Academic majors fair gives students further insights for charting their academic careers

OU-C Academic Advisor and a current student lend their insights and perspectives about the Academic Majors Fair on the campus’ YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/ouchillicothe

The Bennett Hall hallways were crowded the afternoon of Wednesday, May 5, with students attending the first-ever Academic Majors Fair.

Representatives of various academic programs on the Chillicothe and Athens campuses of Ohio University were on hand to share information and insight with OU-C students.
An advantage of attending OU-C is the opportunity to relocate on the Athens campus and to have access to those academic resources and programs.

“Because of its long-lasting impact on a student’s college career and professional career, the selection of an academic major is one of the most important decisions a student can make,” OU-C Academic Advisor Cristy Null said. “This event is designed to give our students all of the resources and perspectives they need to make the best decision.”

In addition to offering a marketplace of potential majors for those who are undeclared in this area, the event also allows students to further investigate their chosen academic pursuits.

Taking a fun approach to conservation

To hear OU-C student Megan Stanley describe the experience in her own words, visit OU-C’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ouchillicothe

Several Ohio University-Chillicothe students shared the importance of conservation and ecology during recent Earth Day-related activities at Unioto Elementary School.

“I am into recycling in a big way, and I enjoyed the opportunity to interact with elementary students,” said Megan Stanley of Waver High School, who helped students reuse products to build their own litterbugs. “Since these students will be the new society and the people to make lasting change, in regards to conservation, I think this is important.”

Kim Batty, an OU-C student from Vinton County, said, “This has been a neat experience. It gives me ideas on how to work with students and develop creative projects in my classrooms in the future. The more practical experience I get, the better prepared I am to become a teacher.”

Cutlines: OU-C student Megan Stanley works with Unioto Elementary School students to construct ‘litterbugs,’ while her classmate Kim Batty shows off the results of their efforts.

Liggett Stashower Internship

Hi 370 Alums! It's been interesting to read what you are all up to this summer!

As for me, I've had the best summer internship experience working at Liggett Stashower, a full-service advertising and PR agency located in the Halle Building in downtown Cleveland. I'm a Program Management intern (they recently combined their advertising and PR departments since they are very closely related with their clients). I've been doing a little bit of PR related stuff (writing press releases, updating media lists, sending out media kits) and advertising stuff (target market media research for new business proposals and doing a lot of competitor research). LS has been a great place to work this summer and have learned a lot. We've taken a few field trips -- to a radio station, TV station, publisher, and printing press -- and gotten to eat lunch with a few members of upper management in our executive lunches.

There are 7 other interns there in addition to myself. It's nice to have other people there to eat lunch with or go to happy hour after work. We've also been blogging about our internship experience and about news and trends in the industry on our blog http://liggettintern.blogspot.com/. We recently got a mention for it in the New York Times and Chicago Tribune, which was very exciting for the agency and the interns -- the article is "When Whippersnappers and Geezers Collide."

It's been pretty cool working in Cleveland this summer too. I've living here for my whole life, but never really realized or appreciated some of the things there are to do. It's kind of made me rethink my career decisions for after college. There really are a lot of job opportunities in Cleveland, and in smaller cities like it. Plus, there are more opportunities to move up and be noticed like there might not be in cities like New York or Chicago.

Well, that's about it for me. Be sure to check out our blog and leave some comments if you want!
See you all in the fall!
Jessica Minarczyk

Cleveland: On America's North Coast

Ok, so I can't think of any GOOD nicknames for Cleveland, but the titles of the last several entries irked me so much that I decided I had to stick up for my humble hometown. (That little gem of a catchphrase was taken from a child-large sized hooded sweatshirt I found in my attic and wear proudly, thank you.)

Anyway, to continue what Eva was talking about a little bit, I, too, am blogging all summer long at the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services. (Not all of it's my writing, I'm not quite a state policy buff, but check it out if you're ever feeling the urge to read about state poverty policy.) It's an interesting way to promote the goals of a government organization, and it's been a challenge to not cross the line of sounding too partisan. As you might imagine, the agency that provides cash assistance to poor people in Athens County tends to sound left-leaning, but we can't go overboard. It's required a lot of research to back up any statements of opinion.

Also, it's made me wish there was an ongoing online journalism class to teach me what the heck a "ping" is, how to get people to "digg" me, and understand all the other high-tech stuff that I find difficult even as someone who's been using the Internet since 7th grade. I took 314 but I'm still not an expert. Anyone else running into these snags? I feel like my bosses look to me as the translator for some of this stuff, but a lot of it is new to me, too.

I can't even imagine how Jack feels, poor guy.

Well, off to go sweat in my cable-less, Internet-less apartment for a little while, but I hope all of you who are practically abroad with your internships this summer are having a fabulous time! Athens is eerily quiet. See ya'll in 471! Go Browns!

Go Steelers

Hi all!

It’s so nice to hear from the people who have already written. It sounds like everyone is having an amazing summer, despite the fact that we’re missing out on seeing Jack and Jess two times a week!

It’s ironic that you created this Blog, Jess (and thank you, by the way!) because one of my jobs at my internship is to help implement a Blog process for our company, WordWrite Communications. I also have the opportunity to explore the use of social media and its potential for use with our clients. Who would’ve thought Facebook and MySpace could make me valuable?

Aside from that, truly the most exciting things I have done here at WordWrite involve media pitching, which I learned the hard way thanks to the one and only Jason Koma. I started pitching to some smaller papers in West Virginia and pitched yesterday to an online outlet called Pop City in Pittsburgh.

Another client I’ve been working with is Kings Family Restaurants. I brainstormed a 40th anniversary plan with two of my other colleagues and we’re working on the PR calendar for it and trying to hammer out the logistics for a radio tour.

Everyone I work with is extremely nice, and of course, asked if I have any fellow Bobcats who would want to intern during fall, or even winter break. It’s offered on a generous stipend with extremely flexible hours. Plus, the two out of three women I work with are getting married soon so we’re always talking about they’re exciting wedding plans and other fun stuff, such as flowers. (Sorry, Pat! It’s officially true that we dominate the field.)

Anyway, I don't want to ramble on too much, but I hope you all enjoy the last month of summer, and please e-mail if you’re interested in a WordWrite internship or just want to chat at es207404@ohio.edu.

P.S. Jess, I know you're wondering why I would offend you with a such a subject for this post. However, as you and I (and Chelsea) know, football season is approaching, and the Steelers are a hot item once again. PLUS, I met Big Ben and gave him a pep talk. Well, not the pep talk part, but I can guarantee you that he looks extremely buff and more ready than ever for the season. ;)

The Mistake by the Lake

Hey kids! Hope everyone's summer and summer internships are going well. I'm currently interning at McKinney Advertising & Public Relations in Cleveland. It's a small firm, I mean really small, only 2 executives are in the office full-time, but I've really learned a lot.

The firm is run by Judy Cerne who is hilarious, she reminds me of the fun grandmother I never had. She shows you everything about running a business, she lets us look at the in-voices so that we can see how they bill their hours, which was really interesting. I think one of the most exciting things that I've gotten to do was sit in on a conference call with McCormich & Schmick, a seafood restaurant coming to the Beachwood area who was looking for someone to do their PR for the grand opening. We didn't get the job but it was a great learning experience to see how they positioned themselves to be the best option for the potential client and how they handled their questions.

I think the thing that I'm most excited about is that I've gotten to draft and send out two press releases to the media. I didn't really think as an intern that I would actually have that opportunity. My non-PR friends didn't find this very exciting but I thought you guys might appreciate it.

McKinney takes interns year round even though they don't post it on their Web site, and they've had many from OU. If anyone is interested in a small agency that allows you to do a lot of hands of stuff I would highly suggest them. They also have a tendency to hire a lot of their interns

Things will start to pick up here soon, their biggest client is the North American Menopause Society (I know sounds like a blast right?), but they have their national conference in October so the next month will be full of assembling press kits and alerting the media.

I guess I'd better get back to being a productive intern, talk to you guys later!


P.S. One of the account executives gave me an article on when to you and En dash, Em dash, and hyphen, it's really interesting and if anyone wants a copy of it let me know and I'll hook you up :P

So proud

I am so proud of you guys who have written. And posted internship opportunities. It's so great to network like that. I am really impressed with all the work you guys have been doing; I don't think I ever worked that hard during college (you know, I worked for Old Man Jeffery).

Keep it up and one day you too could be updating a blog from Houston, Texas, where it has rained significantly the last 27 of 33 days. I'm beginning to think it's me. When I lived in Boston, they too broke precipitation records. I don't know if I shared the link with all of you, but I have my own blog with pictures and stories of me being, well, me. http://starkcommunication.blogspot.com

I haven't found a teaching gig yet down here but I am looking for one. If only I could find a Jack to do the heavy lifting.

Have a great weekend. I am headed into the city tonight for a show from Molly and the Ringwalds-- that's right-- 80's music!

Happy Friday,
Jessica

P.S. I watched Grey's last night for the first time in a while. It was the one when Meredith was drowning. I remember taking bets on that episode in class. Made me miss you guys all over again.

P.P.S. I think we need to start a discussion on Burke (Isaiah Washington). Seriously, he needs some PR training. He just keeps digging himself in deeper.