Student achievement Media Degree Attracts Support, Students “When people ask me where I attend school and what my major is, I’m proud to tell them I’m an OSU student and a member of a degree program that only a few schools across the country offer,” says Chad Marshall, a sports media junior from Abilene, Texas. “By offering a sports media degree, OSU attracts more in-state students who are trying to decide between schools, as well as non-residents like me. As an aspiring sports broadcaster going into a popular field, I want to stand out from students across the country, and the sports media degree will help me do that.” Although the journalism and broadcasting department established the program only two years ago, three students have already graduated with the sports media degree and the program now has 59 students enrolled. The gift funded the school’s launch of a new undergraduate degree program in sports media, making OSU one of only two major colleges in the nation to offer the degree. It was not their first gift, nor their largest gift, but the recent $75,000 grant the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation made to OSU’s School of Journalism and Broadcasting proved to be one with the most impact. Gary Lawson “Start early,” says the public relations major. Paul says early preparation gives students a head start and puts them ahead of potential recipients. When he learned through an email that Exxon Mobil was offering an internship for public relations and marketing majors in Texas, Paul followed his own advice. The Euless, Texas, native interned last summer with the End Stage Renal Disease Network of Texas, also referred to as the ESRD Network, which gave him the task of planning a campaign to raise awareness about chronic kidney disease in Texas. “The internship experience gives you a chance to apply what you learn in the classroom,” Paul says. At the ESRD Network, Paul set up a bowling tournament called Strikeout Kidney Failure that will take place in 10 regions of Texas. In May 2008, the winners of each region competed for the title of the “the ultimate kidney fighter.” Through this experience, Paul says he gained a respect for people working in non-profit organizations as well as those who have to go to dialysis three or four times a week. “Having to beg for donations was the only downside to the program. But it was a learning experience, and now I’m better at it,” he says. Paul became interested in the public relations field because it combined everything he loved to do, including writing, planning and being around people. It also gave him a chance to be outgoing. He realized early on that these were his interests and public relations gave him the opportunity to put them all together. Through the work with the ESRD Network, he also realized he liked public relations even more than he had before he took the internship. “I’ve gained greater insight about myself through this internship,” he says. Lauren Lawson Internship Offers Insight For students interested in getting an internship, OSU junior and arts and sciences student council treasurer, Germaine Paul has a piece of advice. College of Arts and Sciences 10
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