2018 Mass Media Messenger

MESSENGER

VOL 29 2018

Contents Washburn University | 1700 SW College Ave. | Topeka, KS | 66621

Editor-in-Chief

3 Message from chair 4 Faculty update 6 Media Days 8 Banquet 2018 10 Modern Media 12 Students 16 Department News 18 Student Orgs 20 Alumni News 22 Graduating Seniors The Mass Media Messenger is created annually by students in Creative Media Practicum and is mailed to all department alumni and friends.

Alumni are encouraged to send their news to regina.cassell@washburn.edu.

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Bryan Grabauskas

Editorial Staff Shayla Bleidissel Chase Coble Mark Feuerborn Charles Rankin Cameron Wiggins

Contributors Bayli Millison Sophie Oswald

Cover Design

Shayla Bleidissel

Faculty Adviser Regina Cassell

From the chair I can’t believe that the academic year 2017-2018 is almost over!

It was a whirlwind.

We started with an early approval to do a search for a new faculty in advertising. The search was in full swing by November and by March 2 we hired our top candidate – Andrew Anglin.

We are very excited to welcome Anglin to Washburn in the fall.

He will be teaching the main courses in advertising as well as developing a WTE to bring students to Disney’s advertising agency.

The spring semester was all about event planning. We held our first Majors Meeting in January. We were excited to see the majority of our students in one room (best looking crowd ever!) and to share some tips with them about how to make the most out of their time at Washburn. Our students must have been paying attention because this year we had a record number of scholarship applicants. We also held two Media Days in February.

Maria Stover Department Chair

This year’s events brought 50 high school students from six different high schools. The banquet in April gathered 120 students, alumni and friends of the department for an unforgettable evening featuring Hollywood writer, Ivy Pruss. The success of these events would not have been possible without the tireless dedication of our full-time faculty - Kristen Grimmer, Matthew Nyquist and Regina Cassell.

This spring semester also was notable due to the high number of adjuncts we had. In addition to such wonderful adjuncts as Eugene Williams, Pat Early, Tim Hrenchir, Max Kautsch and Sarah Towle, we welcomed Alexandra Kirksey, Ernie Webb and Barbara Schuck. Ernie is director of strategic marketing and communications at Washburn. He is an alumus of our program, and we are so glad that he is teaching one of our MM100 sections. Barbara Schuck is also an alumna of our program who is bringing her rich marketing experience to a hybrid-style, practicum class on Creative Writing for Business.

This summer we also had the pleasure of adding Sam Finch as a lecturer in film and video. I am sure his passion for cinematography and film theory will translate into exciting opportunities for our students.

This is the year are saying goodbye to three long-time mass media faculty. After 33 years of teaching at Washburn, Frank Chorba has retired and is shifting his full attention to his research on the Follansbee, West Virginia, timeline. The city will honor him for his accomplishments this summer during Follansbee Community Days. After 14 years at Washburn, Charles Cranston is also retiring after the end of the spring semester. He played an instrumental role in creating our popular film/video emphasis.

We are also sad to say goodbye to Kathy Menzie. After serving as a department chair for nine years, and as a professor at Washburn for 20 years, Menzie is turning a new page in her life. She has been, without any doubt, not only the longest-serving but also the most beloved chair of the mass media department since its inception in 1993.

The face of our department is changing. While it’s sad to see some beloved members of the department leave, we look forward to the ideas the new members of our department will undoubtedly bring.

With four new hires in the past three years, the mass media department is continuing its commitment to delivering relevant and rewarding educational experiences to our students.

Mass Media Faculty Briefs

By Charles Rankin and Autumn Lamp

Saying Goodbye

The department will miss former chair Kathy Menzie and professors Frank Chorba and Charles Cranston.

Menzie worked in public relations and became an adjunct professor in visual communications at Washburn University before realizing that she wanted to teach.

Menzie began teaching in the mass media department in 1998. Since then, she has taught nearly every course the department offers, although her favorite class to teach has been Advertising 1.

“It’s fun to just be creative and come up with good ideas,” Menzie said.

Her favorite part about teaching has been having projects that not only help the students, but also the community. “[Watching] the students get excited about a project and to really provide an invaluable source to their community, that’s exciting and fun. I love it,” Menzie said.

She became chair of the mass media department, as well as the Academic Affairs Committee, in 2009 and is now happily retiring, having earned emeritus status.

“It’s a nice way to recognize contributions and to say you’re still sort of a valued member of the community,” Menzie said.

Menzie is respected by her peers in the mass media department and beyond.

“Kathy has been the best boss I’ve had to date, and is just terrific to work with,” said Regina Cassell, senior lecturer.

Mark Peterson, professor and chair of the political science department, admired how Menzie connected with her students.

“Her wonderful personality, willingness to listen to me gas on about whatever was on my mind, and level-headed approach to

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learning the WU way kept me out of trouble on numerous occasions,” Peterson said. “We learned from each other on the subject of becoming competent department chairs. We remain great friends and hope to spend many more years kibitzing about doings at WU and crazy state of the world at-large.”

“It’s been a joy and a privilege to be here. I already sort of miss it; I miss knowing all of the things that are going on and being a part of everything, but I’m grateful for the time that I’ve had here. I’ve loved almost every minute of it, but I’m also excited to start something new,” Menzie said.

Professor Charles Cranston announced his retirement at the end of May 2018. Cranston has been with Washburn mass media since 2004 and was integral in developing the film and video program in the department.

“Charles was key to establishing our film and video sequence seven years ago,” said former chair Kathy Menzie.

“He helped develop the courses and taught the first classes. He helped design the new video editing lab and suites and chose most of the equipment. His input was invaluable.”

Cranston also had a tremendous impact on the students that came through mass media.

“Dr. Cranston’s passion for digital media ignited my love for the major,” said Jaycie Gluck, an alumna and current commentator for tournaments of “Heroes of the Storm,” a popular video game. “I always looked forward to his classes, and I learned a lot of skills that I could use to kick start my career in esports.”

Cranston said that highlights of his Washburn career include creating and presenting original films.

“Over the years I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with my department colleagues, and the many dedicated and talented students in my classes,”

Cranston said.

For his next chapter in life, Cranston looks forward to enjoying retirement.

“Along with a lot of bike riding and the gym, my plans include selling property I have in Texas and renovating my cabin in Wyoming, along with plenty of trout fishing,” Cranston said.

Cranston also plans to travel and expand his interest in landscape photography, with trips planned to the Pacific Northwest, the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands.

The foundation Cranston laid for film and video at Washburn was not lost on the department and especially on Assistant Professor Matthew Nyquist, who is currently leading the program.

“Dr. Cranston moved the film program forward, and I am grateful that he brought me into such a good situation,” Nyquist said.

Though the department formally honored Chorba at last year’s banquet, they were thankful to have him on campus to teach his final classes in fall 2017 and then work throughout the spring to pack up his office of 34 years.

Senior Administrative Assistant Anna Walker also left to begin her next adventure in Seattle.

Continuing Faculty & Staff

Maria Stover will continue to lead the department as it faces its five-year assessment this fall and updates the curriculum.

Assistant Professor Matthew Nyquist will lead the film and video program into its next chapter. In addition to his teaching and advising duties, he continues to work on various film projects. He was a videographer on a trip to visit Civil Rights sites over spring break with students and other Washburn faculty.

Nyquist teamed up with Associate Professor Kristen Grimmer to research and present a paper at the Broadcast Educators Association conference

Andrew Anglin

Regina Cassell

Sam Finch

in April. The paper, “Why shouldn’t I kill myself ?: How suicide and suicide prevention is represented in ‘13 Reasons Why,’” examines representations of suicide and suicide prevention in the Netflix show “13 Reasons Why.” Regina Cassell was in the first group of Washburn faculty to earn the title of senior lecturer and was voted to serve a two-year term as the second vice president for Kansas Collegiate Press.

Tracy Horacek stepped into the role of senior adminstrative assistant during the spring 2018 semester. She provides invaluable support to faculty, students and alumni.

Andrew Anglin will join the department in fall 2018 as assistant professor and will focus on the advertising emphasis. Andrew Anglin previously worked for Disney’s internal advertising agency, Yellow Shoes Creative Group.

Sam Finch will also join the department this fall as a lecturer focused on the film and video emphasis. He earned his master’s from Central Michigan University in broadcast and cinematic arts with a concentration in film theory and criticism.

Adjuncts Kristen Grimmer

Tracy Horacek

Matthew Nyquist

“We were so excited to have three new, top-notch adjuncts teaching courses for us this spring semester. Attracting professionals with practical experience is a must for the vitality of our program,” said Maria Stover, department chair.

Ernie Webb and Alexandra Kirksey taught Introduction to Mass Media while Barbara Shuck presented a special topics class, Creative Writing for Business.

“Through her hybrid class, Barbara is turning her extensive professional experience into valuable practical lessons for our students,” said Stover. “These are not the types of lessons you can get from a textbook.”

Max Kautsch, Tim Hrenchir, Jim Allan, Patrick Early and Eugene Williams continue to be valuable adjuncts within the department.

Media Days show off department, give students valuable experience and welcome new faces

by Bryan Grabauskas Washburn University’s Media Day is a beneficial experience for Washburn students, the mass media department and potential incoming students.

Starting in 2016, the Washburn University mass media department began inviting high school students to visit the campus and learn about the department.

Media Day serves multiple purposes, including giving the visiting high students an opportunity to visit a campus and see a glimpse of what college life is like. The students are able to learn about the mass media department as an option that is available for them to follow in the future.

It also gives mass media’s students a chance to execute a conference-like event.

“It’s really our students, our seniors, that make this happen,” said Maria Stover, professor and chair of mass media.

The whole day is worked on by current senior media students from the preparation to the actual execution. The class organizes and plans the event, design posters for it and many other things that go in it. They continue to partake in the event as ambassadors, ordering the food and hosting the event.

“I also think it’s important for Washburn students. Being involved in it this year was a lot of fun, because I’m really proud to go to Washburn and it gave me the opportunity to share what I’ve gotten out of my education here and why it’s been so helpful to me,” said Jessica Knieff, a public relations senior.

“It’s a great experience for mass media seniors. It gets them to see what it takes to execute an event, and that builds their portfolios. A lot of them now have event planning skills or design skills that they can add to their digital

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photo by Charles Rankin

Students in the Career and Professional Portfolio class helped pull together two Media Days for high school students. One school, unable to make the originally scheduled Media Day was treated to its own customized version. portfolio,” said Stover.

All of the students who visit are exposed to the department through the eyes of current students and may end up choosing to attend Washburn when it comes time to graduate from high school. The event works as an outreach program possibly drawing in more students to the department.

“We truly believe that once we have the opportunity to get people’s attention, and they get to meet us in person­ – faculty and students – they understand the value of the mass media degree, and how mass media could be the right choice for them. It’s not one of those nebulous, abstract things; it becomes more concrete, and they know we are about hands-on experiences here,” said Stover.

According to Stover, the students are welcomed from local and non-local schools including the areas of Southwestern Kansas, Kansas City and Wich-

ita. Due to scheduling conflicts with one school, two Media Days were hosted this year.

The event includes a behind-the scenes tour of KTWU, Student Media and specific mass media spaces in the basement of Henderson, a panel question and answer session and topical breakout sessions.

Breakout sessions include lectures and a variety of hands-on activities relating to each of the department’s four emphases. One session allowed students to practice the various roles involved in shooting a movie scene. Assistant Professor Matt Nyquist decided to film a scene from “Anchorman” in the Henderson studio.

Graduating mass media students were members of the panel and shared their experiences briefly and then were on hand to answer questions about the department, Washburn or even just about college life in general.

Outstanding Students announced at banquet Each year the mass media faculty selects the students most deserving of the Outstanding Student awards in each emphasis.

set all the time.”

- Matthew Nyquist

Jessica Knieff

Danielle Sipe

“Danielle (creative advertising) has impressed us with her dedication to her studies. She is a mature and reliable student and a pleasure to have in class.”

- Maria Stover

Mark Feuerborn

Photo by Matthew Nyquist

Left to right: Darria Dennison, Mark Feuerborn, Danielle Sipe, Kraig Dafoe and Jessica Knieff were selected by department faculty as the most outstanding students in each emphasis and Student Media.

“Jessica Knieff (public relations) embodies the ideal student in every way.

She has tremendously high standards and goals for herself and does not turn away from the work necessary to reach them.”

- Kristen Grimmer

Kraig Dafoe

“Kraig Dafoe (Student Media) is the only Kaw “Mark A benefit to(contemporary qualified members who support KTWU with an annual gift of $60 or more. helps out her classmates yearbook editor-in-chief to journalism) is an innovative in any way possible.

She meet every single deadline. thinker with endless energy “Darria (film and video) is a very talented director, Ever. His work ethic drives so and ideas for moving projects constantly goes above and cinematographer, actress, many tasks to completion.” forward.” beyond no matter what soundie, and expands her skill - Regina Cassell - Regina Cassell role she has and always

Darria Dennison

A benefit for qualified members who support KTWU with an annual gift of $60 or more.

Your public television station KTWU.org

Banquet 2018: department

by Chase Coble The 2018 Mass Media Banquet signaled big changes in the mass media department.

Assistant professor Kristen Grimmer and her students in Public Relations 2 took the reigns from Kathy Menzie, who was in charge of more than 15 banquets during her time at Washburn.

Island music floated through the air as students, staff, parents and other guests mingled. Attendees were treated to door prizes and feasted on a Mexican food buffet featuring fajitas and churros.

After dinner, keynote speaker Ivy Pruss shared how her own mishaps created the path to her current job as a writer for the Oprah Winfrey Network’s hit show “Greenleaf,” which is a show about the life and questionable choices of a family who runs a mega-church in Memphis.

Pruss shared that her path to Hollywood was not exactly straight. She took off for New York intending to work in publishing, but strugggled to find a job in that industry. Instead, she wound up working as a paralegal for a while, and spent some time living on the couches of friends.

Pruss emphasized that students should be chasing their dreams, even if they are big, lofty ones. She instructed students to grab opportunities, even if they are not perfect because you never know which pathway might lead to a dream job.

Pruss also visited film classes and shared tips on how to pitch ideas during a separate lecture the afternoon before the banquet.

Assistant Professor Matt Nyquist said Pruss was impressed with the kindness and hospitality of the mass media department.

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Another highlight of the evening came toward the tail end, when a video tribute to Menzie played on the big screen. It included messages from faculty, former and present students.

“I didn’t anticipate such a wonderful tribute,” Menzie said. “Or how tough it would be for me.”

Menzie received the longest standing ovation of the evening and was visibly moved by the gesture. The long-time leader is saying goodbye to the department, but Menzie believes that the department is heading in the right direction.

“I’ve loved this department for 20 years; I’m going to miss it. The department has such an incredible future

photos by Mark Feuerborn

Top: Assistant professor Matthew Nyquist poses with keynote speaker Ivy Pruss and film students at the banquet.

Bottom left: The department says goodbye to senior administrative assistant Anna Walker.

Bottom right: Department Chair Maria Stover addresses the guests. ahead of it.”

The department then recognized five outstanding students and handed out 26 academic scholarships for next year.

As the night wound down, attendees had their pictures taken in front of a tropical backdrop to commemorate the

enjoys‘A Night in Cancun’ Scholarship Recipients College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Scholarship Darria Dennison & Dylan Warrington Zula Bennington Greene Scholarship Bayley Baker & Reilly Peuser Thad M. Sandstrom Memorial Scholarhip Allyson Burr Mr. & Mrs. Oscar S. Stauffer Scholarship Dylan Warrington & Taryn Reed David C. Beeder Mass Media Scholarship Satoko Hosoi & Zhu Mingzhu Dick Snider Scholarship Darria Dennison & Colin Truhe Kenneth C. & Edith M. Bronson Scholarship Bayli Milleson & Sophia Joelle Oswald Dr. Frank J. Chorba Fellowship Alan Amado DoGood Mass Media Scholarship Grace Cole, Ethan Jackson, Jill Foster-Koch, Kimberly Korber, Anneleise McEvoy & Kendra Wicks Dr. Lu Wolff Mass Media Scholarship Treven Broxterman, Andrew Gill & Joshua Irsik Dan and Rosy Bennett Scholarship Fund Avery Stratton, Madeleine Switzer & Wesley Tabor Robert A. Hentzen Memorial Athletic Scholarship Shayla Conner

photo by Mark Feuerborn

Kathy Menzie is presented with a quilt featuring the covers of all the Mass Media Messengers created during her tenure at Washburn. Karen Knieff, whose daughter, Jessica, graduated this summer, made the quilt. evening.

“It was a great evening, I thought it went smoothly,” said senior mass media major Colton Allen, an attendee and also an organizer of the event. “Being a part of setting things up and watching it come together was satisfying. When you put all the mass media students in the same room, it’s always going to be fun.”

Save the Date

The 2019 Mass Media Banquet, celebrating 25 years of mass media, will be April 11, 2019.

APRIL

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Modern media: KTWU talks strategy, innovation

by Mark Feuerborn For over 50 years, KTWU has been a prominent intellectual force in Northeast Kansas as the area’s public television source.

Despite public broadcasting facing budget cuts on both the state and federal levels, the staff at KTWU use innovative approaches to fundraising and broadcasting that continue to keep them in operation.

Eugene Williams, general manager of KTWU and adjunct in the department, has cared for the station since 1990 and today is a prominent figure in the Topeka community.

“The station [was] the very first public TV station to go on the air in Kansas,” Williams said. “We serve all of northeast Kansas.”

Williams likes to work off challenges and decided to come to Kansas because he saw a great opportunity.

“They had just finished [the new] building and they were working on getting ready for the digital transition,” Williams said.

Funding is a hurdle KTWU needs community support to jump over, especially in a time where the federal government’s support of public broadcasting make funding uncertain.

Williams said that the community also gives important support to

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the station in ways beyond finances.

“When you look at our audience, we try to cultivate folks who really engage with the station on a regular basis,” Williams said. “Close to 70 percent of our budget are the dollars that come from viewers. They come to our outreach events, they send us mail and email and talk to us on the phone to tell us what they like and what they don’t like.”

KTWU’s volunteer production crew program, the only one of its kind out of the three public television stations in Kansas, is another innovation that allows KTWU to undertake large projects and give broadcast training to Washburn students and Topeka residents alike.

“We have a lot of local folks that volunteer,” Williams said. “People who work a full-time job, including the evenings; they’ll come in and help them do the membership drive, and help us do the [televised] auction. It gives them a way to interact with others that have the same interest in public television.”

Williams says that key partnerships are crucial to the station, and the business strategy of

distribution for content creators has made a major difference for the station recently.

“In 2017 we finally hit that line I tried to get us to hit 15 years ago,” Williams said.

“KTWU is now distributing not only content nationally, but this year we’ve also got a great partner in Kansas City that’s doing the production work for us, and they are the distributing agency. This one particular piece of content, it’s on Amazon, [and] in Thailand, it’s in Japan. It’s a global environment. It is a true partnership between public broadcasting and corporate partnerships and individual partnerships.”

KTWU itself came from humble beginnings. Williams said it is thanks to the staff that the PBS station has been able to avoid being knocked down by funding cuts and the ever-increasing popularity of new media.

Traditional media have continuously sought ways to keep a balance as social platforms like Facebook and on-

demand programming like Netflix have found their way into more American homes.

Williams says KTWU has adapted by integrating its station into a hybrid brand on both traditional and new media.

“We’re having to scale down and become a lot more efficient and at the same time, become a lot more innovative,” Williams said.

Williams incorporates new social platforms and creates new content initiatives. “The hard part is you have to have a little bit of seed money, and even more than the dollars, you have to find the time.”

KTWU programming, which includes the locally made shows “Working Capital,” “Sunflower Journeys” and “Theater of the Mind,” is now available on streaming devices.

The

station delivers unique content and interaction with viewers through social media. One mixed media program is the local show “IGI Live,” which focuses on current social and political issues in Kansas. Host Janet Thompson Jackson encourages viewers to tweet questions for her guests to answer.

Jackson says that this integration has made an impact in how her shows run.

“It really brings the audience into the program,” Jackson said. “They become a part of the program, and actually they have to guide the program. If we get a tweet in the middle of the

show, and it’s a direction we haven’t taken, it really allows the guest to explore that. It creates some fluidity in the program that isn’t otherwise there.”

Ultimately, Williams says the business model for public broadcasting may not be the best for profitability, but it does create opportunities to innovate entertainment that is for and by the community. It’s about the culture and history of Kansas.

KTWU Producer Llyod Slapar prepares his camera to film the 2017 Vespers Orchestra concert. The performance is aired on the station annually for the holidays.

Photo by Mark Feuerborn

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Film student gains field experience as radio DJ

by Bryan Grabauskas While away from the classroom, Ethan Jackson delivers music to Topeka listeners throughout the day from the V100 radio station.

Some students in the mass media program work jobs in the media field before graduating. This experience not only provides Jackson with more experience, but it also allows him to apply what he has already learned.

Jackson, a film student at Washburn, has worked as a DJ for V100 since his senior year of high school. Mike Manns, a well-known Topeka radio personality, was searching for a new board operator and his wife happened to be Jackson’s homeroom teacher. Knowing Jackson was interested, as Jackson puts it, “she bugged him about me and bugged me and bugged me and eventually I got the job.”

Jackson started running boards for high school sports once a week. Manns eventually asked him what else he was interested in, and Jackson told him he liked the rock station. He received an airshift on the rock station, and he has now been doing that for three years.

Jackson has many responsibilities at the station. He is on-air every day from 2-7 p.m. He also runs the boards for live broadcasts and occasionally covers sports for the University of Kansas.

He attends concerts to cover them and writes reveiws for the station’s website.

His favorite aspect of working at V100 is his own segment that he runs.

Every Sunday night, from 9 p.m. to midnight, Jackson plays music by new and local bands and covers news from the music industry.

“My favorite part about when I talk is definitely the specialty hour,” said Jackson. “I get to pick all the music; I mold it. I’m intrigued by industry news; and I’m constantly on Twitter, watching all these bands’ posts. I talk about that stuff on air because

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photo courtesy of Ethan Jackson

Ethan Jackson, who has a film and video emphasis, is on-air every weekday between 2 to 5 p.m. on V100. the average listener probably doesn’t keep up with all of that, and I do, so I relay that information.”

“Jackson has picked up experience as a writer for web articles, the knowledge of SEO, marketing of brands and how to think like a reader, content consumer and journalist,” said Peter Nyblom, V100 director. “Jackson has gained knowledge that a few courses in college could never cover. He’s vastly improved from when I met him two years ago.”

Nyblom appreciates Jackson’s contributions to the station. He points to

Jackson’s youth, which provides a fresh perspective on music and a knowledge of newer genres, and his growing experience in video and sound editing. He says these are helpful as the station dives deeper into such aspects of media.

“Ethan is in a unique spot, even though he is technically part-time, he performs at a full time pace,” said Nyblom. “I admire his drive and determination and his ability to balance. He certainly doesn’t reflect what the common perception of millennials are.”

photo courtesy of Avery Stratton Avery Stratton brings real-world experience into the classroom as she pursues a film and video emphasis in mass media.

Balancing act: Stratton juggles work and school

by Chase Coble Avery Stratton started her college career with a job creating films.

Stratton is a junior mass media major with an emphasis in film and video, but that’s far from all that she does. She also works a fulltime job at a local film company, Motovike Films, where she earns valuable on-the-job experience doing documentary and commercial film work.

Stratton started working at Motovike Films in high school, when she was hired as an intern. A year later, she was signed on full time.

After working there for three years, Stratton has cherished the opportunity to work in

the field she plans to pursue going forward.

“I love being able to work with a very diverse client base,” Stratton said. “Seeing what makes each company unique and figuring out a creative way to tell their story is fascinating.”

In her time at Motovike Films, she has been able to hone many skills that she will use in future film work.

“What’s cool about Motovike is that we’re a small team, so each team member has to be able to complete a project from start to finish on their own,” Stratton said.

“This has allowed me to develop skills in the pre-production, production and post-production stages, which

includes elements of video, audio and editing.”

Stratton went to South Fork, Colorado, to shoot for a fly-fishing project. It was a challenging shoot.

“It was definitely challenging,” Stratton said. “The bottom was rocky and mossy, so wading down the stream with over $10,000 of camera equipment in my hand was pretty nerve-wracking.”

Assistant Professor Matt Nyquist enjoys working with Stratton and is pleased she gets so much experience outside of the classroom.

“She is extraordinary with a camera,” said Nyquist.

Stratton’s time divided between Motovike and Washburn has taught her how to

multitask, juggling full-time work and school. Stratton knows how to handle the stress.

“Prioritize your own well-being when things get stressful balancing work and school,” Stratton said. “If you don’t take time to care for yourself, you run the risk of burning out, and you won’t even be able to enjoy the incredible things you’re filling your time with.”

In addition to her job at Motovyke, Stratton has also worked for KTWU, the Washburn Sports Production Crew and studied through Semester at Sea. She has already earned awards and industry recognition for her work.

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Washburn’s Ally Burr is doing big things on and off the court.

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LIGHTING THE TORCH

by Colton Allen Mass Media students who decide to embrace a professional opportunity alongside their mass media courses continue to set the bar high for others. Junior Ally Burr, public relations emphasis, took part of an eight-day professional development program with the United States Olympic Committee in the summer of 2017.

After graduating, she plans to pursue a career in sports communication and public relations.

Burr, who is from Arkansas City, Kansas, plans to graduate in May 2019. While at Washburn she has participated in NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis, Delta Gamma Sorority and Student Leadership Council.

“Ally is a hardworking, driven student. I have no doubt that she will achieve all of her career goals and more,” said Kristen Grimmer, professor of public relations at Washburn.

In February 2017 Burr was sent a link from fellow mass media major Jessica Knieff containing the application to the FLAME program hosted by the USOC. Though being accepted into the program seemed like a long shot, she took a chance and applied.

Despite her previous doubts, Burr was accepted into the program. She spent the last week of July 2017 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, participating in the prestigious program.

“I really didn’t think I would get in considering that it was hosted by The United States Olympic Committee,” said Burr. “I feel extremely honored and humbled that I was one of 29 students who got to participate and work one on one with some of the top professionals at the USOC.” The FLAME program is held annually at the Colo-

rado Springs Olympic Training Center. Burr had the opportunity to stay on campus at the training center.

While there, she attended sessions on several topics such as diversity in sports, solving conflicts, professional networking and career development.

She also worked alongside other attendees to solve a diversity challenge within the United States Tennis Association.

“Our task was to come up with a solution to address the challenge of recruiting and retaining diverse employees aged 30 and younger at USTA,” Burr said.

Her team recommended that the organization personally visit the Historically Black Colleges and Universities near the organization headquarters to table and interact with students. They also suggested more internship and job shadowing opportunities specifically for minority students.

Burr said it was fun to think about the things team members would value in employment.

“We made recommendations on continuing education assistance and professional education such as conference and training compensation. We also recommended incentives and activities for organizational morale, including holiday parties, giveaways and employee recognition,” said Burr.

“After our presentation, other National Governing Body representatives such as USA Figure Skating, made comments about taking notes and taking ideas back to their superiors.

“Without this experience, I wouldn’t have even considered applying for a career with the USOC,” Burr said. “Now, I plan on applying for the communications assistantship after graduating. This program really pushed me to have higher expectations for myself and to make the most of every opportunity I get.”

Photo courtesy of Washburn Sports Information Junior Ally Burr brings her passion to both her sport and her academics.

alumna spotlight

Gaming personality brings insight to emerging media

by Messenger Staff Being an industry pioneer requires sacrifice. Mass media’s own Jaycie (Wiechman) Gluck began her career as a website content developer for government websites, which led her to website work for the city of Austin, Texas.

However, it was her passion for playing and watching video games that led her toward a different kind of career path.

Today Gluck is an e-commentator and host for the video game, “Heroes of the Storm,” a position she was recruited for based on her presence in the gaming community.

“The game was new and growing and they were looking within the community for people and talent that they wanted to invest into and grow,” said Gluck.

Her job as an e-commentator involves helping fans of the game keep up with teams while creating some media hype.

“Heroes of the Storm” is a multi-player online battle arena where teams compete against each other. Gluck compares it to a digital version of capture the flag where team members work together to protect their own base while trying to destroy the base of the opponents.

Leading up to a gaming event, she spends hours preparing to call the games much like traditional sports commentators.

It’s her job to keep up with the game updates, team developments and find engaging things to say about players and game play. In addition, she creates content for her own presence on social media.

Getting into this field is challenging, and Gluck really did not have anyone to show her the way. “You pretty much have to do something that is unpaid to get into e-sports,” Gluck said.

Her career began as she went from place to place covering amateur tournaments at her own expense, and creating YouTube content featuring the game, “StarCraft II.” She got the idea to pursue this

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path after attending a tournament as a gamer. These long weekends at gaming tournaments along with her own YouTube content that she created with her husband helped launch Gluck’s career.

After being invited to play her current game, “Heroes of the Storm,” Gluck started a podcast called “Eye on the Storm,” which earned second place in Blizzard’s 2014 community stream awards.

“I love Photo courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment connecting the Alumna Jaycie Gluck has made a name for herself as an players with the e-commentator for Blizzard Entertainment. fans,” said Gluck.

“When I think something is cool, I just go crazy and get so excited. I love being able to share what is cool about the game so others will like it also. I really like telling the players’ stories.” realm of producing. She also sees a a need Gluck’s job with “Heroes” initially for someone who can coach the future involved monthly weekend tournaments. generation of e-commentators. She said Now that “Heroes” has moved into league acting coaches typically do not understand play, Gluck must be ready to webcast five-week parts in addition to the weekend the specifics of the gaming community while people who know the games do events, which she says are now spaced not always make the best performance further apart. This dynamic game takes a coaches. lot of Gluck’s time and energy.

Gluck’s success comes as no surprise to Looking toward the future, Gluck knows retiring professor Charles Cranston. this can be a tricky industry. Games do “When she was here, she was one of not stay in the limelight forever, and she the first presidents for the first student is considering what her next move might film club and really helped establish the be. She has incredibly high standards for organization,” said Cranston. “She was herself as she is one of a few women in producer for the department’s live TV this community. She was the only female commentator at BlizzCon 2017 casting the cable news show for three semesters and pioneered the first live stream of the show.

Heroes Global Championship Finals.

She was also a student leader in the early Gluck’s options include moving to development for the film program. “ another game or perhaps moving into the

Search @Gillyweed TV

Hollywood trip takes students behind the scenes

By Sophie Oswald Mass media film students ventured to Los Angeles, California, during summer of 2017 and toured three Hollywood studios, including Paramount, Sony and Universal.

Professor Charles Cranston along with assistant professor Matt Nyquist planned the trip.

Nyquist introduced the group to Ivy Pruss who ended up being the keynote speaker at the Mass Media banquet this year.

Pruss writes for both television and film in Hollywood and students were inspired by her story.

“Meeting Ivy during our trip to LA gave me the confidence to pursue a career even though I come from the Midwest,” said Morgan Musgrave, junior.

Junior Bayli Milleson agrees.

“My favorite part was meeting Ivy because her story of how she made her way into her career is inspiring. Hearing that someone from a small town, like me, was able to make it in LA gave be more hope that it's actually possible that I can do it, too,” said Milleson Students met with other people working in the industry such as actors, sound designers, and even a Washburn graduate who is in Hollywood working on building his career.

Sound designer and Oscar-winning Dane Davis gave the students a personalized, behind-the-scene tour of Warner Brothers Studios.

“I thought the L.A. trip was a great experience to have, especially if you're unsure about studying film and going the Hollywood route. Just being in L.A., checking out the studios

Photo courtesy of Bayli Milleson

Left: Bayli Milleson, Sophie Oswald, Morgan Musgrave, Charles Cranston, Rachel Proffitt, Matt Nyquist, Blake Hopper, Daria Dennison and Darrin Hartford tour Paramount Pictures.

and the vibe of the city was important to fully understand if this is want you possibly want to do for your career,” said Milleson.

The department will continue to plan trips that allow students to get a closeup look at the film industry.

“I love doing the Hollywood trip and plan to make it a regular thing,” said Nyquist. “Being able to introduce Washburn students to my contacts in the industry and give them an inside look is incredibly rewarding when I see how it inspires the students. I hope to help students accomplish their goals in Hollywood, Kansas, or wherever they choose to work.”

Mass media students who are just starting out in the program should keep their eyes open for this and similar trips in the program.

Mass Media celebrates 25 years!

We want to celebrate with our alumni and friends.

Watch for news about a special event during Homecoming 2018 (Oct. 13) & plan to join us for the 2019 banquet (April 11, 2019).

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Student Organization Update

Review earns All Kansas honors at conference

by Shayla Bleidissel

individual awards at the conference for their work in writing, design, photograMembers of WU Student Media phy and multimedia. attended the annual Kansas Collegiate A first place award went to Erica Media Conference in Wichita.

Faulkinbury for ad design in the WashThe Review earned All Kansas honburn Review, second place went to Ryan ors among all four-year public schools Thompson for audio feature on the webin the overall competition. The 2017 site and two third place award winners Mass Media Messenger earned a Silver were Cody Dannar for ad design in the ranking while washburnreview.org, Washburn Review and Kenzie McCoy Bod Magazine and the Kaw yearbook for page design in the Bod Magazine. earned Bronze.

Washburn University earned honorAdditionally, several students earned able mentions in two other categories.

The honorable mention for digital journalism went to Whitney Clum and Steven Dennis for an audio feature. The other honorable mention went to the Mass Media Messenger staff and Mark Kotich for his BodPhoto by Regina Cassell Magazine table of Mark Feuerborn, Kraig Dafoe, Josey Trimble, Charlie Rankin, contents design.

Minxi Yao and Jessica Knieff, Review editor-in-chief attend This summer, the 2018 Kansas Collegiate Media conference in Wichita, Student Media sent where the Review was named All Kansas in the four year nine students to public newspaper division.

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Minneapolis for intensive training on storytelling, advertising, newsroom management and networking. According to Regina Cassell, director of Student Media, the staff is eager to begin implementing new ideas for this academic year.

Film students practice craft, change group’s name

by Bayli Milleson The Washburn Filmmakers Association has replaced TriBod Productions as Washburn University’s student organization for students interested in filmmaking.

Most of the members are film students, but the group is eager to partner with any interested students who want to learn more about filmmaking and help out with filming projects.

There are some members who don’t have any experience in making videos or films, and the WU Film Association gives them the chance to learn the process of making a film from film students.

Members are given the opportunity to work on pre-production planning, production on set, and post-production editing and sound mixing, gaining experience in all the different departments of film. After hours working together on a film, the entire crew grows close because of the time spent together.

The organization has produced a few short films in the past. The most recent, “Seeing Scarlet,” was written by junior Ethan Jackson and directed by students.

It’s about a fresh young detective who discovers an insidious case of assault and insanity while dealing with his own

Photo courtesy of Bayli Milleson

Members of the Washburn Filmmakers Association set up equipment to film one of the scenes for the production of a student script. demands and mental instability.

This project was a partnership with the class Filmmaking 2 and allowed students to experience what it’s like working on an actual film set.

In the future, the organization would like to create a tradition of completing new films every year to continue providing the experience that will help Washburn film students succeed.

Students bring internet radio vision to campus

by Mark Feuerborn

Washburn Radio (KRWU) is a new student organization that was formed in 2017.

Its goal is creating and operating a college radio station for Washburn University and Topeka. The founding students collaborated with faculty advisor Jim Schnoebelen for a vision of broadcasting opportunities and education for students as a platform to bring the campus and Topeka communities together.

The project launched as a noncom-

mercial internet broadcast in May 2018.

Currently, the station features daily programming including music by local musicians and public domain artists, locally produced talk shows by students and community contributors, and special productions like radio theatre and book narrations.

The station secured a partnership with the United Nations’ journalism bureau, UN News, allowing broadcasts of their international coverage of world events and issues in audio form.

Students are responsible for planning daily broadcasts, recording and editing

shows, and reaching out to local musicians to form contracts with them for music contributions. Listeners can tune in at washburnradio.wixsite.com/krwu.

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Alumni Class Notes

1980s

Debra Johannes Trautman, ‘85, is the marketing manager for Marine Medical Center in Portland, Maine.

2000s Lyall Ford, ‘02, produced the documentary film, “North Korea: Inside the Hermit Kingdom.” Mass media students Ben Faires and Blake Hopper were assistant producers on the film and Josh Cannon was an assistant editor. The film explored Professor Bob Beatty’s travels in North Korea.

Curtis Kitchen, ‘03, is the director of communications for the National Auctioneers Association and is a director on the board of the Kansas City Society of Association Executives. He recently earned his Certified Association Executive credential.

Kip Kraisinger, ‘05, is the creative director for the Bajillion Agency in Topeka, Kansas.

Misty (Ribordy) Kruger, ‘07, won the Newcomer of the Year Award from the Kansas Schools Public Relations Association in November 2017. She is the director of communications for Topeka Public Schools.

Mallory (Hatfield) McDaniel, ‘07, has been a creative account manager with Advisors Excel since 2013. She and husband, John, have four children: Loren, 22, Hunter, 17, Gunner, 3 and Blakley, 8 months.

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Mary (Hammel) Napier, ‘04, has owned her own business for 13 years. She has two children, Lee, 9, and Leila, 6.

Tara Schroeder-Yantis, ‘09, is an account supervisor at MMGY Global, and was a part of the team that earned Gold for a website at the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.

Amanda Schuster, ‘08, left the corporate world to become a server at the Denver Airport, which gives her opportunities to use her public relations degree along with stress-free living and more family time. Her boys are Wyatt, 10, and Waylon, 5.

2010s Justin Braun, ‘16, is the finance manager for Briggs Kia. His son was born in January, and he was married in May 2018.

Kristina (Wright) Baker, ‘10, lives in Germany and works as a radio frequency transmission technician in the Air Force. She and her husband welcomed their first child, Melody Cecilia, in December.

Amanda (Klinkenberg) Bayless, ‘10, has worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas for one year.

Breann (Hill) Boggs, ‘17, is a community development manager for the American Cancer Society, and she was married in August 2017.

Kyle Brooks, ‘11, was married in December and works at Mars Wrigley Confectionary as an inbound packaging scheduler/produc-

tion scheduler.

Jessica (Gabel) Cuffel, ‘11, is a senior annuity relationship specialist with Gradient Annuity Brokerage. She and her husband of 10 years have two sons, Chase, 8, Justin and Lauren Braun and Koby, 2.

Brian Dulle, ‘12, continues to work at KSNT. He recently won his fourth Kansas Association of Broadcasters Award for best website in a medium television market.

Ian Edwards, ‘13, started as a project administrator for KC One Service Company in Kansas City, Missouri, Rosalie Nadeau in July 2017.

KTWU11, where her work Jessica Ferguson, ‘16, as a coordinating produchas worked at Walz Tetrick er won a Gold Marcom, a Advertising for over a year as Communicator award and a an associate media specialist.

She will get married in August. Platinum AVA Digital award.

She was also nominated for a Sydney Hansen, ‘16, regional Emmy award three has worked as a marketing times and is a ‘16 graduate of assistant at Security Benefit for 18 months and celebrates Leadership Washburn.

Erin (Younkin) Kaberline, homeownership in Topeka.

‘03, has owned Kaberline She also became a new dog Communications for three parent to Lucy. years where she provides Jennifer Funk, ‘15, is full-scale marketing services engaged and will be married to military-focused nonprofits in October of 2018.

Valerie (Caviglia) Gough, and small businesses. She was ‘10, purchased a construction named Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the company, AllSource Construction Specialties, in India- Year for Fort Sam Houston.

She volunteers for Hiring napolis with her husband.

Our Heroes – Military They had another baby, Spouse Professional Network.

Penelope, in August 2017.

Kyle Kelly, ‘12, has been Kate Hampson, ‘11, an IT technician for Kaw works as the director of development for Arsenal Col- Valley Banks for a year.

Richard Kelly, ‘13, orado, a youth soccer club in continues to work as a lead Fort Collins. She also coaches reporter for the Topeka club volleyball.

Roadrunners and has recentWanda Hinton, ‘14, ly taken on the role of emcee. is the executive assistant at

He also works as a recruiter for Key Staffing.

Jordan (Shefte) Kinderknecht, ‘11, has left her job as a news anchor to stay home with her daughter and focus on a direct sales business with Usborne Books and More.

Lauren Kostusik, ‘17, is the human resources analyst at SCOR Global Life in Leawood, Kansas.

Avery LaGalle, ‘16, has been at GlynnDevins, an agency specialized in senior living, for almost two years, and was promoted to associate paid media manger. She manages digital campaigns with paid search and paid social media.

Victor Lara, ‘14, has been an account manager for Pepsi-Cola for two years. He manages multiple accounts with the company including the one for Washburn.

Jill Lira, ‘11, is a senior partner at Oracle Data Cloud and manages open web partnerships in Colorado. She got engaged while visiting Ireland in October 2017.

Erika Lucero, ‘11, moved to Envista Credit Union as marketing coordinator and event planner in October after working three years for the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation. She plans to marry Tylor McNeill, also a Washburn alumnus, in July.

Patrick Malone, ‘11, works at Advisors Excel as a life insurance sales desk consultant and has a 1-year-old daughter.

Anna (Henry) Matile, ‘11, has been marketing director for Probulin for six years. She and her husband, Brent, have a daughter Ains-

ley, 2, and son, Bennett, was born in February.

Chelsea McDonald, ‘13, graduated in May with a masters in digital content Strategy from the University of Kansas. She was promoted to a senior social media strategist at digital agency DEG in Overland Park.

Monica McDougal, ‘16, was accepted to graduate school at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, where she will pursue her Master of Divinity this fall.

Kevin Mitchell, ‘10, quit his job in January to become a stay-at-home dad for his two children, which he says is “the best job ever.”

Ronnie Murphy, ‘04, is lead copywriter for Bajillion Agency in Topeka.

Ashley Nadeau, ‘11, started in January working as the director of marketing and development at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. Her daughter, Rosalie, was born in October 2017.

Christine Nelson, ‘09, is an online retailer for LuLaRoe clothing, but she also has a mobile boutique. She and her hsuband, Jacob, have four kids: Brody, 8, Blaise, 6, Keely, 4, and Kira, 2.

Ryan Ogle, ‘15, is a digital marketing associate for Legacy Financial Partners.

He and his wife, Stacy, own The Hive, an art gallery in

NOTO. He also freelances media services for local businesses and artists.

Kelsey (Wagers) Papps, ‘15, was promoted to creative director for the Greater Topeka Partnership. She also won a gold American Advertising award for some of her design work.

Amy Reinhardt, ‘16, was working on Sprint’s digital team as one of their email writers before her team was laid off at the end of March.

Daphne(Phillips) Reynolds, ‘12, is the assistant director of

continued on page 22

Create Your Legacy IN THE MASS MEDIA DEPARTMENT BY GIVING TODAY. wualumni.org/givenow

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continued from page 21 Admisisons at the University of St. Mary’s.

Brista Robinson, ‘16, is the director of marketing at Mid-America Piano in Manhattan, Kansas.

Israel Sanchez, ‘15, and his wife, had their third child, Penelope Rose.

Jamie Schartz, ‘17, wrote “Patient Autonomy,” a play that was produced by the Washburn Theatre Department in spring of ‘18.

Courtney Sweeney, ‘16, is a QA analyst in Olathe.

Morgan (Schaeffer) Shandler, ‘10, had a baby girl, Violet, in July 2017.

Danielle Smith, ‘08, is a proofreader at Barkley, is engaged and will marry in November 2018.

Jessie (Salmans) Smith, ‘13, was promoted to a senior designer at an ad agency, Grapevine Designs, in Lenexa. She manages all digital and print designs, including web sites, landing pages, pop up banners, gif ads, direct mail, print ads and promo items.

Carly (Willis) Stavola, ‘15, is an anchor for Fox Kansas News. She married Michael Stavola in October of 2017.

Lindsey Wagner, ‘00, is co-owner of Midwest Concrete Cutting and Coring LLC.

Rachel Whitten, ‘10, is the director of public relations for the Kansas Department of Revenue.

Kyle Wiggins, ‘16, spent time in Canada playing professional basketball for a year.

He was a graduate assistant during the ‘15 -‘16 season, and is now a Merchandise Distribution Analyst at Payless ShoeSource.

James Wilper, ‘05, teaches English at The King’s School, Canterbury, England, which was founded in 597 AD. Jake Wingo, ‘15, is a recruiter for accounting and finance and also works as the technical director for Jumbotron broadcasts for

Sporting KC and a camera operator for the Chiefs. His daughter, Jovie Ann, was born in August 2017.

Sarah (Seuell) Winn, ‘15, was married in January 2018 and her daughter, Hazen, is 1-year-old.

Sam Zlotky, ‘16, is an executive assistant at Unbound Book, LLC & Eddie Wakes Music. He completed a digital marketing internship with Jennings Social Media Marketing earlier this year.

Bree Zuchowski, ‘16, was promoted to Operations coordinator at Dimensional Innovations in Lenexa.

Send us your news! regina.cassell@washburn.edu

Photo courtesy of Regina Cassell Members of the senior class gathered for a photo after the first majors meeting. (front row) Danielle Sipe, Marissa Meis, Minxi Yao, Jesica Randel, Mayuko Takata, Allie Brookered, Darria Dennison, Shayla Bleidissel, Leah Coons; (middle) Abdullah Alsobaihi, Liandro Rodriguez, Chase Coble, Charlie Rankin, Dylan Tyler, Terry Richardson, Dustin Wallace, Kempton Redman, Allan Williford; (back) Jesse Nadeau, Mark Feuerborn, Alan Amado, Zhané White, Derrick Schwarz, Blake Hopper and Hailey Mann.

Congrats to December 2017 graduates and 2018 spring and summer degree candidates* December 2017 Kaycee Dillon Trevin Edelman Jennifer Emmert Benjamin Faires* Ryan Greenwood Breann Hill

Alice Ouary Isran Rahman Jamie Schartz MaKenzi Tyler 2018 Candidates Abdullah Alsobaihi

Shayla Bleidissel Alexandria Broockerd Stephanie Cannon Leah Coons* Mark Feuerborn* Jessica Knieff* Mark Kotich*

Jesse Nadeau Danielle Sipe* Derrick Schwarz Taryn Wilkins* Minxi Yao *Indicates mass media honors

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Help preserve Student Media With over a century of yearbooks and weekly newspapers, Student Media offers a rich history for Washburn.

Mabee Library is bringing student publications into the modern age by digitizing the existing archives of the Kaw Yearbook and the Washburn Review.

News that matters to WU.

To make a donation, go to www.wualumni. org/givenow, select “other” as the designation and type in “digitize student publications.”

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