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2010

Letter from the Chair

by Kathy Menzie

What a great year this has been for the Mass Media Department. Frank Chorba was honored by his hometown, Maria Stover published several articles and is starting on a book, the Washburn Review Online has been nominated for a National Pacemaker award, Charles Cranston is writing and directing a short film and some committed and enterprising students have started a new media club.

The sad news though, is our secretary, Ginny Falk, who has been here since 1995, will be retiring this summer. We will greatly miss her knowledge and her friendly smile. Ginny remembers so many students and where they are from. It will be difficult to let her go, but we know she will love spending more time with her granddaughters!

We have also hired a new person, JaeYoon Park. Dr. Park comes to us with a Ph.D. in Media and Film Studies from Kansas University. She will begin teaching in the fall and will be bringing to the department a wonderful background in filmmaking and film studies.

That brings us to our greatest accomplishment this year—the new curriculum.

We’ve been working on this for nearly four years, so we are thrilled to have completed our plan for new classes. It will take about a year for the changes to wend their way though university committees, including the Washburn Board of Regents, so it will probably be Fall 2011 before the changes take effect.

Photo by Mike Goehring

So what are we changing? We’re revamping our emphases and elevating the department to a whole new level. And starting in the Fall 2010, students will begin to see some changes and course additions.

Instead of the previous emphases in electronic media and media writing and publishing, we are combining the two into contemporary journalism.

Students will learn how to write and tell stories that will be in print, in broadcast and on the Web. This will give students a broader background and allow them to be more marketable in this Kathy Menzie rapidly changing field.

We are adding a new emphasis in film and video. We are very excited about the possibilities this opens for us. We have long had students who

We have the greatest faculty in the world, and the greatest students in the world, so we are poised to meet whatever challenges the next decade throws at us.

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are interested in this field and want to pursue a career. So finally, we are able to offer it as one of our emphases. Our new professor, Dr. Park will soon be teaching classes in this area.

Our emphases in public relations and advertising will remain, but some of the classes will change as we increase our offerings. The advertising emphasis will no longer require classes in marketing and finance, but will emphasize the creative side of advertising.

This is an exciting time to be in media. Will print newspapers disappear or become something different?

Will social media take over traditional media, so we receive our news updates by tweet or Facebook? Will our movies and television programs all be offered in 3D? Things are changing so rapidly, we have no idea where we will be in 10 years. But we have the greatest faculty in the world and the greatest students in the world, so we are poised to meet whatever challenges the next decade throws at us! 

Contents 4 Mass Media Madness 6 Transitioning to a new age 7 News in brief 8 Menzie takes lead 9 Saying goodbye 10 Student media organizations 11 Ichabods support local AWC 12 13 14 15

Professor’s work pays off Our Hungarian hero Climbing the ladder in K.C. Reaching beyond “Marshall Arts”

16 Writing across departments 17 Mike Merriam 18 Non-profits an option for grads 19 Graduates weigh benefits 20 Class notes 22 Mass media graduates 23 Contributors

Mass Media Photo by Mike Goehring

Jordan Shefte, senior, receives a scholarship from Maria Stover. Many majors received scholarships the night of the banquet. Faculty members Maria Stover, Frank Chorba, Regina Cassell and Phil Grecian helped hand out the awards.

Banquet ticket sales boast record high

by Ben Fitch

The game-show-themed mass media banquet, “Mass Media Madness,” truly was madness this year. The students of the public relations campaigns class sold 144 tickets—breaking last year’s record by 31 tickets. Kathy Menzie, department interim chair, said ticket sales were the first way to gauge success.

“It certainly was a resounding response,” she said. “We haven’t always had that.”

Menzie said the students in this year’s campaigns class took a while to come up with the theme for the banquet, but everything else went well.

“The whole banquet was good,” she said. “The invitation was good, the program was good. And the banquet itself moved along a little quicker than previous years.”

“It took a long time to get this group to form an idea, but once we did, everybody really was on the same page,”

Menzie said.

The 24 students in the class put together fliers, invitations and tickets, then organized the catering and coordinated with the speaker, Jeff Jacobsen, to put on the entire banquet. As guests ate, they listened as the hosts, Daniel Shute and Julie Jacobsen, picked raffle tickets for prizes.

The speaker, who is a Washburn alumnus, spoke and showed examples of his work at Kansas University as a sports photographer.

Also there were two videos of student presentations that demonstrated the accomplishments of student Kathy Menzie, Mass Media chair publications and films.

Every single class is different.

Some classes vary in how they approach the event, or how the committees work together.

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Madness

Scholarship winners and outstanding students: This year’s scholarship winners, left, were, Kate Hampson, Jordan Shefte, Mikki Burcher, Josh Rouse, Brooke Rollison, Ashley Nadeau, Lauren Eckert, Regina Budden and Nicole Stejskal (clockwise).

Below, the outstanding students are captured in a spontaneously taken photo. They are, from left, Kate Hampson, Ashley Shepard, Josh King and Nicole Stejskal.

All students were recognized for their outstanding performance. Kathleen Menzie said picking the students for outstanding recognition was not an easy task, but the recipients were well-deserving.

Photos by Mike Goehring

The banquet’s main purpose is to present mass media graduates, scholarship winners and to initiate new members into the Society of Collegiate Journalists. These initiates recited the pledge—a promise to hold to ethical journalistic practices. Then the outstanding students were announced.

“It’s always exciting to announce the outstanding students,” Menzie said.

“Sometimes it’s hard to pick, and usually we don’t fight about it. But that’s a fun part because it’s a surprise.”

Every year, the Mass Media Banquet is put on with a slim budget. “The whole department has not a whole lot of money for supplies, and the banquet fits into that category,” Menzie said. “It would be nice if we could raise some more money. There is only $100 in next year’s banquet account. We didn’t actually make any profit.”

Overall, the night was a success, even in the face of such a small budget.

But there were some ideas that will not be used again next year, such as the

glitter, which was spread over the tables and in the program envelopes.

The Memorial Union charged a $50 fee for the glitter clean-up. In addition, Chartwells charged a $250 service charge based off of the number of tickets sold.

So glitter is out for next year, but there are elements that will continue on.

“The banquet will still be around,” Menzie said. “Every single class is different. Some classes vary in how they approach the event,  or how the commitMass Media Messenger

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We have always had a traditional [journalism] program, but this area has changed drastically.

Kathy Menzie

New Emphases

Photo by Mike Goehring

Kathy Menzie, chair of the mass media department welcomes everyone to the Spring 2010 mass media banquet.

Creative Advertising Contemporary Journalism Public Relations FIlm and Video

Current Emphases

Advertising Electronic Media Media Writing & Publishing Electronic Media

Transitioning to a new age

by Mikki Burcher

Just as the seasons change from spring to summer to fall, so too does the mass media department to stay one step ahead of technological changes.

Starting in the fall of 2010, the mass media department will begin transitioning to a new curriculum in an attempt to prepare students for where the industry is moving. There will be alterations in the emphases available to students, and classes will be adjusted to focuses more on what students will need when they graduate.

“We’re changing our approach to everything,” said Kathy Menzie, interim chair of the department. “We’re trying to keep in line with the jobs that are available to students.”

One of the challenges occurring is in the emphases available to students.

The new curriculum will consist of four emphases, including public relations, advertising, contemporary journalism, and film and video.

The biggest change occurring within the curriculum is the addition of a new emphasis, the film and video emphasis.

Students in this program will learn how to tell a story through video and then how to produce a finished project, said Menzie.

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true for advertising. Classes will be The journalism program, currently added and renamed, but the basic struccalled media writing and publishing, ture of the program will remain similar will be changing names. After the to what it is now. The department is curriculum change, it will be called hoping to draw in more industry profescontemporary journalism, and will be sionals to teach as adjunct professors, a combination of the current media writing and publishing program and the said Menzie.

Although there are going to be electronic media programs. The promany changes made within the next few gram will cover all aspects of journalyears within the mass media departism, including photography and video ment, Menzie said that current students production, and will have a great focus shouldn’t worry that there will be extra on Web journalism. burdens as a result of the changes. Cur“We have always had a traditional rent students will be fine as long as they [journalism] program,” said Menzie, are on track to graduating, but advis“but this area has changed drastically.” ing will be vitally important during the Public relations will remain similar transition to the new curriculum, said to what it is now, with the addition of Menzie.  a few new classes. This is because the skills needed now are the same as the skills needed in the past to practice PR, but the avenues of communication have changed. Instead of MM100: Intro to Mass Media writing hundreds of press releases, PR practitioners MM200: Media Bootcamp now need to be aware of social media and how to MM290: Media Literacy best utilize tools such as Facebook and Twitter.

MM300: Media Law “The industry has not MM 413: Advanced Media Lab changed, but it has changed completely,” said Menzie.

The same logic holds

New Core Classes for Majors

News in Brief

by Kristen Grimmer

Spurlock speaks against fast food Garrett In the age of live now, live Love, presifast and live free, dent of Washone man made a burn Student point of showGovernment Associaing Washburn tion, said the University the lecture was consequences. important Morgan because it Spurlock is a helped stucomedian and dents become director of the more aware of landmark 2004 major health film “Super Size issues that Me,” which is Americans are a social experidealing with. ment documenSpurlock tary on the is working on excesses of the his new film fast food culture production that Americans Photo and right photo courtesy of student publications label, which live in today.

Matt Wilper, left, went to Morgan Spurlock’s presentation. Spurlock came to Washburn in will allow him In the December 2009. to distribute film Spurlock his own brand forced himself of films under the title of “Morgan to eat at McDonalds for 30 days as he Spurlock Presents,” which will feature documented the effects of a fast-food non-fiction films released in theaters, lifestyle on his health and ability to on television or DVD. function in daily life.

Washburn sees tons of snow

Washburn had more than its fair share of snow during the 2009-10 school year. Bill Glatts, director of facility services, said Washburn spent more than $80,000 on labor, materials and equipment to keep the grounds safe during winter.

Not only are facility services responsible for the 16 miles of sidewalks, but crews also must make sure all 3,214 parking spaces on campus are clear.

Mike Jauken, a facility services worker, said the safety of the students, faculty and staff is the most important thing when it comes to winter weather.

Jauken hopes that next winter won’t be as harsh. 

Jewish leader emphasizes diversity JJ Keki, the leader of a 1,000-member Jewish community, is a Black African Jew living in a country that only sanctions Islam and Christianity. He came to Washburn as part of the Diversity Matters Series and spoke about his unique story.

Keki is the leader of the Abayudaya Jewish community in Uganda.

A rural religious minority of farmers, the Abayudaya survived persecution by living in self-imposed isolation.

They maintained their Hebrew traditions in total isolation until the 1960s and 1970s when they reached out and

established contact with Israel.

Keki helped lead an interfaith community out of poverty and is a founder and director of the Delicious Peace interfaith coffee cooperative.

The co-op has a Jewish president, a Christian vice-president, and Muslim treasurer. Students attending the lecture learned about how efforts to bring peace to the world exist as far away as Uganda. This program was part of a Kulanu speaking tour to raise funds for two Abayudaya schools that educate and feed 700 Jewish, Christian and Muslim children. 

Photo courtesy of Joanne Altman

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Saying goodbye

Ginny Falk to leave Washburn

tions including the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Every morning, Ginny Falk, the Savings and Loan. Eventually, Falk Mass Media Department secretary, made her way to The Menninger arrives at her desk at 8 a.m. to begin Clinic, a local psychiatric center where her day. she worked as a clinical secretary and “I answer the phone, I answer a lot receptionist. When Menninger downof questions from students,” Falk said. sized, Falk decid“Entering schedules—I’ve already done ed to find another the fall semester. I type a lot of correjob. spondence and establish student files.”

And that job Falk said her job description might was at Washburn. not be exactly current, but the human At the time, Dale resources department is now updating Anderson was the it—the first time since 1995 when Falk interim chair of began working for Washburn. the Mass Media Falk was born in Horton, Kan., Department. which now is home to approximately Falk said she was 2,000 people. Falk came to Topeka in interested by the 1964 to work for the highway patrol. emphases offered She worked for many organizaby the mass media program, and that she enjoys working with students.

“A majority of them are polite,” she said. “Occasionally you will get a student who is trying to get somewhere, and they are in a hurry. I get a lot of requests from students who want to staple their papers.”

Falk said she also likes the faculty in the department—Kathy Menzie, the chair, and the others, who she said are easy to work for. But the job is not easy.

“I have trouble keeping track of the number of majors because it’s always changing,” said Falk.

Outside of work, Falk has many hobbies.

“I like to crossPhoto by Mike Goehring Ginny Falk has been part of the Mass Media department for stitch, cook, bake and

by Benjamin Fitch

garden when the weather is good. I tried that last summer,” she said.

Her husband was the real gardener, she said. He passed away in November 2008 from cancer. They had been married since July 2, 1966. But she still likes to plant flowers in her garden— roses, cannas, daffodils and dahlias.

She also enjoys playing Bunko with her Ginny Falk friends. In addition, Falk goes to an exercise class twice a week—an aqua exercise class that she has attended for 13 years. And her dog, Brownie, a 6-year-old dachshund, likes to play fetch.

Falk will be retiring at the end of the spring semester. She has a variety of plans for her time when it is not consumed by her work at Washburn.

Falk said she would like to deliver Meals on Wheels, volunteer at Let’s Help and the office at her church— Faith Lutheran at 17th and Gage.

“My church has given to me since ’66,” she said, “I would like to give back to them. They gave a lot of time when my husband was ill.”

Falk’s two sons, Darren and Kevin, are Kansas State University graduates, and Kevin got his master’s at Emporia State University. Darren is presently taking classes at Washburn.

In terms of where Falk will end up, she said she thinks right here is a good spot.

“I’ve never had the desire to live  anywhere else because family was here,” Falk said. y!

“My church has given to me since ‘66. I would like to give back to them.”

15 years. She will be retiring June 30, 2010.

as takeite y l l a n nfi Sheca

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Menzie takes lead There is a wizard in the Washburn University mass media department.

Her new job as department chair requires a magical touch and she probably needs one to accomplish what she needs to do.

Kathy Menzie, this wizard of student advising, academic communication and departmental head duties is working diligently to create a stable environment to learn about the media at Washburn.

Menzie’s new administrative tasks fill her schedule, making her busier than she has been in the past. She said that she is in her office more as students flounder, file and fly in and out.

In the beginning, Glenda Taylor, chair of the art department and Menzie’s appointed mentor, helped give advice, negotiate chair responsibilites and answer questions, but Menzie has been flying solo for most of the year.

Menzie is planning ahead to the coming semesters and looks forward to an updated curriculum, specialty classes and, of course, graduation for students in the department.

Maria Stover, a professor in the department who has been teaching for seven years, has seen four chairs during this time. Revising the curriculum is a big enough task but multiple chairs has increased the difficulty.

“I think Dr. Menzie transitioned successfully into her new role as a chair of the mass media department,” said Stover. “Overall, I must say, we’ve had a very productive year - we not only managed to hire a new faculty member, but we also finalized our new curriculum. This fall we are even starting to offer some of the new courses. This is an exciting time for the department.”

Students have been longtime fans of Menzie’s teaching style. Senior Josh King remembers his first class with Menzie and he has been impressed 8

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Call Dr. Menzie to congratulate - (785) 670 - 1836

by James Ahrens

Photo by Mikki Burcher

After serving a year as interim chair of the mass media department, Kathy Menzie has received the official title of chair. She has been with Washburn since fall of 1998.

with her teaching skill and care for students ever since.

“It has been my honor to call Dr. Menzie my department chair for the last year and I hope that future students will have the chance to do the same,” said King.

Last summer, Gordon McQuere, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, met with members of the faculty, who agreed that Menzie would be the best choice as interim chair.

After a succesful year, the faculty recommended to the dean that the job become permanent.

Menzie took over for Barbara Desanto, who took a job at a university in St. Louis, Mo., in July of 2009.

Previously, Bruce Mactavish, associate deal of the college of Arts and Sciences, served as interim chair for two years, replacing longtime chair, Thimios Zaharopoulos in 2005.

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Student media organizations

WSFVA anticipates transition from good to great

by Regina Budden The Washburn Student Film and Video Association had a rocky start, but as it ends its second year of existence, the future looks bright for this media organization.

In the first year of the WSFVA, Charles Cranston, the organization’s faculty adviser, said most of the group’s energy went toward building awareness and fundraising.

This year, interest waned after many of the core members graduated or found other interests. However, the group has big plans for next

Review Online nominated for Pacemaker

by Ben Fitch

The Washburn Review Online was nominated for a Pacemaker award.

The Review Online is in the top 2 percent of college newspaper websites and one of 20 finalists in the category of schools with less than 10,000 students.

“Our site compares with schools that have three or four times our enrollment,” said Kevin Mitchell, online editor-in-chief.

This award is based on design, ease of navigation, writing and editing, and graphics and interactivity.

A new site was launched by the online staff in the fall semester, which was headed by Valerie Caviglia, then editor-in-chief.

“The goal was to make a better functioning website with more depth,” said Mitchell.

The winner of the Pacemaker will be announced at the Associated Collegiate Press Convention this fall.  10

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year under the direction of its new president, Rob Peters, a sophomore with an electronic media emphasis.

Plans for next year include boosting wsfva.weebly.com, the website, assisting with student videos and starting a Washburn film festival that will be open to all university students in the country.

“I don’t want it just to be for those who are interested in video filming and video editing,” said Peters.

His goal is to include members who are interested in all areas of production, from people who are inter-

ested in promotion and distribution to actors and set-designers.

“I want it to be useful for networking,” he said.

Cranston said, while networking cannot be the main objective, he is still looking forward to next year’s group.

“Not only are they going to bring people in, but hopefully they’ll be able to initiate some projects,” he said.

Both Cranston and Peters said they hope the film festival will be ready by next spring, and all majors will find something in it to interest them, regardless of emphasis.

“This should be something that all mass media students  can get involved in,” said Cranston.

Ad Club brings professionals to Washburn, helps students network, prepare for careers

by Erika Lucero The Washburn Advertising Club is one of the newest clubs at Washburn.

Since the beginning of the semester, it has grown from four core members to more than 50 members, including students from various departments.

This year the club held a panel discussion that brought in representatives from local employers such as M.B. Piland, Jones-Huyett Partners, Gizmo Productions, WIBW, KTWU and the Kansas State Communications Department.

“A big part of what we are doing is networking,” said Justin Gutierrez, vice president, “By bringing in local professionals to interact and meet with the students, we hope to place [students] on the radar of potential employers. We want the students of

Washburn to have the upper hand with job opportunities.”

The club just finished an intercept survey for a local advertising firm, Jones-Huyett Partners, and is in the process of planning a series of workshops to help students in transitioning into the professional phase of their lives.

“When school starts back up, we will try to get more student involvement in the club and we will reelect new officers, not only to get active members, but to give people the chance to try new positions,” said president Jeff Dailey.

The Ad Club is an opportunity for students to begin assimilating into the professional job market. 

Ichabods Ichabods support support local local AWC AWC

by Rachel Whitten While the Topeka Chapter of the Association of Women in Communications is not just for Washburn graduates, at least four of the last five presidents of the organization are Ichabods.

“It shows that graduates of Washburn are committed to the community and getting to know others in the community and this organization provides a way for others to do that,” said Mary Napier, a 2004 mass media graduate and former president of the AWC. The last few years have seen the AWC add many new events because representatives of the Topeka chapter have attended the national conference and found new ideas from other groups.

One of the first new gatherings the organization put together besides the normal lunch meetings was evening networking at places like the Rowhouse and Hazel Hill Chocolates.

“Not everyone can make it to the lunch meetings, so we started having a networking event in the evening,” Napier said.

After that, members held a membership drive, which expanded the ranks.

In the last two years, they have added a community investment project, where a group of members donate their expertise to a deserving charity within the community.

In addition, this past spring, the AWC held its first community headliners award banquet.

The ceremony honored three women who have contributed to a non-profit organization, a for-profit organization and a media outlet in the past year.

They also announced the winner of their scholarship, which was Washburn

Photo courtesy of Mary (Hammel) Napier

Junior Regina Budden received a Topeka Association for Women in Communication scholarship and honorary membership from Jamie (Kennedy) Hornbaker, Topeka AWC president and Washburn mass media alumna.

junior Regina Budden. The Headliner Awards also served as a fundraiser for the group, and almost 100 people were in attendance this year.

“This was the most successful fundraiser the chapter has had in several years,” Napier said.

“The Topeka chapter is looking forward to watching this event grow in the future.”

Regina Cassell Washburn professor Regina Cassell has been a member of the Topeka AWC for several years and serves as the student liaison for the organization.

I am proud of the members who have pushed this organization to bigger things.

“In the past, this group was great for a decent lunch and some conversation, along with a short program,” Cassell said. “I am so proud of the members who have pushed this organization to bigger things; most of whom, I will brag, have been both my students and graduates of the mass media department.”

One of the benefits of being a member of the AWC is the local job bank that is accessible to members only.

“One of the main reasons I joined AWC was for the job bank. After applying to several and finally earning the one I have today has really pushed me to become more involved,” said Amanda Schuster, who is president-elect of the AWC and a mass media graduate of Washburn University. 

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Professor’s work pays off Years of research reaches fruition

by Erika Lucero After taking time to do research on reality television in her native homeland of Bulgaria, Maria Raicheva-Stover has finally completed a chapter called, “You’ll See, You’ll Watch: The Success of Big Brother in Post-Communist Bulgaria.”

Over her winter break in 2005, Raicheva-Stover went to visit her family in Bulgaria. While she was there, she started to notice that reality television had become a big deal, and she could

Photo by Mike Goehring

Professor Maria Raicheva-Stover has put together two book chapters in the last few years. One has already been published this year, the other is in press.

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see her family members, especially her A large part of this chapter was a mother, were becoming fans of the hit case study. It took Raicheva-Stover 1.5 reality show Big Brother. Raichevayears to study this qualitative examiStover knew that reality television had nation. She and Ibroscheva examined already caught people’s attention in mentoring women who had just graduwestern nations such as the United ated and were early in their careers with States, the United Kingdom, and Aus4- to 5-year tenures. tralia. Now she “Mentoring observed it gaining is consistently popularity in eastidentified as one ern countries of of the factors that Europe. Big Brothhelps woman er was the most succeed in career Maria Raicheva-Stover watched show in advancement,” the country at the Raicheva-Stover time, according to said.

Raicheva-Stover.

However, “Two-point-one million viewers her research led Raicheva-Stover to the were glued to the T.V.,” she said. This conclusion that traditional approaches intrigued her, and she researched Big to mentoring women might not work.

Brother to contribute what she learned “We need to find alternative apto a book on reality T.V., “Reality proaches to mentoring,” RaichevaTelevision: Merging the Global and the Stover said.

Local.”

Some of the approaches RaichevaRaicheva-Stover was also busy Stover mentions in the chapter are havworking on a second book chapter. After ing multiple mentors, peer mentoring taking time to work with her colleague (where women mentor other women) Elza Ibroscheva in researching the topic and virtual mentoring (where women of mentoring woman in academia, she can use existing networks for advice). completed a chapter called, “The Key Throughout the chapter, Raichevato Success: Alternative Approaches to Stover tells the readers about her own Mentoring Academic Women,” in the experiences, which helps the reader book titled, “Women in Higher Educaconnect with the author and get a better tion: The Fight for Equity.” understanding of mentoring women in Raicheva-Stover explained that the academia. chapter was an update on how women After the hard task of preparing, rewere doing in academia, specifically searching and writing the two chapters, women professors’ statuses. the work is winding down as “Reality “It was fascinating, I learned so Television: Merging the Global and  much,” said Raicheva-Stover. For inthe Local” was printed earlier this year stance, she learned that women are not and “Women in Higher Education: The equally represented, as there are fewer Fight for Equity” is currently in press. women professors in certain fields such as the natural sciences. Also, in general, there are fewer female professors than male professors. This indicates to Raicheva-Stover that a lot needs to be done with equality.

It was fascinating, I learned so much.

“You ’ “ The ll See, Y ou Key to S ’ll Watc ucce h ss” ”

Our Hungarian Hero Chorba reaches 25 (years of teaching)

by Paige Ross There is more behind the name of Frank Chorba than sports and technology. This Washburn mass media professor received an award for his 25 years of teaching service, but there were even more awards to be won as he ventured back to his hometown last summer.

As Chorba made his way to Follansbee, W. Va., as he does every summer, he thought about the memories made there when he was a child.

Follansbee was founded by the Follansbee brothers, who owned their own steel mills. The steel mills provided tremendous employment to the citizens of Follansbee, and Chorba himself worked when he was old enough. When Chorba lived in Follansbee, the population was about 4,500 people. Today, due to the decline in the popularity of steel mills, the population is around 3,000 people.

“There were hills, valleys, train tracks and caves,” said Chorba. “I would carry a stick in one hand and pick blackberries with the other. My mother made wonderful, big blackberry pies,” he said.

His mother made many delicious pies, including apple, because Chorba would roam and find the most “crisp, magnificent apples” for her to bake with.

The house he grew up in had 21 rooms. His father bought the place from his grandfather and rented it out to people who needed a place to stay. Lou Holtz, who later became a very famous football coach at Notre Dame University, stayed in Chorba’s home in 1936.

Chorba’s parents, who were Hungarian, taught him to speak in his native language, but he learned Italian and Slovak from his neighbors, who would often speak to him in those languages.

He started learning English in kinder-

garten. Now, he can still speak some Slovak and his native Hungarian.

“When I go to Hungary to see relatives, they tease me because of my old-fashioned version of the language,” said Chorba.

In Follansbee, Chorba and his family lived in the low-end part of town, which was about six blocks in area.

Neither of his parents graduated from high school, and Chorba remembers being very poor, but this did not give him a negative experience as a child.

“I had a very, very lovely childhood,” said Chorba. “I loved being a lower-ender, and I wouldn’t have changed that.”

Last summer, after the long travel to Follansbee, Chorba arrived in his beloved hometown. The purpose of this trip was to reunite with his friends and family and to celebrate an annual event called the Follansbee Community Days festival.

The festival took place from July 11 to July 13 and included an awards ceremony for fellow Follansbee citizens who have made an impact on the community. Six people were awarded a key to the city, a plaque, and a Make a Difference Award at the festival, and Chorba was one of these recipients.

Mayor Tony Paesano (his last name means “friend” in Italian, said Chorba) introduced Chorba. He explained that Chorba had accomplished a great deal of work over the last few years, including receiving a doctorate in communications from Southern Illinois University and completing the first book of The Journal Radio Studies.

“For a person to receive his doctorate is a big deal in a small town such as Follansbee,” said Chorba.

Chorba was also recognized for his extensive research of the early days

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Photo by Mike Goehring

Professor Frank Chorba has served as a Washburn faculty member for 25 years. Last summer he was recognized for his achievement by Washburn and his hometown.

of Follansbee Steel and on “Pastime Park” in Follansbee. He has collected photographs from the early Follansbee years and is conducting interviews with people over 100 years of age.

Chorba said that he was thrilled to get these rewards, but he absolutely loves doing things to help other people.

“I like to give,” said Chorba, “because the reason we are here is to contribute to one another.” 

Mass Media Messenger

13

climbing the ladder in k. c.

by Rachel Whitten Climbing the ladder at the Kansas City Kansan has been a relatively quick experience for Washburn graduate Nick Sloan.

He started at the Kansan as an intern in 2005, got hired as a school and government reporter in 2006 then in 2008 became the sports editor.

In 2009, he became executive publisher.

“At 24, I never expected that to happen,” Sloan said.

In August 2009, the Kansan staff heard that corporate was going to pull the plug on the online newspaper.

Sloan approached the owners about the possibility of buying it, and they were open to the idea.

“We agreed to do it based upon royalties; over a certain time period I owe them just pennies of what I earn from the newspaper,” Sloan said. “I didn’t pay anything up front; it’s based on royalties from the amount I make.”

Sloan has been amazed at the amount of support he has received so far, most unexpectedly he said, from the other media outlets in the Kansas City area.

“The most surprising thing is that everyone in the Kansas City press is pulling for me, I’ve had 15 reporters from the Star email me telling me they hope it works. They email me messages of support calling me and wishing me well--not that I didn’t expect it, but usually in a media type enviornment there’s competition,” Sloan said.

But the members of the Kansas

City press are not the only ones pulling for Sloan.

“I’ve had a lot of great support from the community in what I’m trying to do,” Sloan said.

Right now, being at the top of his game means selling advertising and scouting for news.

Sloan is working out of various coffee Photo courtesy of Nick Sloan shops in Wyandotte Nick Sloan, at his computer working hard on the Kansas City County, and his Kansan online newspaper. Visits to the website have doubled news generally since September, when Sloan began running the site. comes from reader submitted tips, or “The toughest part of my job is police scanner. easily time management,” said Sloan.

“I go to a lot of free events, “I try to give myself each Saturday off whether high school football games, just beacause I need some time to back parades, general community events, off and hang out with friends.” and musical events. I talk to them As he continues to wear many about the website and give out hats at the newspaper, he said he is business cards. The more I talk to thankful that Washburn has given him people about it the more they’ll come such a solid foundation. to the site,” “I think the curriculum in the Sloan said.

Mass Media Department has really His hard helped out,” said Sloan, “You have to work has paid take a design class that’s where you off. Since learn how to design newspaper ads, September, obviously the feature writing class has the Kansan’s helped prepare me for blogging.” website During the fall 2009 semester, traffic has Sloan was in Frank Chorba’s Sports more than Nick Sloan and Media class. doubled.

“He’s a tremendous guy, very “This was bright and capable. He represents done with grassroots marketing, word the direction the department has of mouth. I introduced myself to a lot taken,” Chorba said. “The department of people,” Sloan said. recognized the way careers are He has also hired a reporter that emerging, which means students will will be writing about music and social have to be entrepreneurs more and life in the Kansas City area. more, and that’s what the web allows Despite that, Sloan said he is so you to do.”  busy; he has to schedule time to take a break.

I’ve had a lot of great support from the community in what I’m trying to do.

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Mass Media Messenger

Reaching beyond ‘Marshall Arts’

by Leia Karimul Bashar

ool!

ll

sha

ar ris M

e Ch

k Chris Marshall might come across is so c re li o e m H e as a quiet guy to people who don’t lf: b e s o know him very well, but beneath a t ote humble exterior is a talented, incred- N ibly funny person who is dedicated to his burgeoning career as a journalist.

Marshall earned a degree in mass media last spring and maintained a busy schedule during his time at Washburn. Among other things, he trained for a marathon, became the variety director for Campus Activities Board, was active in a fraternity and started his own cartoon for the Washburn Review called “Marshall Arts.”

Marshall didn’t decide to become a mass media major until 2007, when he was a junior.

“I was an art major before then, but I didn’t think I could get a job with an art degree so I switched over to journalism,” Marshall said.

Marshall began working for the Washburn Review as a sports writer and was promoted to sports editor the following year, where he remained until he graduated. Josh Rouse, junior, took over as sports editor after Marshall left.

“Working with Chris was always a good time,” said Rouse. “He is one of the most laid-back, talented guys I know. He can write, design, draw – pretty much anything you ask him to “I miss the people at the Holton do, he did it.”

Recorder, but I don’t miss the drive,” “The best thing about working Marshall said. with Marshall was his great sense The difference between the two of humor; he always has something papers is both the size and the content. hilarious to say, which makes working “In Holton, I was the only sports with him really enjoyable,” Rouse said. person,” said Marshall, who added Marshall kept busy since graduathat the close coverage of high school tion; he got a job as the sports editor sports also made a difference. “I liked at the Holton Recorder before he even the community part of it, it’s a small graduated, then came back to Topeka town so you get real involved with the in November to work at the sports teams and the community families.” and news desk of the Topeka CapitalThis won’t be the first time MarJournal and take a marathon class shall has worked for the Topeka Capfrom Washburn as he continued to ital-Journal.

He worked there partsubmit “Marshall Arts” to the Washtime while he was a college student. burn Review.

Eric Smith, a part-time sports Marshall spent 70 minutes each clerk at the Topeka Capital-Journal, workday driving back and forth bewho also worked with Marshall for tween Topeka and Holton before his the Washburn Review, said he enjoys full-time job at the Capital-Journal.

Self-portrait by Chris Marshall

working with Marshall again.

“He always keeps it lively and he likes to crack jokes,” Smith said. “He’s a comedian. He just makes the workplace a fun place to be.”

Overall, Marshall said his Holton and Topeka jobs have one thing in common that thrilled him--he was able to get them in the first place.

“The best part is that I have a job, especially with the way newspapers are now,” Marshall said. “While I was in college, I didn’t know if I would have a job in mass media when I graduated.”

With a marathon under his belt, leaving his mark at Washburn with “Marshall Arts,” and moving from the Holton Recorder to the Topeka Capital-Journal, the only way to go from here is up for Marshall.  Mass Media Messenger

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Writing between departments

by Regina Budden

work depends on someone else getting their job done first, whereas the work for Inscape is done after all the other work has been compiled.

Lastly, Burcher said the interactions between team members are very different, due in part to the fact that the other people working on Inscape are guaranteed to be from the creative writing emphases.

“Writers are generally more passive, whereas journalists have to be aggressive, so it makes a big difference in the way you handle conflict and approach people,” said Burcher.

Burcher’s involvement

check out http://morforu.wikidot.com

Every year, hundreds of authors submit their work to Inscape, the English department’s literary magazine. Only a select few will make it into the compilation, and someone is responsible for designing their work into the finished project.

Enter Mikki Burcher, dual English and mass media major. Burcher, a senior set to graduate in December, 2010, said she took on Inscape on top of everything else because she likes to be busy, and she is bent on acquiring what she calls “a unique skill set.”

“I want to be prepared when I go into the ‘real world,’ and juggling a lot of responsibilities is good practice for when I graduate,” said Burcher. She was grateful that many of her Inscape responsibilities were “juggled” around I want to be prepared when I go Christmas into the ‘real world’ and juggling Photo by Tesa DeForest break, so they Burcher is a double major in both Mass Media didn’t interfere a lot of responsibilities is good and English and will graduate Dec. 2010. She was with her classes. practice for when I graduate. the layout and design editor for the 2010 Inscape.

And there were a lot of responsibilities.

Mikki Burcher to work on the Inscape project, but it Burcher was good idea was her mass media degree that gave responsible for Burcher the skills to really take on the designing the with Inscape was through the English design. cover as well as picking fonts, sizes department’s Publishing Lab class, “Originally, my English degree and margins, then going back and which is responsible for the project was what I called my ‘passion degree.’ formatting for consistency. every year. Howard Faulkner, chair I am emphasizing in creative writing, “I basically designed it from a of the English department, was very blank page to what it is now,” she said. pleased with Burcher’s direction of the and I absolutely love to write anything from poetry to term papers,” she said.

As the news editor on the staff of project.

“But I always knew I would dual major the Washburn Review, it would be “She is a wonderful writer, has because English is not a practical easy to assume that designing Inscape a good mind for analysis, a sly sense degree.” would be just another day in life, but of humor and great organization,” he Without being able to utilize the Burcher said that aside from the scale said. professors and opportunities of the of the project, there are still a few key After a semester of work, the mass media department, Burcher said differences. hardest part was letting go. that there would not have been any Firstly, she said that although she “One of my not-so-good qualities chance of her doing the work with has creative license at the paper, she is that I am a perfectionist,” she Inscape. has to maintain certain sensibilities said, “and I know when I get it back “Everything about Inscape because it is a newspaper, but with from the printer I’m going to find literally started with the mass media Inscape, “I could have done whatever, something and beat myself up for not department,” she said, “Except the as long as the class approved.” catching it.” content.”  Also, at the Review, she said her Her English major allowed her 16

Mass Media Messenger

Mike Merriam lawyer, celebrity, teacher

by Rachel Whitten

One of Merriam’s students in the spring 2010 semester, Erika Wohlgemuth, agrees.

Mike Merriam can teach mass me“It’s interesting because we’re dia law to a classroom full of journalhearing real life cases he’s done and ism students, just don’t expect him to defended,” Wohlgemuth said. “It’s remember any of their names. interesting to see how his court cases Merriam is a First Amendment go, whether he won or lost them.” lawyer who has been teaching media Much like teaching, Merlaw to Washburn students for 10 riam didn’t set out to be a First years. At the beginning of every Amendment lawyer when he semester, he makes it clear to his entered law school. students that their names aren’t “I joined a law firm that relevant to the course. represented large media com“I’m not on campus, I only panies and I just started doing see them one day a week, we that work,” Merriam said. don’t spend a lot of time on inSince then, Merriam has troductions, we go to the subject defended a number of big matter of the course,” Merriam cases, representing media said. “Names are not particucompanies across the state. larly germane to the subject of He said the hardest to defend media law.” are when his clients make an Merriam has been a practicerror but do not own up to it. ing First Amendment lawyer “When publishers make since he graduated from Washmistakes they need to acburn Law School 34 years ago. knowledge it and fix the Before he started as an adjunct problem…most of my clients at Washburn, teaching wasn’t acknowledge errors when they something he had given a lot of occur and try to do the right thought to. thing about them,” Merriam “The person that was teachsaid. ing media law before me moved There are a few steps that on to something else and asked people working in the field of me to take over,” Merriam said. mass media can take to avoid Although some media stuPhoto by Mike Goehring getting sued. dents might not be interested in Mike Merriam has been teaching mass media law for 10 “They need to educate taking a course on media law, years. Merriam has practiced mass media law for 34 years. themselves with the risk it’s required by the department, associated with the media so all majors and minors pass industry, and join the appropriate and well respected First Amendment through Merriam’s classroom at some organizations that conduct continuing lawyer, and known all over the state. point. But Merriam hopes to spark education in that area so that they’ll For us to have this opportunity, to some curiosity about the subject in his have his expertise is pretty incredible,” be familiar enough with the potential students. problems, that way they can seek help Menzie said. “Most law classes are “It pleases me when it’s obvious if they don’t already know the answer,” just taught by someone in the departthat students are interested and curiMerriam said.  ment with some interest, but to actuous about the subject,” Merriam said. ally have a First Amendment lawyer “I like it when students ask questions, in our department is a great benefit to contribute in class. I don’t like to just the students.” conduct a lecture, I prefer to have a discussion with the students.”

The chair of the mass media department, Kathy Menzie, said students should feel fortunate to have an actual practicing First Amendment lawyer to teach the law class.

“We are so lucky to have someone of his expertise, who is a well known

Mass Media Messenger

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Non-profits an option for grads

by Regina Budden In a job market where climbing the corporate ladder and making a sixfigure salary are praised above all else, jobs and internships at nonprofit organizations may not be the first things to come to mind, even though they can be the most beneficial.

Kerrice Mapes, marketing coordinator at Family Service and Guidance Center, knows this better than anyone.

As a Washburn University mass media graduate (2005) she had to do an internship her senior year. After trying two others, she finally settled with one at a nonprofit that changed her entire point of view.

“I was kind of like ‘I don’t think I want to work at a nonprofit, that’s just not what I want to do,’” she said.

But, in spite of her reluctance, Mapes applied for an internship at Family Service and Guidance Center.

After joining the team at Family Service, Mapes said her first assignment was to make a few changes to their newsletter, and that’s where she really began to appreciate the differences between this and the other internships she had. Instead of making “a few” changes, Mapes was given the opportunity to redesign the whole newsletter. She said it’s those kinds of opportunities that she loves.

“In a nonprofit, you kind of have the liberty of taking some chances,” she said, “You can wear so many different hats, it’s not like you only get to copy edit or you’re only the design person or something.”

Ryan Sinovic, also a mass media graduate (2008), began his internship at Family Service and Guidance Center because he was “excited to work for a company that was not in it for money, that was in it to help people.”

While he worked at Family Services, he did graphic design, marketing

materials, designed Internet pages, edited videos and collected artwork for service projects, among other things.

He had a lot of creative control, but he said that this is not the case with all interns.

“It just really depends on your skill set,” he said, “But I got to do a lot more than I would have at another agency.”

After graduation, Family Services hired Mapes as a full-time employee, but this rarely happens. Although she was their first intern, there have been five since, and although there have been a few like Sinovic that they “definitely would have liked to keep on the team,” there is not always enough money in the budget.

The budget issue was previously a large reason that many people, including Mapes, were wary of taking on jobs or internships at non profits. But Mapes said that one big turning point for her was that at a nonprofit organization, there are lots of perks.

“You get to leave your job at the end of the Kerrice Mapes day knowing that you’re helping the greater good,” she said.

She also enjoys the other benefits such as schedule flexibility, more vacation time and the fact that when she leaves work, she is done for the day.

Mapes also mentioned a program that her organization has that allows mothers to bring their new babies to work.

“Things like this are not going to happen in a corporation,” she said, “Sometimes you have to think about that life-work balance and I think a nonprofit really addresses having that healthy balance in your life.”

In Sinovic’s case, although he was not hired on at Family Services after graduation, he said that his contacts there still assisted him in obtaining his new job working with online outreach and education for the Attorney Gen-

In a nonprofit, you have the liberty of taking chances.

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Mass Media Messenger

Photo courtesy of Kerrice Mapes

Kerrice Mapes chose to work with the nonprofit, Family Service and Guidance Center.

eral. He said that some of the people he worked with at Family Services even sent his resume to contacts in New York.

“The whole idea of an internship is to get your feet wet and to put your skills to use,” said Mapes. “When [our interns] leave, they have a better idea of what they want to do.” 

Graduates weigh benefits:

school or work?

by Ben Fitch and Tara Schroeder It’s no secret that the field of mass media is an ever-changing one. The undergraduate experience is a journey to prepare students for jobs that may not even exist when they enter college.

Many students are finding that the high of graduation is crushed by the reality of a job market driven by a struggling economy.

Renee Robinson, public relations account supervisor for Nicholson Kovac, said that a changing market requires flexible professionals who can adapt. Many professionals choose to continue their education. Achieving a new skill set can enable a media practitioner to merge into other parts of the field or contribute to their particular field in new ways.

“The top skills we look for are writing, critical thinking, and analysis and adaptability,” said Robinson. “Professionals must have a desire to continuously expand their skills and an ability to see the greater vision of the market and where they fit in that vision.”

The initial goal for many mass media professionals upon graduation is to get a job. Yet, after only a few years in the field, that goal often shifts to figuring out what’s next. Options for college graduates are numerous. Some choose to enter graduate school immediately while others choose to work in the industry first.

“I recommend working in the industry for a few years before thinking about grad school,” said Robinson.

“This allows you to see what’s out there and how you can contribute.”

Robinson, who studied at Oklahoma State University, chose to do just that.

“Graduate school is always a good choice after that,” said Robinson.

“Many companies are very supportive of continuing education and some even assist with tuition costs.”

Robinson graduated with bachelor’s degrees in English, journalism and broadcasting with a public relations emphasis. Later, she pursued a master’s degree in mass communications and media management.

I recommend working in the industry for a few years before thinking about grad school. This allows you to see what’s out there and how you can contribute.

Renee Robinson

“Working and going to school at the same time has a major benefit,” she said. “I was able to take the knowledge from graduate classes in the evening and apply them to my job during the daytime. I was also able to take real world media experiences to add to classroom discussions.”

Jaycie Wiechman is a content developer for CivicPlus, a Manhattanbased Web site developing company for government sites. She also started working in the industry after graduating from Washburn (2009). She did so because she wanted more experience before going to graduate school.

“I wouldn’t recommend graduate school to everybody,” she said. “It’s good for principle and especially good for people who want to go in to teaching. But if you learn the things you really need to know to complete your job, that’s all you need.”

Making the decision to attend graduate school is only the first step.

Searching for the right graduate program and the right field of study are the next hurdles. The choice of a worthwhile field of study is just as important as finding the right fit in a graduate school.

“Studying communication is always a solid option,” Robinson said.

“But in this business, understanding the language of finance and marketing can be invaluable. An MBA is also a great idea.”

And sometimes, graduate schools will take previous experience into consideration when accepting—or denying—applicants. Wiechman said she wanted to study in the fine arts film program at the University of Texas, which only accepts about 12 people a year. Their common requirement for acceptance is two years of experience.

“Occasionally they will let in one or two people who have scholarships,” she said, “but you have to demonstrate exceptional skills.”

And breaking into a new market, or just a new part of the market, can be as much about who you know as what you know.

“Developing a network is vital to success,” said Robinson. “Membership in professional groups like PRSA, AWC and AWF among others can be an important part of professional development.”

Wiechman said employers are probably always going to look for basic experience from their prospective employees, no matter where it is gained.

“But if you go to a good grad school that offers hands-on experience, you will be a lot better off,” said Wiechman. 

Mass Media Messenger

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Media Alumni

Stephanie Auguste

Auguste, 2004, has been the virtual contact representative for the Department of Veterans Affairs since September 2008.

Valerie (Holmes) Baker

Baker, 2007, is the marketing assistant for the The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers. She maintains the association website, designs and creates all of the marketing pieces, writes press releases and news stories for publications all over the United States, and coordinates their annual convention and trade show.

Lydia Becker

Becker, 2006, is the Sales and Marketing Manager of Becker Autos in Beloit, Kan. She is also the President of Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce and a Solomon Valley Economic Development board member.

Cheri Underwood Bernard Bernard, 1986, is the Public Relations/Product Placement Analyst with Payless ShoeSource. She has been in this position since April 2006 and at Payless since January 1987. Cheri and husband, Jim (below), have two children, Dylan, 15, and Jake, 12.

Jim Bernard

Bernard, 1986, is the manager for Goodyear Auto Service Center. He has been with Goodyear since 1988.

Julie Boggs

Boggs, 2006, moved to Knoxville, Tenn., in August and is the Marketing Communications Coordinator for the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.

Andrew Dunlap

Dunlap, 2009, is working for Entercom, Kansas City, as the promotions 20

Mass Media Messenger

assistant for 610 sports and KMBZ news.

Karl Fundenberger

Fundenberger, 2008, is working for FryeAllen, Inc as Social Media Director. Last year he ran his own consulting and marketing business call Mixed Media, LLP.

Tyler Graf

Graf, 2004, is a credit specialist with DHL in the Seattle area. He is pursuing an accounting degree at Central Washington University.

Julie (Hoytal) Gould

Gould, 2006, is employed by PenwellGabel Funeral Home in Topeka. She is involved in Junior League of Topeka and married Grant Gould (WU 2007) in 2008.

Jan Hamilton

Hamilton, 1970 and J.D. 1973, was successful in getting the U.S. Supreme Court to accept Certiorari in one of his cases, Hamilton v. Lanning. He is the chapter 13 Trustee for Topeka and is married to Terese Hamilton.

Corey Jones

Jones, 2009, went from being a news reporter to an online editor for The Topeka Capital-Journal.

Curtis Kitchen

Kitchen, 2002, is the Kansas State/Big 12 beat reporter for Sports Radio 810 WHB in Kansas City and is a senior writer for 810whb.com. He is also the producer of KAOS (Kenny and Ozone Show), which was voted Pitch Magazine’s “Best Radio Show” in 2009.

Lana Kraus

Kraus, 2009, is the Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Resources coordinator and the Youth Engagement Specialist for Kansas Family Partnership,

Inc. in Topeka. She is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, Kansas Red Ribbon Planning Committee and is involved with the Traffic Safety Conference Planning Committee.

Blake Kresge

Kresge, 2009, was recently promoted to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. producer with WIBW-TV.

Evan Linton

Linton, 2008, will be cutting film reels for the Daytime Emmy Awards for the Days of Our Lives soap opera.

Tracey Mace-Anderson

Mace-Anderson, 1996, is handling public relations for her family winery, Market Vineyards. She left Argus Health Systems in December 2009.

She married Steve Anderson in December 2009 and has a son, Weston.

Shalyn Marsh

Marsh, 2009, is the Communications and Marketing Manager for Visit Topeka Inc.

Linda Meyer

Meyer, 2009, is the Director of Communications for Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kan. She is married with three children. Her daughter was married May 1, 2010.

Jessica Mills

Mills, 2007, is engaged to be married in July to Samuel Reid (WU 2008).

Stephanie Gigous Moore Moore, 2005, is working for the Mr. Goodcents main office as the creative director. She and her husband, Corey, are expecting their first child this fall.

Brandy Nance

Nance, 2003, earned her MBA from

Class Notes The University of Phoenix in Spring 2010.

James Norman

Norman, 2006, is now a trainer for the Kansas Department of Labor.

Alicia Phillips

Phillips, 2008, works for Payless Shoe Source as a distribution analyst. She is in her second semester at University of Kansas, pursuing a Masters of Journalism in marketing communications.

She will travel to China in May for three weeks through the BU960 course at Washburn. She is doing a research project on social media use among college students in the United States and China. Phillips will marry Christopher Mowder in September.

Marcus Ramirez

Ramirez, 1998, is currently working for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and offers Medicare supplement advice.

Tara Schroeder

Schroeder, 2009, is an assistant account executive at Zillner, a marketing and advertising company in Kansas City. She is also the head instructor for the National Dance Alliance, coach of the Saint Thomas Aquinas High School dance teams, co-director of the Elite Nationals dance squad at Washburn, faculty member at Fuzion School of dance and professional arena football cheerleader/dancer.

Amanda Schuster

Schuster, 2008, is working for the League of Kansas Municipalities. She is also the incoming president for the Topeka Association for Women in Communication.

Michelle Simon

Simon, 2006, is the Diabetes Program manager at Prairie Band Potawatomi

Family Health Center.

Cassie Taylor

Taylor, 2008, moved to Lufkin, Texas in September 2009 and is working as a store manager for a National Vision Center.

Tim Traynor

Traynor, 2009, is enrolled in Washburn University’s master’s of social work program. He works full time for the Kansas Adjutant General’s Public Affairs Office, which allows him to travel throughout the world.

Melissa Treolo

tions and Marketing Administrator at the Kansas Bar Association and is in charge of all the legal handbooks, collectively called the “KBA Bookstore” and the editing of any major projects, including the magazine, The Journal of Kansas Bar Association and any technical aspects of web work.

Ernie W. Webb III

Webb, 1998, is a sports copy editor at the Tulsa World, a 110,000-circulation daily in Tulsa, Okla. Before leaving the Daily Press in Newport News, Va., last summer, he won APSE top-10 daily recognition, and VPA, first in sports pages.

Treolo, 2008, is a reporter at The Chieftain in Bonner Springs and won several KPA awards, including first place in series and first place in investigative reporting.

Jaycie Wiechman

Sarah Van Dalsem

Suzanne Clarke Zurn

Van Dalsem, 2007, is pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Nebraska. This summer, she is working as the Media Relations Manager for the 2010 Special Olympics National Games, which are scheduled in Lincoln and Omaha at the end of July.

She will be in charge of media relations, social media campaigns, crisis communication and documentation teams.

Wiechman, 2009, is working in Manhattan, Kan., at CivicPlus, a company that specializes in government eb sites.

Clarke Zurn, 1995, is Vice President of Digital Media and Advocacy at Xenophon Strategies in Washington, DC. Her online campaign strategies helped Xenophon earn a coveted Silver Anvil Award for the Best Public Affairs Campaign from the Public Relations Society of America. She was named a Washburn Alumni Fellow in 2003.

Jeff Wagaman

Wagaman, 1984, has joined the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka as the Chief Professional Officer. Jeff and his daughter, Lindsey, reside in Topeka.

Jayme (Adkins) Walshire

Walshire, 2004, has been the Outreach Coordinator for Helping Hands Humane Society for 3 years in September.

Beth A. Warrington

Warrington, 2004, is the Publica-

Small Business Solutions Financial Planning

Curtis Henderson, CPA 1800 SW Harrison Topeka, KS 66612 (P) 785-CPA-1040 (F) 785-235-2006 Cell:785-231-0829 Curtis@cpa1040.net

Mass Media Messenger

21

Mass Media Graduates FALL 2009 Jaime Brown Leia Karimul-Bashar Blake Kresge Angela Marquart Tara Schroeder Alex Siegel Devin Tatrn Paul Abron

James Ahrens

Paige Anderson

Jaime Brown

Valerie Caviglia

Kristen Grimmer

Justin Gutierrez

Leia KarimulBashar

Josh King

Whitney Kobbeman

Blake Kresge

Leslie Kruger

Josh Mabry

Angela Marquart

Kevin Mitchell

Morgan Schaeffer

Tara Schroeder

Alex Siegel

Devin Tatrn

Rachel Whitten

SPRING 2010 Paul Abron James Ahrens Paige Anderson Amanda Bayless Valerie Caviglia Kristen Grimmer Allison Kimble Joshua King Leslie Kruger Joshua Mabry Paige Ross Morgan Schaeffer Britta Tjaden Rachel Whitten Kristina Wright

SUMMER 2010 Tracy Gibson Justin Gutierrez Whitney Kobbeman Kevin Mitchell Fahra Noorani

CONGRATS, GRADS Let us know about jobs, awards, marriages, children and any other news your wish to share.

Contact massmedia@ washburn.edu.

22

Mass Media Messenger

contributors

Editors

Faculty

Page Designers

The 2010 Mass Media Messenger was produced as part of MM431, Publication Layout and Design.

Regina Cassell

Regina Budden - Copy Director Mikki Burcher - Design Director

Ben Fitch - Public Relations Erika Lucero - Media Writing & Publishing and Public Relations Kristin Grimmer - Media Writing & Publishing Rachel Whitten - Media Writing & Publishing and Electronic Media

Writers

James Ahrens - Media Writing & Publishing Regina Budden - Public Relations, Media Writing & Publishing

E-mail: regina.cassellâ‚Źwashburn.edu call: 785.670.1836

Mikki Burcher - Public Relations Ben Fitch Kristin Grimmer Erika Lucero Rachel Whitten

or mail to: Mass Media Department Washburn University 1700 S College Ave. Topeka, KS 66621

Contributors Leia Karimul Bashar Mike Goehring Paige Ross Tara Schroeder

past

honoring the in the future

investing

The mass media department wants updates on all things new: marriages, babies, job, awards, etc.

The Washburn Endowment Association is a foundation dedicated to building relationships and securing and investing private financial support to serve students and strengthen Washburn University.

www.givetowashburn.org

x

Find us on

Facebook Washburn University Mass Media

Supporting student success through co-curricular opportunities check us out at:

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We love what we do. The passion we have for our work enables us to take ownership of our clients’ projects. We constantly strive to deliver the highest quality products possible.

Phone: 785-233-3164 1935 NW Topeka Blvd Fax: 785-233-3924 PO Box 8007 Topeka, KS 66608-1826 E-mail: transfers@hallcommercialprinting.com

1700 SW College Topeka, Kansas 66621

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