be beneficial for these papers. “We would encourage small town editors to truly embrace the Web. It is a community builder and as little as the town is, as small as the paper is, you still have so much to cover,” she said.
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We would encourage small town editors to truly embrace the web
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DEPARTMENT NEWS
SEVEN
Media writing student lands Chief beat
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Almost everybody else covering the Chiefs is well into their 30s, so I did feel a little under qualified, which I suppose I am.
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Photo by Thad Lockard
caleb wasson With a brief tap of the pause button, Tully Corcoran landed a job he has wanted since high school. “I was sitting in my apartment one day, playing Madden when Pete (Goering, executive editor of the Topeka Capital-Journal) called and asked me if I want to cover the Chiefs,” Corcoran said. “Naturally, it took me about one one-thousandth of a second to respond.” Covering the Kansas City Chiefs for the Topeka Capital-Journal is the latest in a line of ascending positions the Washburn senior has found himself in. He began his journalism career as the EIGHT
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editor of his high school paper before moving on to the same position at Hutchinson Community College. In 2003, Corcoran landed a job at the Topeka Capital-Journal answering phones. He then acted as a University of Kansas correspondent for two years before a new opportunity came his way. “I informally interviewed for a new sports columnist position, which I thought was right up my alley,” Corcoran said. “I submitted some sample columns that were probably a little more edgy than what they were looking for. They basically talked Rick Dean, our former Chiefs beat writer, into taking the new sports column.” As a consolation prize of sorts, Corcoran was then told he
could have the newly available Chiefs beat. “The whole deal was a little intimidating at first,” Corcoran said. “Almost everybody else covering the Chiefs is well into their 30s, so I did feel a little under-qualified, which I suppose I am.” Corcoran still had a year left in college when he took the job, and he soon found out that covering an NFL franchise 60 miles away can be a tough prospect. On an average day, Corcoran would go straight to Kansas City after his 10 a.m. class for an open locker room period and head coach press conference before returning home and writing a story or two. “There were some stories I wanted to do, but just couldn’t
because I couldn’t make it to Kansas City every day,” Corcoran said. “I didn’t do all that well in school last semester, but I think the trade-off was worth it.” Reporting the daily happenings of the Chiefs may make Corcoran’s schedule a little hectic, but it does come with several perks. In addition to free travel to some of the more exotic cities in the United States, covering the Chiefs has also given Corcoran the opportunity to do some freelance work. “I get to write stories for a company called The Sports Xchange, which pools stories from beat writers across the country and sells them to places like USA Today, AOL and some other Web sites,” Corcoran said. “It pays well, but I don’t get a byline.”
Practical application
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I’m doing everything. I’m working from the start of this project to the end.
Mass media students gain a great deal of experience in the classroom, but in order to complete the requirements for a mass media major they must also complete an internship. Student might be surprised to learn that skills gained in the classroom are truly used in the workforce – just ask senior Natasha Sims. Sims interned this spring at ERC Resource and Referral company. Sims received the chance to showcase her skills in her heavy involvement in ERC’s Designer Showcase. “I’m doing everything. I’m working from the start of this project to the end,” said Sims. Some students experience the real world while still on campus. Louis Bourdeau, senior, interned for Washburn University Relations this spring. All the skills Bourdeau learned in class are being put
to use on a daily basis. He does several mass media tasks, such as writing press releases and interviewing professors for the publications on the university’s Web site. “You’ll have experience before you go out into the real world and it looks good to your future employer,” said Bourdeau. Senior Erin Mohwinkle turned a volunteer experience into an internship with the Topeka Civic Theatre, where she did a variety of tasks — not all of them glamorous. Last spring, Mohwinkle found herself writing press releases for the newsletter, designing brochures and helping the development director raise money for the building project. “It was exciting to see how generous people really are in Topeka,” said Mohwinkle. In addition to the “media” tasks Mohwinkle performed, she also found herself tying bows, cutting flower stems and making magnets alongside the marketing director.
Photo by Tully Corcoran
faith griffin
Editors, managers named for pubs ryan sinovic It was in-house hiring this year for the student publications positions as four out of the top five students in Student Publications come from the mass media department. Melissa Treolo, a writing and publishing senior, will now hold the position of editor for the Kaw yearbook. ReAnne Utemark, a junior mass media minor, will be taking over as editor for the Washburn
Review. Courtney Cook, a junior advertising mass media major, will continue as advertising manager. To date, she has sold more than $60,000 in advertising – a new record. Alicia Phillips, also an advertising mass media major, will now be the promotions manager. Andrew Roland, a junior public administration major, will continue as the business manager for student publications. “I think we have an
outstanding group for next year,” said Regina Cassell, director of Student Publications and mass media faculty. The 2006 Kaw yearbook was named a Pacemaker finalist, which puts it in the top two percent of books in the nation. Many students won awards at the annual Kansas Associated Collegiate Press conference. To learn more, visit the Washburn Review’s Web site, www.washburnreview.org.
Hey alumni: Don’t forget to send us your news. We want to know what you are doing! See page 21 for more information.
student news
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Photo provided by Karl Fundenberger
Gaining experience outside the country
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I think I’ll just be more tolerant and more balanced after this experience. I just want to see and experience and know as much as I can, because that never hurts me.
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Photo provided by Karl Fundenberger
Karl Fundenberger, pictured, looks out over the city of Lyon, France. “The only way for me to get ‘journalistically inspired’ is to travel,” he said.
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sarah van dalsem Karl Fundenberger isn’t someone who will just sit around. That’s why he packed his bags and studied in France this semester. Fundenberger, a junior mass media major, also has another passion – the French language. As a double major, he took this semester off from his mass media courses to study abroad. He is taking French courses while there, and is traveling with three other Washburn students. While his focus is on understanding the language more, he wants to continue to work on both of his interests in France. “The best way for me to get ‘journalistically inspired’ is to travel – take photos, learn new things and experience new design perspectives,” Fundenberger said. “So combining travel and mass media works for me.” The decision for him to leave Washburn for a semester to explore those interests was easy and he jumped at the opportunity. He went on his first
trip abroad to Europe during high school, and said his love affair for traveling began. He is unsure of the career path he wants to take, but said his mom, Kathy Menzie, assistant professor of mass media at Washburn, has inspired him journalistically. He doesn’t just concentrate on writing and advertising though, he also has his own photography business - that interest was sparked by his father. “Mass media was kind of what I was raised on,” Fundenberger said. “My mom is big into journalism, and I’ve inherited those traits for sure. My dad has cultivated my photography interests, and both of these interests in turn encouraged my interest in travel.” Fundenberger hopes he can take away many experiences from his travels and apply them to his work. “I think I’ll just be more tolerant and more balanced after this experience,” Fundenberger said. “I just want to see and experience and know as much as I can, because that never hurts me.”
Column
Not as easy as advertised
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Some believe that graduation is a time to be excited. I’m a senior about to embark on this momentous event in any collegiate’s life, and I’m scared out of my mind.
melissa treolo Some believe that graduation is a time to be excited. I’m a senior about to embark on this momentous event in any collegiate’s life, and I’m scared out of my mind. I’ve heard the stories about the six-month or more unsuccessful job hunt. I’ve seen first-hand many a friend go through the endless process of applying and interviewing, only to end up at the same minimum-wage job they had before they received their much-anticipated ticket out – a nice diploma. I’ve even been told by some of the faculty at Washburn that my chosen profession, journalism, is a step away from being about the hardest field to be successful at – let alone get into. I need some advice or I’ll never be able to get through
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the time I have left here at Washburn in a calm, seniorlike manner. That’s why I recently spoke with mass media professor Maria RaichevaStover, and a few upcoming graduates, about the best way to handle the after-graduation job juggle. Raicheva-Stover teaches media effects and publication technology at Washburn. Having gone through this process of graduation and much more, she now holds a doctorate in mass communications and media arts, she knows that getting the job you want, in any field, can only come if one is willing to work for it. “There’s a lot of competition in this field,” Raicheva-Stover said. “So what do you do to be the best? You be the best. I don’t think there’s a magic formula for this but I truly believe that the best way to be successful, in any area, is hard work.”
Illustration by Thad Lockard
Though I am scared about the upcoming prospect of graduation, I can take comfort in the fact that others feel the same. Amanda Schuster, editor-in-chief for the KAW yearbook, will be graduating this December. “I’m scared that I might not get a job right away,” said Schuster. “But I am hopeful as well. I think that mass media is such a wide field and there’s so many things you can do with it that you’re bound to fall into something. It may not be what you want at the beginning but you will find a job.” Even after speaking with several people about this topic, I’m still pretty apprehensive about life after Washburn. I’m wondering exactly how much work constitutes “hard work,” and what that first mass media job I happen to fall into will be. In the end, though, the best attitude to have might just be a biblical one. “I’m a little worried about
getting a job after I graduate,” said mass media major Nick Quaintance. “But I have faith.”
Photo by Amanda Schuster
Nick Quaintance graduated in May. Unlike the author of this column, he wasn’t too worried about finding a job. “I have faith,” he said. The Mass Media Messenger wishes him luck. student news
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You have to catch breaks in your career at some point. I was lucky enough to get that one.
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Climbing thesports ladder tully corcoran Here’s how you get a job, the Ernie Webb model: Step 1: Check e-mail and Step 2: Respond immediately. In the summer of 2003, Webb, a 1999 Washburn graduate, was tiring of his multi-purpose job in the sports department at a small paper in McGowan, Texas. One day Eric Turner, the sports editor at the Topeka Capital-Journal, sent Webb an e-mail of a recommendation from Washburn beat writer Ken Corbitt. The Capital-Journal was the paper Webb grew up reading in Burlingame and one for which he’d always wanted to work. Eight minutes later, Turner TWELVE
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had his response. “He said it was an all-time record,” said Webb. “I was pretty tenacious about it, how badly I wanted to get out of there.” Webb called Turner every day until August, when he landed a job as the bottom desk guy. In three years, he elevated to lead designer on the sports desk to the sports designer on the Capital-Journal’s Daily Dose page, a fresh alternative to the rest of the newspaper. “I felt like given the chance to prove myself, I did,” said Webb. “Everybody needs a break, a chance. And I got one.” The Daily Dose gig affords Webb the opportunity to return to reporting and column
writing, which he missed while he was strictly a designer and copy editor. Webb’s column runs on Saturdays and, in addition to generating occasional nonbylined content, his “Webb Gems”, a collection of pithy opinions, are a regular on Daily Dose. “Like I told a middle school class, I can be a smart alec all I want,” Webb said. “It’s nice to have a column, it’s nice to have your face out there. Anybody that tells you otherwise is lying.” But even today, Webb recalls most fondly his time at the Washburn Review, where he was an editor. Working for the Review, Webb met numerous veterans at the Capital-Journal, contacts which helped when
Photo by Tully Corcoran
the paper needed another copy editor. “Student newspaper was a great experience,” he said. “It was probably my favorite job I’ve had, ever. It paid off when I applied for the job here. Eric asking who might be interested, my name came up when he asked Ken about it.” Webb said building a career is about building experience. “One thing that any journalist needs to do is work for any TV, newspaper or whatever,” he said. “Get out and work somewhere. I would suggest trying to do a little bit of everything.” That, and some luck. “You have to catch breaks in your career at some point,” he said. “I was lucky enough to get that one.”
Seveneightfive:
K oc rie yC ar ot ob
Topeka has long been branded the city of the boring to many high school and college age people throughout the city. With the help of seveneightfive, the newest arts, lifestyle and entertainment magazine for the Topeka area, the boredom tag could be on it’s way out. New editions are released at the end of each month, showcasing the best offerings of dining, shopping and good times in Topeka. Kerrice Mapes, one of the founders of seveneightfive and Washburn graduate, believes that only advertising locally owned businesses strengthens the magazine and creates a
stronger sense of community. “I’m not discouraging anyone from eating on Wanamaker, but many people don’t realize how many great small restaurants there are around town,” said Mapes, a 2005 Washburn graduate. Regular articles include The Brew Dude, Artist of the Month, horoscopes and new business highlights. Readers are also encouraged to submit their own writing for publication. “We want all of our readers to feel that this is their magazine and to have an option to contribute,” Mapes said. Since the release of the first issue in June 2006, the magazine, which is produced primarily with ad revenue, has grown. It is now distributed in more than 80 area businesses. A new Web site
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carrie koch
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More than just an area code
with more interactivity is under construction and there are hopes that local musicians will use it as a voice for themselves. Throughout the process, Mapes has found only one major challenge: time management. “I didn’t realize when we
started this that it would be starting a small business.” She said, “The time commitment is unbelievable.” A full list of locations that carry the seveneightfive publication can be found on the web at www.seveneightfive.com.
Alumnus taking care of families molly zeckserhowey From Washburn to the real world seemed to be an easy transition for Brad Noller. Noller believes the experience he received at Washburn was the most beneficial part of his education. Including his time as a student, Noller worked as the assistant sports information and marketing director for seven years. After leaving Washburn a year ago, Noller trained to be an agent at American Family Insurance. American Family agent Earl McIntosh and staff interviewed about 10 candidates
for the apprenticeship position. Noller’s passion for success and his personality landed him the spot. The program Noller was chosen for is a new concept for American Family. It was supposed to be a two-year program, but American Family moved Noller through it in just one year because of his great success. In October 2006, he became a multi-line insurance agent, dealing with all areas of insurance. “I fully expect Brad to be one of the top agents in the company in the next few years,” said McIntosh. Noller, and his wife Tiffany, attend every alumni event they can. Brad enjoys all sporting
events, and calls himself a “sports nut.” He keeps in touch with his Alpha Delta fraternity brothers and much of the Washburn coaching staff. Brad said he’s observed many changes on the Washburn campus. “The changes at Washburn are definitely positive,” he said. “The new dorms and additional living spaces have brought student life to a new high.” The Nollers plan to stay involved with their al ma-mater. “It’s good for someone
Photo courtesy of Brad Noller
Parker James Noller, born April 26, is the son of Brad, 2000, and Tiffany Noller. He is their first child. Brad Noller is an agent for American Family Insurance.
working in the community to keep ties at Washburn,” Brad said. “The campus plays an important role in our city.” alumni news
THIRTEEN
Photo by Melissa Treolo
Former Dancing Blue knows from experience tara schroeder
Karin Clements, a 2006 graduate, knew she wanted to learn from the best when she applied for an internship with Jones Huyett Partners. She didn’t expect that it would be an experience that would change her life. During her internship, she gained valuable real world experience and developed a passion for direct client interaction. “I learned about the structure of an agency and realized that I loved working directly with the clients,” Clements said. “After my internship, I FOURTEEN
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decided that I wanted to pursue my career as an account executive.” While attending Washburn University, Clements was a three-year member and captain of the Washburn University Dancing Blues and was involved with the Advertising Federation. She attributes much of her post-college success to the experience she gained at Washburn. “You never know what will prepare you for the real world. Even my dance team experiences have helped me after college,” she said. “Cutting music for dance routines – I’ve even found that experience helps me when it comes to radio/TV production. Jobs
in advertising are all about experience.” Clements’ gained more from her internship than just the ins and outs of the advertising world, she also walked away with a job. At the conclusion of her internship she signed a sixmonth contract. After six months, she was asked to stay permanently. She relates many of the things she learned as a student to her career. “Looking back, I can think of many things that I have used in my job that I learned at Washburn. I always hear Dr. Z (Zaharopoulos), Kathy and Maria in the back of my
head when I’m working on my projects,” Clements said. Clements has no doubt that she has found her life’s path. “I love interacting with clients. As an agency, we have the ability to find solutions to better their products or company,” she said.
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You never know what will prepare you for the real world. Even my dance team experiences have helped me after college...Jobs in advertising are all about experience.
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A Golden Bear at work Former MM student Julie Boggs snagged a job with Jack Nicklaus only a year after graduating. Now she is all over his company. valerie holmes She’s rubbed elbows with the rich and famous. She’s flown in style on a private jet. Only a year out of college, Julie (Boggs) Trimble has experienced more than some do in an entire lifetime. She works in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for Golden Bear International Inc., otherwise known as Nicklaus Companies. She works in the marketing and communications department dealing with all aspects of the company. Trimble first stumbled upon the company her senior year of high school. She attended the grand opening of the Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate in Overland Park. While she was there, she had the opportunity to meet Jack Nicklaus himself, as well as Scott Tolley, his director of communications. Three years later when she was looking for an internship, she remembered the guys at Golden Bear International Inc., and the rest is history. Although Trimble enjoyed her internship at Nicklaus Companies, she
was still skeptical about what she was going to do after college. “I did quite a few interviews at companies other than Nicklaus just to see what else was out there,” said Trimble. “I was hoping to find something that I could really enjoy but of course other things like salary and benefits are very important too.” Trimble’s internship included many exciting challenges that most interns would never have the opportunity to experience. She spent three days alongside Jack Nicklaus, watching as the former professional golfer spoke with HBO reporter Bob Costas, accepted awards, opened golf resorts and attended press conferences. Now that she has landed a full-time position, Trimble gets her hands on every part of the company. “I deal a lot with the media for both Nicklaus Design, the golf course design firm founded by Jack Nicklaus and owned by the Nicklaus family, and for Jack Nicklaus,” said Trimble. In addition, she also does a lot with client relations and works with the company Web site, www. nicklaus.com.
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Photo courtesy of Julie Boggs
Julie (Boggs) Trimble poses with her boss, former professional golfer Jack Nicklaus.
I was hoping to find something that I could really enjoy...
alumni news
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l u f s s e c c u s d a r g n r u e v i ashb t a t n e s e r p e r s e l a s IBW
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ia (Below) Lyd s k or w r Becke er h t a ly si u b W. desk at WIB the s it ed cr She ent m rt a ep d M M g n ri for secu her now very successful career. “My out job is to go new it u cr re d an ses es n local busi ’t n ve a that h advertised e before,” sh said.
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thad lockard Alumna Lydia Becker has already dived into Topeka’s media elite with her hiring at WIBW-TV in September 2006. Becker, who graduated from Washburn in the spring of
2006, is currently putting her mass media training to use as multimedia sales representative for WIBW. “My basic job is to go out and recruit new local businesses that haven’t advertised before, or that advertised in the past, and get
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and worked for the Kaw yearbook. She also worked on other various publications during her education. Becker’s original plans were not to work for WIBW but to start her own business. “I sold insurance over the summer, and I decided that wasn’t too fun trying to start up my own business with no money,” said Becker. “Just graduating was really hard to do, so I decided I wanted to get back into advertising.” Classes offered through Washburn’s mass media department along with other opportunities for networking in area proved to be valuable to Becker. She attributes a lot of her success to the people she was able to meet.
them running on our station,” said Becker. The advertisements she sells range from television commercials to Internet coupons. While at Washburn, Becker was involved in the Washburn Review as advertising manager
Connell getting creative at KC engineering firm john anderson Former Washburn mass media student, 25-year-old Brooke Connell, has been busy since her graduation in May 2004. Within the span of two years, Connell married her long-time boyfriend and took advantage of two different career opportunities. Shortly after graduation, Connell, who had an advertising emphasis, found a position at GlynnDevins Advertising and Marketing agency in Overland Park. There, Connell
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alumni news
was in charge of coordinating advertising efforts for a variety of clients that included direct mail campaigns, brochures and collateral packages. “My favorite part of the job was event planning,” said Connell. “I organized many events for my clients and often got to travel to Chicago, Austin and Houston to handle logistics.” After a period at GlynnDevins, Connell took a job as a marketing specialist for Terracon Engineering in Lenexa. She is now in charge of internal and external communications where she writes and assists with
layout of the company newsletter, writes press releases, manages the company Web site, making flyers and more. “I wanted to be more on the creative side as well as write more,” said Connell. “I enjoy my independence a lot more in my current position because the different offices that we have across the United States contact me directly and I work oneon-one with them to complete projects.” Connell is ready to start a company-wide branding initiative and she is looking forward to the added experience.
Photo courtesy Brooke Connell
Brooke Connell has discovered a variety of opportunities since graduating in 2004.
King or a Jester? Alumnus Curtis Kitchen does it all — radio, newspapers, TV — but he considers himself to be more of a jester than a media expert tully corcoran
Howard Stern is safe. Nobody’s calling Curtis Kitchen the king of all media. “Maybe the jester,” Kitchen said. Whatever his title, nobody’s calling Kitchen lazy. A 2002 Washburn graduate, Kitchen has done it all – newspapers, radio, television, public relations, even a self-published column. And often, he’s done it all at the same time. Currently, Kitchen works mornings as a board operator at WHB 810 in Kansas City and nights in the sports department at the Topeka Capital-Journal, where he constructs the scoreboard page, the recreation calendar, writes the occasional story and generally fills in as needed on the sports desk. “I love to write,” he said. “But I also found out I like to talk.” He calls Lawrence home, which makes a logical halfway point between his two gigs. It doesn’t much help his sleep patterns. “I’ll get up at five or six, go to Kansas City and work a nine or 10-hour day there, and then drive straight from Kansas City to Topeka,” he said, “and work until late deadline – 12:30 (a.m.).” But why? “I have to right now,” Kitchen said. “Basically, it’s got some trade-offs in that I’m in a sports news setting at both places, or I have access to sports news. I’ve given thought to quitting one or the other … and it doesn’t benefit me to remove myself from a news gathering place.”
Kitchen’s tags at WHB and the Capital-Journal have allowed him to dial into conference calls with Big 12 Conference coaches, attend press conferences at regional schools and even get a 20-minute interview with Royals General Manager Dayton Moore. He’s made a number of contacts through a weekly column he writes and emails to about 150 sports news professionals in the region, stretching all the way to Louisiana and Texas. “One of the things I look forward to most is to hear from people in the field, whether they like it or hate it,” Kitchen said. “It’s helped sharpen my writing up to the point where people are starting to take notice.” Some small-town radio shows have even brought Kitchen on as a guest, simply from having seen his emails. “It cracks me up to hear ‘expert’ when you get introduced,” Kitchen said. “I’m more fit to go get a beer with than I am to call an expert.” Kitchen would take a fulltime job if he found one he liked. He doesn’t know exactly what that job is, only that it would involve both radio and writing. Until he finds his full time job, he’s living on the advice he learned at Washburn. “You should never turn down an opportunity without giving it serious thoughts,” Kitchen said. “I decided I would take that advice.” Kitchen covers sports regionally and nationwide. In addition to his jobs with the Capital-Journal, and WHB Kitchen has also covered sporting events for many different outlets including the Miami Herald. Check out his work on the WHB Web site: www. 810whb.com.
Show your Ichabod pride. Join the Washburn Alumni Association! Members enjoy a wide variety of benefits and discounts. Learn more and join online. www.washburn.edu/alumni “The Washburn Alumni Association, bringing alumni together to promote fellowship and serve their alma mater.”
alumni news
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Convergence class to provide hybrid of skills valerie holmes
The mass media department is hoping to capture the essence of convergence with an experimental class being introduced this summer. Maria Raicheva, assistant professor, has been approved to teach a new and innovative reporting class. Unlike Online Publishing, which focuses on the technological aspect of producing a Web site, this class will focus on producing Web content. “We cover convergence in a lot of our classes, but we really do not have a class where students are experiencing convergence,” said Raicheva. The class will be designed to give students an understanding
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Maria Raicheva will toss out her textbook to teach an innovative media class this summer.
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We cover convergence in a lot of our classes, but we really do not have a class where students are experiencing convergence.
of the basic principles of mass media in a variety of environments. It will integrate writing, video, audio,
photography and Web design production into one. Raicheva also hopes to incorporate field trips to national convergence
leaders like the “Lawrence Journal-World.” “I think this is what we need to be adding right now,” said Raicheva. “Students need to have a better skill set when it comes to technology and popular software.” The idea behind this new class came as a suggestion from Ralph Gage, owner of the Lawrence Journal-World. When looking for potential employees, the Lawrence Journal-World looks for people who know how to do convergence from start to finish. Raicheva, who has set up a Web site for the course, says students will be able to purchase a point and shoot video camera instead of a textbook. These devices are capable of storing dating, handling audio, video and still photography.
Funding denied, Macs struggle for another year nick sloan During the 2006-07 school year, the Mass Media Department applied for funding to purchase new computers for the department’s lab from the technology fund at Washburn. The $31,000 request was denied, leaving the departments aging Mac lab to struggle through another year. Each of the 19 computers in the lab are more than five years old. The goal was to purchase 19 new computers and Final Draft 7 software. “We need to stay on top of technology because we use it to teach students layout skills,” assistant professor Maria Raicheva said. “In the fast-paced world of mass media, you have to stay on top of technology.”
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The software would have been used in all broadcast writing classes, basic media classes and to produce the cable show operated by the department’s students. On the application form filed by Raicheva, she said the money “could significantly improve student success, [and] would provide more efficient access to information and could improve unit efficiency.” Both Raicheva and Mac Technician Aaron Hall said the current systems are outdated. “The computers are currently at the end of their service lives,” Hall said. The department has high hopes that the funding for the new machines will now occur in the fiscal year 2009. There are always more requests than money.
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Each of the 19 computers the money would’ve replaced are over five years old.
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Alumni Class Notes tom allen
matthew bergmann
Allen, 2003, works full time for the Kansas Department of Transportation as a publications writer. He is also heavily involved in the Lance Armstrong Foundation as an advocate lobbying for efforts of cancer patients and survivors nationwide, specifically Kansas.
Bergmann, 2001, married Shannon Charbonneau Nov. 4, 2006, in Topeka.
jessica barnes-bogina Barnes-Bogina, 2003, works as a DJ at Classic Hits 99.3 The Eagle in Topeka, Her show, “Jessica Lynn on Middays,” airs 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. She is married, and they have a 2-year-old daughter.
martha bartlett piland Piland, 1986, won a Best of Show, a Judges Citation and 10 Addy awards at the 2007 Topeka Advertising Federation Addy Awards. More than 60,000 entries are judged annually for the Addy Awards. Her company, MB Piland Advertising and Marketing, was established in 1998.
A.B. Flint Motor Co.
brenda culbertson Culbertson, 1999, works at Washburn University in the Department of Physics and Astronomy as the Planetarium and Observatory Coordinator. She also an adjunct for Highland Community College, teaching English classes and freelances for astronomy-related magazines.
Selling quality used cars and trucks since 1986
karli davis Davis, 2006, is currently a project manager with The Occasions Group in North Mankato, Minn., where she manages production of both wedding and social invitation catalogs. She will start the Technical Communication Master’s program at Minnesota State University in fall of 2007.
tori dreyer Dreyer, 1997, currently works for the Kansas Agriculture Statistic Service. She is married to David
101 SW 32nd Terr. Topeka, KS 66611 Phone: 785-266-3181
www.abflintmotors.com
Washburn Endowment Association
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advancing the future exceed.excel.expect.expand
class notes
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Alumni Class Notes Dreyer, and they have four children.
dave uhler Uhler, 2002, is the multimedia production manager for the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Web site, cjonline.c0m. He maintains the Spotted photo gallery and is also the writer and producer for the Web’s latest feature, “The Cooler.” He is engaged to be married Oct. 6, 2007.
jennifer kirmse Kirmse, 2002, is an assistant vice president at Columbian Bank and Trust Co. in Topeka. She is also in charge of the merchant card and credit card programs and assists the director of marketing in all publications. She is married to Chris, and they have one son.
kristy graham Graham, 1998, is currently working as a Project Marketing Sprint TV, which includes production of the Super Bowl, Sundance and March Madness.
Landholm, a former faculty member, gave birth to identical twin girls Jan. 12.
edmond leboeuf Leboeuf, 2004, was a production assistant on “Firecracker,” a 2005 film and a cameraman and co-producer on “Wamego, Making Movies Anywhere,” a 2004 documentary that won best feature film at the Fox Film Festival in Wichita in 2005. He currently does volunteer media work for KTWU and works as a human resource professional
www.washburnreview.org
Contact: Regina Cassell regina.cassell@washburn.edu (785) 670-1801
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class notes
andrianne meyer Meyer, 2003, has been working at Visit Topeka Inc., the Topeka Convention and Visitors Bureau since April. She has been married to Andrew Meyer since 2003 and has a 9-month-old daughter, Natalie Joy.
matt miller Miller, 2005, currently serves as the Kansas Art Commission’s public information officer. He previously worked as a director at WIBW-TV for seven years.
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Dillon, 2005, works in promotions at WIBW Radio. He married Miranda Lippold Sept. 9, 2006.
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steven dillon
bambi landholm
amy berry garton Garton, 2003, works as Marketing and IT Services Manager for the Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau.
with the Kansas Department of Transportation.
435 A NW Independence Ave Topeka, KS 66608
We do screenprinting, trophies, plaques, and awards. Also licensed to do Washburn apparrell Phone: 785-232-3223 Cell: 785-249-4483 Fax: 785-232-3955 Email: tokandesigns@yahoo.com
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Alumni Class Notes michele l. nikkel
beth warrington
Nikkel, 2002, relocated to Roanoke, Va., in January to start a career as a manager at the National Service Center for Allstate Insurance Co.
Warrington, 2004, was promoted in October to the committees & sections coordinator. She manages 20 sections of the Kansas Bar Association. She also works on the bar’s Web site and the Journal of the Kansas Bar Association.
neil payne Payne, 1998, graduated with a master of fine arts degree in television and film from Chapman University in Orange, Calif. He finished “Ivan,” his thesis film, wrote two short films and is currently working on two feature film scripts. He is hoping to hit the film festival circuit and sign with a production company.
cindy wichman Wichman, 1984, is the director of DDO Administration at Big Lakes Developmental Center in Manhattan, Kan. She oversees regulatory and contract compliance for agencies serving people with disabilities.
jessica ransone Ransone, 2006, is working at the Kansas Super Chiefs Credit Union as a marketing assistant.
linda russell
White, 1998, is in her third year of teaching communications, publishing and English at Blue Valley High School in Randolph, Kan.
suzanne clark zurn Clark Zurn, 1995, married Melvin Zurn Sept. 2, 2006 in Erie, Pa. They are currently making their home in Reston, Va.
Contributors The Publications Layout and Design class and course instructor Regina Cassell would like to thank the following individuals and businesses for their support of the 2008 Messenger. Barbara DeSanto Ginny Falk
Advertisers: Flint Motors
Bruce Mactavish
Michael M. Jackson
Jimi Norman
Quik Print of Wichita
Amanda Schuster
Student Publications
Molly Zecker Howey
Textbook Team
Topeka Capital-Journal Washburn Alumni Association Washburn Endowment Association
The mass media department faculty, students and alumni would like to thank Bruce Mactavish for his support and generosity as acting chair of our department for the past two years.
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Russell, 2003, is currently working at WIBW Channel 13 in Topeka as an anchor, reporter and producer. Russell and her husband, Jesse Russell, have a daughter, Carleigh Ann Russell, born Nov. 7, 2006.
denise white
Thanks Bruce!
The Mass Media department and alumni would love to see what you’ve been up to since your graduation. Send us updates on all things new: jobs, babies or accomplishments. Anything new will work! E-mail: regina.cassell@washburn.edu
Call us at (785) 670-1836 Or just send ‘em to: Mass Media Department Washburn University 1700 SW College Ave. Topeka, KS 66621
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class notes
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Congratulations graduates Fall 2006
Shannon Berkley Julie Hoytal Stephanie Lockhart James Norman Anne Osborne Christine Stoner
Spring/ Summer 2007 John Anderson Amanda Artzer Louis Bourdeau Amber Brady Rachele Davis Christopher Dolezilek Levi Donals Orin Grammer Mallory Hatfield Katie Jensen Corey Merrill Louis Bourdeau
Misty Kruger Jayna McFarland Corey Merrill Mandy Miller Erin Mohwinkle Anastasia Patterson Haley Pollock Jenni Ponton Nick Quaintance Adam Runyan Natasha Sims Kayla Snyder Jerika Swatek Jennifer Taylor Amanda Tompkins Sarah Van Dalsem Daniel Wiggs
jimi norman Norman has a job with Kansas Department of Labor as a Program Specialist in the Unemployment Insurance Call Center
christine stoner Stoner is employed with First Baptist Church of Topeka as the Administrative Assistant, where she works on a variety of publication projects each week.
anne osborne Sarah Van Dalsem Orin Grammer
Osborne works part-time for the Capital-Journal, specifically on the page 2 content.
adam runyan Runyan works as a sports reporter and anchor for WIBW-TV.
stephanie symns (Lockhart) Symns works as a producer for WIBW-TV. She married Matt Symns, pictured, May 26.
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graduates
mallory hatfIeld Hatfield is an account executive for Country Legends 106.9.
managing editor erin mohwinkle advertising
copy team nick sloan-leader
media writing and publishing
faith GRIFFIN media writing and publishing mandy miller Miller is a legislative assistant for the Senate Majority Leader.
art team thad lockard-leader advertising cover design artist
tully corcoran media writing and publishing dave ford electronic media
design team melissa treolo-leader
media writing and publishing
caleb wasson public relations carrie koch media writing and publishing
mmfourthreeone
producedby
page editing sarah van dalsem-leader media writing and publishing
amanda artzer public relations
ad sales team trista pinick-leader
media writing and publishing
tara schroeder advertising ryan sinovic advertising
ad design team valerie holmes-leader public relations From top to bottom: Jerika Swatek, Katie Jensen and John Anderson
From top to bottom: Erin Mohwinkle, Levi Donals and Nick Quaintance
john anderson advertising graduates
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