CAS CONNECT 2017

24 Weibo than on Twitter,” Plank says. Both Butler and Plank earned their internships, in part, through Gina Noble’s Advanced Public Relations course. As part of the final project, students are required to create a finely tuned personal portfolio and cover letter, then apply for an intern- ship. Butler applied in the spring of 2016 and secured her internship for the fall of 2016. Plank followed and picked up where Butler left off early in 2017. They each survived the first round of cuts through a phone interview and then interviewed in person with Karina Henderson, director of corporate communications for the Thunder. In Henderson, the OSU interns found a female role model. “Karina is the most commanding presence in the room,” Butler describes. The Thunder’s coordinator of corporate communications, Erica George, also provided guidance. “I think having two really strong women to look up to, especially in the NBA, is really impressive,” Plank says. They are quick to point out they were exposed to successful women at OSU, as well. Not only did they receive instruction from Noble (“the best teacher in the School of Media & Strategic Communications,” Kian declares) but they had the opportunity to inter- act with guest speakers from all over the country through the Association for Women in Sports Media organization. Still, their first sports media classes were as male-domi- nated as might be expected. “I was one of only three girls in my sports reporting class,” Plank recalls. “It was intimidating.” Butler had a similar experience. “I think I was one of four women in my first sports media class, but you learn to hold your own,” Butler says. “Women have to work harder in the workforce anyway, so I feel like working in sports prepared me for anything.” To that end, Butler, who graduated in May 2017, accepted a corporate commu- nications job with a Kansas City engineering and construc- tion firm — another male- dominated industry. Plank is taking advantage of the SMSC’s 4-plus-1 program, which will allow her to finish her master’s degree just one year after obtaining her under- graduate degree. Their success stories are two of many from the relatively new sports media program at OSU. A combination of high- level classroom instruction and practical experience has proven to be a winning recipe. “Our program is truly multi- media, and that is a large part of why our students have been so successful in landing intern- ships and jobs,” Kian says. “I want to be the best,” Plank says. “I don’t want the boys to take my position, and I am not going to let them.” Cor inne Simpson (from left), Jordan Glover, Thomas Chapman, Matt Valdez and Addison Skaggs helped make up an impressive class of paid interns from OSU for the Oklahoma Ci ty Thunder. PHOTO / BRIAN PETROTTA / CAS