CAS CONNECT 2016

Stavenhagen (far left) and Knoernschi ld (bottom r ight) were two of eight nat ional qual i f iers in the annual Wi l l iam Randolph Hearst Foundat ion Wr i t ing Compet i t ion. They were selected from 1,261 entrants. 28 gives her the ultimate compli- ment by calling her an “old- school journalist.” Thanks to the School of Media and Strategic Communications at OSU and student media outlets like the O’Colly , Stavenhagen and Knoernschild have learned “old school” ethics in the age of modern media. Allen believes quality writing bridges reporting and communication. “We feel that having great writers in a vibrant student media program that is visi- ble on a national level to other academics and professionals is really important,” she says. The industry seems to be taking notice. Stavenhagen graduated in December 2015 and, after landing compet- itive internships with MLB. com, The Oklahoman and The Minneapolis Star-Tribune , began full-time work at the Tulsa World . Knoernschild graduates in May 2017 and spent the summer of 2016 in Washington, D.C., intern- ing for the Student Press Law Center. Both students secured scholarships before even setting foot on campus in Stillwater. Stavenhagen hails from Amarillo, Texas. He was drawn to OSU for the sports media program and received enough financial assistance to make OSU more affordable than the major in-state Texas schools. Knoernschild calls Edmond, Okla., home, and both of her parents are OSU alumni. Though they encouraged her to apply to several different schools, they made it clear that wherever she went, she would still bleed orange. As with Stavenhagen, OSU presented her an influential level of scholarship money, and one visit to the campus sealed the deal. “I felt right at home,” she says. This fall, she returns to Stillwater as editor of the investigative team at the O’Colly . Knoernschild heaps praise upon Allen, her SMSC professors and the student editors who preceded her for helping an inexperienced fresh- man blossom into an award- winning student journalist. “As an editor in the fall, I hope I’ll be able to do some of the same and give back to the organization that helped me fall in love with journalism,” she says. Stavenhagen is similarly fond of his time at OSU, call- ing the O’Colly his most rewarding student experience. “You’re out there and doing stuff that matters and can have an impact on this campus,” he says.