MASS MEDIA
MESSENGER
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WU Student Media:
Keeping alumni connected to WU
Kansas Collegiate Media 2020 Student Awards
studentmedia@washburn.edu
Cover Designs - Bod Magazine
wu_studentmedia
Investigative Reporting - Washburn Review
@wustudentmedia
First Place Winners Hailey Mann Abbie Barth
Second Place Winners Joelle Conway
News/Event Writing - washburnreview.org
Erica Faulkinbury
washburnreview.org
@wustudentmedia
Ad Design - Bod Magazine
Erica Faulkinbury
Feature Writing - Washburn Review
Rachel Ciummo
Table of Contents Page Design - Bod Magazine
Maggie Gile
Theme Development Kaw Yearbook
Third Place Winner Derek Blanchard Sports/Action Photography washburnreview.org
Honorable Mentions Abbie Barth
BOD MAGAZINE A Student Media Publication
Column Writing - Washburn Review
Hailey Mann, Erica Faulkinbury
Page Design Yearbook/Magazine - Bod Magazine
Wesley Tabor
Feature Writing - Mass Media Messenger
Wesley Tabor
News/Event Writing - Bod Magazine
Kansas Collegiate Media 2020 Overall Publication Awards
A quick word By Maria Stover Professor and Department of Mass Media Chair COVID-19 has brought us many challenges. For the first time since I’ve been at Washburn, many important traditions, including commencement, were canceled. Despite these heartbreaking circumstances, I believe this global pandemic has given us the ability for innovations and perhaps the permission to say goodbye to things that no longer allow us to put our best efforts forward. Seeing the world in a new way can be intimidating, but media practitioners have always been uniquely positioned to navigate challenges. We’re proud of the way our students continued to push forward in their courses despite this uncertainty, and we’re proud of our many alumni and friends who were busy doing their part as homes and workplaces suddenly merged into one place. It’s always the people who make my job worth doing, and I am looking forward to hearing your success stories as we move to reconcile what was with what will be.
Photo courtesy of Maria Stover
Students help represent mass media at Washburn University’s annual Day of Giving. Students pictured include (front) Mizuki Iwasa, Emma Palasak, Shelby Edwards, Sota Yoshikawa, (back) Darrin Hartford, Kassadee Clark, Kim Korber, Breckyn Rowley, Brittney Clark, Alexis Chicalas, Emma Wittmer, Erasmo Nunez-Baeza and Keisuke Takahashi.
Department of Mass Media News Day of Giving impact For the second year in a row, Mass Media has participated in Washburn’s annual Day of Giving. This year, 30 donors helped us raise $2,296. “Thank you so much for your generous support of our students,” said Maria Stover professor and chair of mass media. “The money helps fund program initiatives and scholarships for students.”
MM adds gen ed courses Beginning fall 2020, mass media will offer a total of three courses as part of Washburn’s general education program for humanities. Along with MM100,
Introduction to Mass Media, two new courses, MM 128 Disney and Society, and MM 155 Sports and Media, will be offered to majors from across campus.
MM earns kudos
The Department of Mass Media won the university-wide Assessment Award for 2019. Thanks to Assistant Professor Kristen Grimmer’s outstanding efforts, the department was recognized for collecting detailed assessment data from each MM class. Congratulations to Eriko Hiranoi and Drew Dickes; their film, “Miku,” won first place in the documentary category in the Kansas Association of Broadcasters contest. 3
Volume 31, Issue 1
Contents
WASHBURN UNIVERSITY | 1700 SW COLLEGE AVE. | TOPEKA, KS | 66621
3 Department Updates 5 Faculty Updates 6 COVID-19 Changes Everything 7 Civil Rights Trip 8 Dreams Do Come True in the Happiest Place on Earth 10 Retired Chair Seams a Success in Quilting 12 35 Miles of Cable Leads To Fast Lane 13 Internship Launches Career 14 Gaming Course Reboots 16 MM 415 Mimics Mini Digital Agency 17 Student Media Office Receives Face-lift 18 Class Notes 20 Outstanding Students & Scholarship Winners 21 Alumni Awards 22
Mass Media Graduates
Mass Media Messenger
Editor-in-Chief
Madison Dean
Editorial Staff
Sarah Buchanan Lexi Chicalas James Gorman Emily Jardon Nikki Kraaijeveld Katie Larkin Kyle Manthe
Cover Design Madison Dean
Faculty Adviser Regina Cassell
The Mass Media Messenger is created annually by Washburn University students in MM 431 Creative Media Practicum and is mailed to all department alumni and friends. Alumni are encouraged to send news and life updates to regina.cassell@washburn.edu.
@massmediawu Š 2020 Washburn University Department of Mass Media
u Faculty Updates u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u Andrew Anglin
Assistant Professor Anglin teaches classes in the advertising concentration, with the Disney and Sports Branding classes being the most popular. He was elected to the executive board at the Topeka Advertising Federation and was named the organization’s 2020 Carolyn Terhune Volunteer of the Year Award. This fall, Anglin was presented with a Student Life Achieving Excellence Award for exhibiting excellence in working with the students in his classes.
Regina Cassell
Senior Lecturer Cassell won the Advisor of the Year Award as part of Washburn’s Student Organization Achievement Awards for her work as director of Student Media in 2019. She also was granted a Sweet Sabbatical in 2020, which will be postponed to summer 2021 because of COVID-19.
Sam Finch
Lecturer Finch’s classes focus on developing students’ skills in screenwriting, film editing and video production. As content director for the Washburn International Film Institute, Finch leads the selection committee for submitted films. Finch continues to develop
hands-on learning opportunities for students. This summer, he will offer an online course exploring iconic film directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and Quentin Tarantino.
Kristen Grimmer
Assistant Professor Since 2018, Grimmer has been overseeing the publication of the Mass Media Alumni Newsletter, which uses reporting from students. In the summer, Grimmer will teach a new course called Military and the Media, which will feature guest speakers from both the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and Topeka’s Veterans Affairs.
Tracy Horacek
Senior Administrative Assistant Horacek is learning software applications such as InDesign and Canva. Assisting the department with events like the annual Keynote Speaker Event and the WIFI film festival has challenged her to find new ways to organize and track information.
Matthew Nyquist
Assistant Professor Nyquist teaches students skills in directing, producing, assistant directing, cinematography, screenwriting, sound, editing, and professional development. He is the faculty adviser for the
WIFI Student Council and is the driving force behind the WIFI Film Festival. His new class Video Game Storytelling pulls together the creative, business and mass media aspects of the industry. In May, 2019, Nyquist received a Student Life Achieving Excellence Award
Maria Stover
Professor and Chair Stover spent the last year leading the department’s curriculum revision efforts, which incorporated an industry analysis and an alumni survey. As managing director of the WIFI film festival, Stover secured $6,000 in funding for the 2020 festival and worked on bringing in expanded community connections. She was honored to receive the Women of Influence Award in Education for 2019.
2019-20 Adjuncts
The department gives a big thanks to Patrick Early, Tim Hrenchir, Maxwell Kautsch, Barbara Shuck and Eugene Williams for delivering outstanding education to our students.
COVID-19
Despite the cancellation of the second annual WIFI film festival and the Keynote Speaker Event, the faculty did create a special Senior Celebration Zoom event for those who were graduating.
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COVID-19 changes everything By Emily Jardon and Kyle Manthe In the face of unprecedented challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone everywhere had to make changes on the fly. Washburn University, and specifically the mass media department, are no different. Everyone is experiencing the same crisis in different ways, with some facing unique hardships, and others finding enjoyment and new opportunities. All the while, spring 2020 classes continued for students and faculty alike. “Our classes are going well and our students are continuing their learning experiences. Mass media faculty deeply care about our students, and they are committed to helping them be successful,” Maria Stover, chair of the mass media department, said. Sadly, mass media had to cancel the second annual WIFI Film Festival and the keynote speaker event. Kristen Grimmer, assistant professor of mass media, said the Public Relations 2 class had already done the planning part of the event. “The main thing I’ve been focusing on is encouraging my students whenever we meet on video chat and trying to listen when they struggle because I want them to know that no matter how long we may have to maintain social distancing, this will eventually pass,” Grimmer said. Public relations senior Alexis Chicalas returned from spring break and lost her job as a server at Texas Roadhouse. “On top of wondering how I would afford the
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cost of living, I was going crazy trying to figure out how I will transition to online classes. Without my job or class, I have a lot of free time. I have not had free time since I don’t know when,” said Chicalas. She tries to stay positive by going on walks, being outside and checking on friends Graphic by Madison Dean and family. The film and video course instructors also face unique problems teaching online. Sam Finch, mass media lecturer, used Zoom sessions to teach his lectures and provided alternative projects for students who do not have access to Adobe Premiere. Matt Nyquist, assistant professor, has also had to adjust his classes. “As much as possible, I’ve been doing breakout sessions so the students can discuss concepts with their peers. I feel this is helpful for mental health, and discussing with their peers and then explaining to the entire class is such a valuable way to learn,” Nyquist said. Stover never thought she would live to see a pandemic wipe out a small percentage of the world. Graphic by Madison Dean “While it’s known it can have an effect, it can be difficult for some to see those they love in a hard place and there’s not much they can do about it,” Stover said.
difficult part was staying motivated to finish my Senior Lecturer Regina Cassell has school work,” Buchanan said. realized just how important the connection One thought that was synonymous with students truly is. among everyone included here had “I had 26 students in MM199 this semester,” “Mass Media faculty nothing to do with what was going on now, but what the future would be said Cassell. “There deeply care about like. is already a lot of our students and COVID-19 has left some technology in the class, and many students had they are committed questioning what it holds, while to overcome the initial to helping them be others, like Grimmer, had a clearer vision of what was to come, even if it shock before they were successful.” was not all positive. able to jump back into classwork.” - Maria Stover “While I don’t think things will ever go back to the same as they For Sarah Buchanan, Professor and were, I do think we will find a new the transition was not too difficult because she Department Chair normal that can be just as satisfying as the old one,” Grimmer said. had taken online classes In addition to teaching classes, in the past. faculty met weekly to discuss policies and “I did miss saying my bi- or tri-weekly strategies that could help Washburn students this hellos to my classmates and exchanging fall as well. ideas for projects and activities. The most
COMMUNICATION IS KEY Complement your major by adding a minor in Communication Studies! To earn a minor in Communication Studies, completion of CN 101, CN 150 and 3 upper-division CN electives is required. For more information, email communication@washburn.edu
Exploring Civil Rights through video production By Madison Dean Washburn University continues to expand its students’ knowledge on important topics in history, including civil rights. Exploring Civil Rights is a class that goes above and beyond the typical conversations surrounding civil rights and the movement itself. “I decided to take [this] class…to really learn the truth about what happened,” said Kim Korber, a senior mass media major. “I remember as soon as I got to college [I learned] that some of the things I learned in high school weren’t correct.” The upper-division course can be taken as a history, mass media or English credit and applies each subject into the class in different ways. History is the main focus and covers civil rights. English is included in the discussions that are held during the class and the required reflection papers. The mass media element, which was implemented a few years ago, allows students to create a video documenting their trip to the South. The trip is a huge part of this course. Students visit museums and important historical sites such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s first church, the Edmund Pettus Bridge and the University of Mississippi’s campus. The road trip covers Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. Matthew Nyquist, an assistant professor in the mass media department, was recruited to the team of teachers last year. “It’s been one of my highlights of being at Washburn,” Nyquist said. “There’s really no better way to experience history than to do it firsthand.” During the trip, students learned about the violence and activism during the civil rights movement through stories, pictures and videos. Some of them were graphic, which can have a
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Photo by Matt Nyquist
Students stand with civil rights activist Dr. Flonzie Brown Wright in front of her first house in Canton, Mississippi. Brown Wright tells stories from the movement and her work with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
huge impact on those who are exposed to them. “This class is phenomenally important because it gives you a first-hand experience of very important history that most of us, including myself, [are] ignorant of,” Nyquist said. Introducing a mass media aspect in the class pushes students to learn about how to process and report what they learned during the trip through film. “I think with media it’s … thinking about what’s important and portraying that and making sure I’m learning and being able to show that to other people,” Korber said. The trip successfully took place during spring break this year, before the Coronavirus outbreak forced isolation. While at home, students still have the opportunity to edit and submit a video about what they learned during the trip in hopes of helping to educate others about civil rights.
Dreams do come true in the happiest place on earth
o
By Madison Dean nce upon a time, Washburn University began into the company’s world-renown guest service techniques, its corporate leadership philosophies offering a new mass media class where and its environmental impact. students could learn all about Disney. Anglin says hearing the stories from the Some might say assistant professor Andrew students about their Disney experiences is one of Anglin brought the magic with him. As a his favorite parts of the class. longtime fan and former “We can read about Few college courses can employee of the Walt boast of including trips to four Disney Company, Anglin’s these subjects, major theme parts, but the travel excitement for Disney is but to actually element truly makes the class a contagious. experience it special one. “It was my first Two groups of Washburn employer, and I have a f irsthand really students have traveled to Walt lot of memories related drives home what I Disney World in Orlando, Florida. to its various products, “We can read about these services and experiences. want these students subjects, but to actually I’m very glad that I have to learn.” experience it firsthand really the opportunity to share -Andrew Anglin drives home what I want these my knowledge of the students to learn,” said Anglin. company with others here “It also allows them to experience something that at Washburn University,” Anglin said. may be very different from any places they’ve The Walt Disney Company has been a staple been to previously.” in the lives of people of all ages since 1923 from The first Disney class took place during the the company’s animated films and music to its summer of 2019 and the second class took place theme parks and beyond. The class explores the life of Walt Disney and how he created one of the spring of 2020. Both classes have had successful trips full of Mickey ears and magic. most powerful companies in the world. Students get to explore the impact of Disney on society, its cultural footprint and the entertainment industry. The class also delves
See ya real soon!
Retired chair seams a success in quilting By Sarah Buchanan Her quilts are made of many pieces of fabric. Each piece different, stitched together, contributing to the overall composition. Since retiring, Kathy Menzie, former chair of the mass media department and professor emeritus, has become a passionate quilter, winning multiple awards. Menzie stayed busy in her 20 years at Washburn, transitioning the mass media department from a print-only environment to a digital one. She added advertising, electronic communication and film and video to the curriculum. She also chaired the communication department, the academic affairs committee and was a member of the faculty senate. An interest in sewing was curbed by a lack of free time, but as Menzie neared retirement, a class at a local quilt shop renewed her motivation. “I loved it. It was so much fun. It was cool to come up with patterns,” Menzie said. After spending a year sewing traditional quilts, Menzie began landscape quilting, which has become her specialty. She has made 125 landscape quilts since starting. Menzie’s quilts have won numerous awards at both the Shawnee County Fair and the Kansas Capital Quilters Guild’s annual show. She
Photo courtesy of Kathy Menzie.
One of Menzie’s landscape quilts inspired by a pueblo in Taos, New Mexico.
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Photo courtesy of Kathy Menzie.
Kathy Menzie, former chair of the Department of Mass Media, has turned her passion for sewing into an expressive form of art.
sometimes exhibits her quilts at a studio space in NOTO Arts Center. “I am amazed at how much fun I’m having. I am joyful every day that I get to do this and that I get as much time as I want to — playing with something that is so delightful,” Menzie said. Anna Walker, former senior administrative assistant in the mass media department, likes to take credit for Menzie showing her quilts. “I saw the talent, and I saw that she had an amazing eye. I just kept encouraging her ‘you’re really good at this, you should really do this,’ and now she is,” Walker said. After working in the mass media department together, Menzie and Walker continue their friendship, bonding over a love of fiber art and continuing to encourage each other. “Most of those conversations are about what each of us have been inspired by. Whenever we get together, we are looking at ‘what are we working on right now, what is appealing to us right now and what do we see ourselves wanting to do next,’” Walker said. “The sort of
brainstorming that goes on with creative types — you never know where the conversation will take you.” Andrea Conlee, a traditional quilter and friend of Menzie’s, also encourages Menzie in quilting and in life. Menzie and Conlee met and connected instantly when they took a lunch break during a Stitching Traditions quilting class. Their friendship has grown over the years. “It’s a lot of fun. We laugh a lot, and we talk a lot about color, design and what we’re currently sewing,” Conlee said. Conlee quilts alongside Menzie when their “grapevine group” gets together. One of her favorite landscape quilts that she has seen Menzie
create is of a winter scene. “I like it because it feels like if I walked out the front door, I could step into her quilt scene,” Conlee said. Menzie’s quilts can be seen at her next solo exhibit, scheduled in July at Fire Me Up Ceramics in NOTO Arts Center, which will feature nearly 20 of her landscape quilt designs. Photos courtesy of Kathy Menzie
Top left: Menzie was inspired to create this quilt from a photo looking out of a Bed and Breakfast Inn on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Bottom left: Menzie’s inspiration for this quilt came from a friend’s photo, taken in Battle Ground, Washington. Right: This quilt features a hairy cow, prevalent in Scotland. Menzie decided to create this quilt after returning home from her trip.
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35 miles of cable leads to fast lane By Kyle Manthe When wrapped up, a spool of cable may not seem that long, but once it starts being unraveled it can lead to places previously unimaginable. Justin Gutierrez, a 2010 mass media graduate, has spent nearly a decade setting up video broadcasts for networks like ABC and ESPN. In that time, he has served in many roles on both the production and technical side. “It’s never the same thing twice, and that is what’s exciting about it,” Gutierrez said, referring to his average day on the job. In the past year, Gutierrez has been on site for the Division I NCAA Football National Championship, a Conor McGregor fight and for senior night at the University of Kansas men’s basketball game. One of his personal favorite events to have covered was the Indy 500 — specifically, the 100th running and 100th anniversary. According to Gutierrez, this job included a three-week setup and more than 35 miles of cable, but the reward Photo courtesy Justin Gutierrez paid dividends. Alumnus Justin Gutierrez has gotten to travel to many sporting “There were only four people on the track, and events through his job, including men’s basketball games in Allen I was one of them,” Gutierrez said, talking about Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas. where he was as the race was starting. of sacrifice pays off. Some of his most surreal experiences come “He was always willing to drive 100 miles to from being around and working with the work a basketball game,” said Nate Hess, a fellow celebrities involved with the events. Washburn University mass media alumnus who Gutierrez will never worked with Gutierrez for over five forget meeting celebrity years. “There were only chef, Guy Fieri. That type of work ethic, along “Guy Fieri was four people on the with the versatility of knowing how involved in drag racing, track, and I was one to play many roles, is what has and he actually closed enabled Gutierrez to find his success. of them” down their restaurant All while winding back to Washburn and gave us a private -Justin Gutierrez and the Topeka Expo Centre where meal in his restaurant, his professional career started. where he served us his entire menu,” Gutierrez Gutierrez said that, even though he is happy said. with where his career is now, he still has goals he Getting the opportunity to meet famous people wants to accomplish. Gutierrez believes he will and visit locations all over the United States settle down eventually, and perhaps he will sign requires a lot of work and a high commitment to on with one company and begin working toward travel, which dissuades some, but not Gutierrez. a managerial position. He knows that to make it in the industry, that type
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Internship launches career By Emily Jardon It’s not uncommon for mass media students to find employment opportunities connected to their internships. In the summer of 2019, Dustin Wallace got an internship in digital communications at the Kansas Insurance Department, and now he is the digital communications manager. He tells people he’s the luckiest guy because that internship has led to a full-time job. Faculty in the department know luck rarely has anything to do with it. “Dustin was an extremely hard-working student,” said Regina Cassell, senior lecturer. “We worked with him to design the cover for the inaugural WIFI film festival program. He was willing to keep fine-tuning until both he and Dr. Maria Stover were satisfied.” A willingness to learn and a great work ethic are often two key components for students who leverage their internships into a career. “This is why we stress the value of having great internships to help create those work samples in your portfolio,” said Cassell. “We expect students like Dustin to land on their feet and do well.” When Wallace transferred to Washburn, he found his passion for mass media through Public Relations professor Kristen Grimmer. “It was through her confidence in me that I built my confidence in my writing skills and my abilities. I do owe my focus in public relations to Professor Grimmer,” Wallace said. His first assignment in the digital communications department was designing a new logo for the KID. The old logo had been used since 1861, and the department gave him creative freedom to design something new. “The creation of the new logo was a fantastic spring forward of confidence, both in my own ability and their confidence in me,” Wallace said, who admitted that logo design in visual communications was not exactly his favorite assignment. Having that freedom allowed him to show
Photo courtesy Dustin Wallace
Alumnus Dustin Wallace reflects on his experiences at Washburn that helped him to progress forward in his career. Designing the Kansas Insurance Department’s logo was a project that Wallace says gave him new found confidence in his job.
what he could do, and he credits the promotions writing class he took at Washburn for teaching him those skills. Every day is different in the Kansas Insurance Department. His most recent project was relaunching the website they had been working on since November. He enjoys the challenge and uses skills that he learned from the mass media department at Washburn to reach that end goal. “It just goes to show even if your heart is set on something like public relations, it can change, and you can find where you fit in,” Wallace said.
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Gaming course reboots By Kyle Manthe During the spring 2020 semester, the MM 393 special topics course originally called Interactive Storytelling rebooted as Video Game Storytelling taught by assistant mass media professor Matt Nyquist. Finishing up his third full year at Washburn University, Nyquist has continued to use his experience and professional connections to update and develop relevant curriculum. “The gaming industry is one of the fastest growing in terms of creating new jobs that our students would be suited for. One of my biggest goals for this class is for the students to see and learn the professional side of the gaming industry,” said Nyquist. Senior Gus Ramirez encourages students to take this course in the future. “It is well worth your time,” said Ramirez. “Not only is professor Nyquist a wonderful teacher with relevant connections, but this class also helps you get a solid background on the video game industry. It helps you consider video games as a legitimate industry.” The university has also recognized the value of the industry and approved a interdisciplinary minor in game design in 2019. Nyquist’s course is one of the options students completing the minor can take, but it’s also a smart choice for all mass media concentrations. “As a department, we are very career focused, so I try to think about that first,” Nyquist said, again mentioning how the gaming industry has job opportunities for all mass media graduates. And, he does not expect students just to take his word for it. As part of the course, Nyquist
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Graphic courtesy of Gus Ramirez Gus Ramirez, senior mass media major, completed MM 393 Video Game Storytelling with Assistant Professor Matt Nyquist during spring 2020. Ramirez created the above map for his final project, which was the concept design for his video game concept.
brings in high-level guests from the industry to speak with students. “I think it is really important for students to hear from people who work in the industry,” Nyquist said. Senior Josh Cannon and Ramirez both mentioned the quality of the guest speakers they were able to interact with. Two working editors, Marc Duddelson and Coury Carlson, are founders of the YouTube channel called “My Life in Gaming,” a project that started in their free time and now boasts 172K subscribers. The duo showed students that it’s possible to create your own opportunities. Students in the class learn a lot about story telling, which is important because students have to create and develop a concept for their own video games. The students do not produce the games in this course due to time constraints, but they spent a lot of time planning for character development, learning how to create meaningful play, creating a story to cover the first three levels,
and finally a marketing plan to help them take their concept to the next level. With the goal of achieving a video game with a Dungeons and Dragons feel to it, Ramirez describes his game this way: “A fantasy, medieval land named Caevia, under the rule of the Caevian Empire, which is headed by King Roet.” Players in Ramirez’s game would explore Caevia and its ancient ruins and history, including the “Strum,” which happened 400 years ago and included a 10-year drought and a continuous twoyear lightning storm.” Quests, open game play and a new world to explore are elements the players would experience. “Students in this class get to take advantage of professor Nyquist’s broad range of talents and experiences,” said Maria Stover, mass media chair and professor. “His experience in gaming, story
Guest speakers Marc Duddelson (top) and Coury Carlson (bottom), Zoom with students in the Video Game Storytelling course this spring. Duddelson and Carlson created “My Life in Gaming” on YouTube.
telling, cinematography, audio, music, editing along with his connections give our students a truly high-quality and unique experience.” The course will soon have its own course number and be a regular offering as the department wraps up its 2020 curriculum update.
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Screen Grab courtesy of Nikki Kraaijeveld
MM415 mimics mini digital agency By Nikki Kraaijeveld Every year the Promotions Writing class works with a client who needs help with digital marketing. This year, Kristen Grimmer, assistant professor of mass media, connected with David Wingerson, Sunflower Music Festival coordinator. “The Sunflower Music Festival is about bringing high-quality classical and chamber music to northeast Kansas,” Wingerson said. “The center of our mission is to bring free performances, but of world-class quality.” One of Wingerson’s goals is to increase public awareness because he believes the festival brings a quality experience to Topeka. With only two people working in the office all year, the festival organizers were glad to partner with Washburn students. “The Sunflower Music Festival is a perfect client,” Grimmer said. “They don’t actually do a whole lot digitally, and they really need help promoting, publicizing and educating people about the festival.” The class is set up like a mini digital agency and has six different teams: website, design, content creation, search engine optimization, public relations and advertising. At the beginning of the semester, the students chose the team they wanted to be on, and each team, had its own responsibilities and gave the class a range of experiences.
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The teams worked on the project in different phases,” Grimmer said. “We started off with primary research through a qualitative textual analysis and in-depth interviews. Based on that research, the class creates digital strategies and eventually some of the digital products. In the end, we present everything to the client in a comprehensive plans book.” It wasn’t until last semester that Emma Wittmer, a junior in public relations and leader of the design team, found out that she has both an interest in and good eye for graphic design. “I wanted to continue in design through this project,” Wittmer said. “I can’t wait to see what the whole project looks like, and to put the plans book in my portfolio will show my extensive experience with design.” Though COVID-19 concerns postponed the Sunflower Music Festival until 2021, students still completed the plans book. Grimmer hopes the lost year will give the festival’s board more time to review and implement the students’ recommendations, instead of just six weeks. “It’s such a good way to look at it. We could use the time to put everything into place,” said Wingerson. “I think the board would definitely consider using some of the work that the students have sent us. I’ll be pushing for it.” Welcome to the COVID-19 classroom. Students in MM 415 Promotions Writing Zoom with Assistant Professor Kristen Grimmer.
Student Media office receives face-lift By Kyle Manthe The Student Media office has seen its fair share of appearance updates either though re-arranging the office or putting together furniture from surplus with what was already in the office. With a goal of creating a more modern work space for students, the office received its most significant renovations in more than a decade. New desks, matching chairs, new TVs mounted on the wall and a fresh paint job give student journalists an efficient working space. Regina Cassell, director of Student Media, gives full credit for the creativity and effort of the renovations to Kraig Dafoe, who was the executive editor for Student Media last year. He now works as a senior administrative assistant for Allied Health at Washburn. “It could not have happened without Kraig,” said Cassell, who helped Dafoe with funding approval and support for the project. “I wanted to make it like a real newsroom, and give it that professional feel,” Dafoe said. A nice surprise was the gift of a large conference table from the College of Arts and Sciences. “When we had big meetings, it was hard to have everybody in there without people just sitting on the floor,” said Karli Davis, mass media alumna and former Kaw Yearbook editor-in-chief. Davis is currently the director of alumni relations at the Washburn School of Law. “I know it’s silly in some ways to get excited
Connect with Mass Media
@massmediawu
Photo by Kyle Manthe
The Student Media office’s renovations create a professional working environment for the student journalists.
about chairs for the office,” Cassell said. “But there were never matching chairs for the office since I started. We had a random hodge podge of chairs, and they broke all the time. Having matching new chairs made a noticeable difference.” Cassell also works with the Board of Student Media and leaders to put relevant and up-to-date technology into the hands of current employees. “I want to make sure we are getting the equipment in the hands of the students, and that they are using it to go out and tell the stories of Washburn,” Cassell said. The opportunity for students to use higher-end equipment also helps with recruiting efforts. “Student Media protects the voice of students across campus and gives students opportunities to gain valuable and transferable skills for their future careers,” Cassell said.
Class Notes Alan Amando Jr., 2018, is a trust associate with Kaw Valley Bank in Topeka. Allyson Burr, 2019, became a retail manager at Young Life’s Saranac Village in Saranac Lake, New York, in April. She now mentors interns and summer volunteers, which is where she began her own career.
Bayley Baker, 2020, begins a new job at Summit Marketing in Lenexa, Kansas. Brittney Clark, 2020, was accepted in the Disney College Program with the Walt Disney Company. She will also pursue a master’s in journalism at the University of Kansas. Lauren Edelman, 2011, was promoted to director of Washburn University’s Leadership Institute and completed her doctorate of education in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Kansas this spring.
Trevin Edelman, 2017, has been a financial advisor at Thrivent Financial since February 2019. He and his wife, Holly, live in Sabetha, Kansas, and will celebrate six years of marriage in June. Drew Egnoske, 2014, is in his 19th year serving in the Air National Guard and is using his multimedia skills to recruit for the 190th Air Refueling Wing in Topeka. Mark Feuerborn, 2018, was promoted to news operations manager at KSNT. In 2019, he worked as a copyeditor and voice actor on a fan-made modification for the game “Fallout: New Vegas,” called “Fallout: California.” Karl Fundenberger, 2008, is a media specialist for the Kansas Legislative Research Department, where he helps build research documents and website projects for the Kansas Legislature.
Faith J. Griffin, 2008, self-published her first book in 2018 titled, “Above All Else-Reconcile, Reconnect, Remember Yourself.” Griffin is working on a second book, “ChristCentered Self Care,” which is set to be released fall 2020. Megan (Barfield) Hash, 2012, had a son, Charlie, born in
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Paige (Lockard) Ross, 2010, is living in the Netherlands with her husband, Charlie, of 10 years and their three boys, Micah, Ivan and Seaver. She is a graphic designer for a missions organization in Kansas City, Missouri, and owns her own graphic design business called Ross Digital Expressions. She also illustrates full-page recipe cards as part of a business in the Netherlands. Her designs are being published in a quarterly Dutch food magazine in 2020. December 2018, with husband, Brandon. Big brother Wyatt, was born in 2015.
Shayndel Jones, 2019, began her job as a publications writer for the Kansas Highway patrol in June 2019 and purchased her first home in August. Emily (Juhnke) Bronson, 2014, is a connections coordinator for The Gathering Church in Newton, Kansas. She was married in April 2020.
Josh King, 2010, started as an assistant election commissioner of election operations at the Johnson County Election Office in August of 2019. Jessica Knieff, 2018, is continuing her career at IntelePeer in Denver, Colorado. As of April 2020, she was promoted to partner marketing manager.
Rachel (Proffitt) Komasinski, 2017, founded her digital marketing business in 2019 and is helping small business owners in Omaha, Nebraska, with videos, logo design, website design and social media management. Mark Kotich, 2018, is the marketing and communications coordinator at Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas. He and his wife, Amanda, have been married 13 years.
Nathan Lorenzen, 2020, was accepted into the University of Nebraska, where he will pursue a master’s in intercollegiate athletics administration. Olivia Marshall, 2015, works as a marketing and sales assistant at AVI Roofing in Denver, Colorado. Sarah Miller, 2019, started as a communications specialist for Topeka Public Schools in March of 2020.
Avery (LaGalle) Morse, 2016, married Nicholas Morse, also
a Washburn graduate, in 2019, and is a paid media manager at GlynnDevins, an ad agency in Kansas City.
Next Generation Ichabods
Alicia (Phillips) Mowder, 2008, started working at Circle K in November 2018. She was promoted to Head of U.S. Marketing for Circle K in Jan. 2019. She lives in North Carolina with husband Christopher, also a Washburn graduate and daughter Ellie.
Charles Rankin, 2018, began working as a news reporter for the Salina Journal in August 2019.
Taryn Reed, 2019, is a social media coordinator at Woodruff, a marketing and advertising company; she works at the Kansas City, Missouri, location.
Jackson Nicholas Brooks
Lawson Albert Lebahn
Clara Grace Shandy
Theodore Owen Spahn
Daphne (Phillips) Reynolds, 2012, received her Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Saint Mary in May 2019 and welcomed her first son in the same month. Bree (Zuchowski) Rhodes, 2016, is in her third year at Dimensional Innovations in Olathe, Kansas, serving as a human resources coordinator. She recruits summer interns. Liandro Rodriguez, 2018, began working as an assistant language teacher for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, in Japan in August 2019.
Israel Sanchez, 2015, is a marketing assistant at CoreFirst Bank & Trust and the creator of Kansas Young.
Melissa Sowers, 2012, is in her fourth year at Finney County Convention and Visitors Bureau as a sales director of events and planning. Carly (Willis) Stavola, 2015, is a midday anchor and a morning reporter at KSN News, an NBC affiliate in Wichita, Kansas. Nicole Stejskal, 2011, is currently the Marketing Manager for Enterhealth Addiction Treatment in Dallas, Texas.
Colin Truhe, 2019, will be attending the University of Nebraska this fall to pursue his master’s of arts in educational and student affairs administration. Adam Vlach, 2016, lives in Charleston South Carolina, and works as a project manager for Blackbud. He is getting married in October 2020.
Valerie (Holmes) Williams, 2007, is working at Architect One in Topeka as a marketing director. Dustin Wallace, 2019, is a digital communications manager for the Kansas Insurance Department Division of Government and Public Affairs.
Jordan Yoder, 2019, began her transition to a full-time employee at Advisors Excel after interning there for almost two years. She is an application specialist.
Sam Zlotky, 2016, moved to California and is a brand ambassador for Monster Energy and for an agency called MKTG. He also is an independent contractor for small events around the SoCal area.
Kyle Brooks, 2011, and his wife, Amanda, welcomed son, Jackson Nicholas Brooks Oct. 14, 2018.
Kelly Haywood, 2016, completed her master’s degree in administration with an emphasis in management in December Laniya & Londyn Haywood 2019. She works for the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation as a coordinator on the Major Gifts Philanthropy Team. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her two girls, Laniya, 5, and Londyn, who will be a year old in August.
Jake Lebahn, 2007, and his wife, Lindsay, welcomed a son, Lawson Albert, born May 3, 2020. Elizabeth (Burgett) Shandy, 2015, and her husband, Nicholas, had a baby girl, Clara, March 9, 2019, and became first-time homeowners. She began her new job as a student advisor for Grantham University in Lenexa and began her master’s of science in leadership in spring 2020. Ashley (Shepard) Spahn, 2011, and her husband, Matt (WU Law School), welcomed a son, Theodore Owen, March 16, 2020.
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nt Awards & e d u t S g Outstandin inners FY2020 ip W Scholarsh
Contemporary Journalism
Hailey Mann
Creative Advertising
Joshua Cannon
Bayley Baker
Joelle Conway
“I regretted many decisions in high school -- No. 1 was not getting involved in student organizations. It feels good 4-5 years later to receive this award.”
“I have truly enjoyed my time in the Mass Media department. I will never forget this wonderful experience and the amazing teachers I have gotten to know.”
“I’m extremely honored and humbled by this, and I can’t say thank you enough to all those in the department through the years.”
“I feel so honored and humbled to be named a recipient of this award! Thank you Washburn University Mass Media Department for your support over the years. Go Bods!”
“I am honored to be recognized for the constant hard work, effort, and love I put into Student Media. The best part about being a leader is helping others become leaders, too. I’ve met so many cool people through Student Media. The Office became my home on campus.”
Wesley Tabor
Film and Video
Public Relations
Student Media
2020-2021 Scholarship Recipients Dean’s Scholarship • Josh Cannon • Madison Dean • Leah Jamison • Melissa King Dan and Rosy Bennett Scholarship • Grace Cole • Lexie Longbine • Adyson Narber • Alyssa Storm • Breckyn Rowley Mass Media Scholarship • Kathryn Heger
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DoGood Mass Media Scholarship • Alexis Chicalas • Adin Replogle • Shiann Olberding • Joshua Irsik Marion Lerrigo McWilliams Memorial Scholarship • Zoey McWilson- Nichols Thad M. Sandstrom Memorial Scholarship • Andrew Gill
David C. Beeder Mass Media Scholarship • Kyle Manthe Dick Snider Scholarship • Lauryn R. Massey • Amanda Zoetmulder • Ellie Walker Kenneth C. & Edith M. Bronson Scholarship • Anna Larson • Nikki Kraaijeveld • Katherine Han Mr. & Mrs. Oscar S. Stauffer Scholarship • Jaden Leffler
Shelley E. White Scholarship • Emma Wittmer • Leah Jamison Edwards Family Scholarship • Melissa King Robert A. Hentzen Memorial Athletic Scholarship • Daphne Williams Zula Bennington Greene Scholarship • Madison Dean
Department honors alumnae The Mass Media Non Nobis Solum Alumni Award recognizes those alumni or friends of the mass media department who are past the 10-year graduation point, and who continue to make an impact in media and Martha B. their communities. Piland The 2020 Award Non Nobis Solum goes to Martha B. Alumni Award Piland. Piland graduated in 1986 with a degree in communications. Piland started her own company 22 years ago. MB Piland is a company that focuses on branding and strategic planning. MB Piland also started a program called “Banktastic,” where millenials share their thoughts about money, how to save it, and what they think banks can do better. In September of 2019 Piland published her second book “Beyond Sticky.” In her book she focuses on how financial brands and institutions can learn about business, customer development and branding.
The Mass Media Ad Astra Alumni Award recognizes graduates within 10 years after their graduation. The 2020 Award goes to Sarah Towle. Towle graduated in 2007 with an emphasis in writing-publishing. Sarah Towle worked for Towle KU Medical and the Ad Astra Special Olympics Alumni Award for a few years, but found herself back at Washburn in 2011. She now is the director of marketing and communications at the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation. Here she spends her time helping the university connect with alumni, setting up events, and communicating what is happening at Washburn. She has also served the mass media department as an adjunct in the mass media department and has taught several classes. Towle received the award for all her professional accomplishments, outstanding achievements and dedication to Washburn University and the Topeka community.
Congratulations mass media graduates
Colten Allen
Vinyl Anderton
Bayley Baker*
Issac Castro
Angelo Chavez
Rachel Ciummo
Brittney Clark
Kassadee Clark
Randi Dofat
Jessica Galvin
Jenna Glaze
Alex Grimes
Darrin Hartford
Eriko Hiranoi
Mizuki Iwasa
Emily Jardon
Nathan Lorenzen
Annalee Lubeski
Hailey Mann*
Jim McClintock
Anneleise McEvoy
Sarah Miller
Morgan Musgrave
Erasmo Nunez-Baeza
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fall/spring/summer graduates continued
*Graduated with mass media honors
Reilly Pe u s e r
Kendra Wicks
Wesley Ta b o r *
Phillip Witzke
Keisuke Ta ka h a s h i
Sota Yo s h i k a w a
Fall 2019: Above: Josey Tr i m b l e * , Maria Stover a n d Ta r y n Reed* Left: Jordan Yo d e r a n d Alexandria Ulsaker
*Graduates with mm honors:
Mingzhu Zhu
Bayley Baker Hailey Mann Ethan Jackson Taryn Reed Wesley Tabor Josey Trimble
Fall 2019: Ethan Jackson*, Andrew Dickes and Dylan Warrington
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HEY BODS! Stay updated with Washburn University Tell us about your new job or the big award you received at: www.wualumni.org
