Purdue University Student Chapter

Association for Women in Communications

April 2011

Dear AWC members,

Dear Members,

It’s bittersweet this is the last time I’ll be writing to you as your President. In just a couple of months I’ll begin my career as a PR professional. It’s a fast transition from college student to professional. There are plenty of things I feel I got right during my time at Purdue, and other things I wish I had done differently. I’m going to share some of those professional/academic things with you.

First off, I wish I would’ve have taken more applied classes like Problems in PR & Advertising, PR Writing, New Media, Video Production, Advertising Writing sooner. I waited until my senior year, and as a result feel I could’ve learned more if I began earlier. Also, I would’ve taken business marketing, sales, entrepreneurship and graphic design classes. I know it’s difficult to take classes offered by other schools, but all of these are components essential to communications.

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Mission Statement The Association for Women in Communications is a professional organization that

champions the advancement of women across all communications disciplines by recognizing excellence, promoting leadership and positioning its members at the

forefront of the evolving communications era.

Upcoming Events

4/16 Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure 8 a.m.-Noon, Indianapolis

Letter from the President

Offering communication students a welcoming place to grow, connect and succeed. http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~awc/index.html

4/12 Executive Board Interviews, 5-7p.m., MATH 215

4/25 Social at Boiler Market, 6:30 p.m.

Thanks for a GREAT year

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AWC Spring Social As tradition, AWC will have an end-of-semester party on April 25th to send off seniors and bond with new members. This year, our theme is “Mocktinis & Movie Night.” So here is the plan: dinner in Boiler Market across from Harry’s and talk over dinner; later, we will head to Wabash Landing 9 to watch a movie and enjoy the rest of girls’ night. You can stop by either part or come for the entire evening. It would be great if you can RSVP through e-mail or our Facebook event so we can secure a seat for you! Looking forward to you joining us for a small study break during dead week and get pumped for finals and summer break! See you there!

Attention Members! Do you have an online portfolio, website or blog that you would like us to showcase on our

website? Let us know by emailing us at purdue.awc@gmail.com

Members’ Spotlight

• Meredith Barack will intern for the

Conan O’Brien show this summer.

• Taylor Adams was selected as a 2011-12 CCO Ambassador.

• Kara Cook has completed a successful 4-year diving career with the Purdue Swimming and Diving team, winning many championships.

Sign up for Race for the Cure

The race takes place Saturday April 16th

The registration ends April 7th

Alumni Update This semester, our chapter launched a campaign to reconnect with our alumni. We began the year with a very small database. After extensive searching on LinkedIn, we now have information for over 100 former members of our chapter. The database continues to grow each day as we continue to reconnect through other outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Many of our alumni are now working for exciting companies like Jenny Craig and Broadway Across America. Some have even gone on to graduate and law school. Our alumni will receive updates through bi-yearly alumni newsletters, the first of which will be sent out later this month. The Executive Board is so excited at the prospect of bringing you guest speakers and mentors who were once in your shoes as AWC members.

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Letter from the President continued…

If you can’t get into these classes, I suggest teaching yourself. All across the communications field we need to know how to market, design, create and sell. Teach yourself how to use Adobe Creative Suite and Final Cut Pro. Read non-required books- I suggest The New Rules of PR & Marketing and The Non-Designer’s Handbook.

Purdue offers many different ways to learn, but I believe the best learning in communications, is done on the job. I began interning early in my college career and it’s proven to be invaluable. You can never have too many internships! Start after your freshman year and explore every avenue you’re interested in, that way you will have clearer professional goals. I started out in broadcast journalism, and after two internships in that, I thought I wanted to do sports marketing, and then public affairs, and now I know I want to work in an agency atmosphere with a digital communications component. It’s ok to change your mind. Specifically for PR majors, even if you don’t think you want to work in an agency, I highly suggest interning at one because agency experience is extremely valued in non-profits and corporate organizations. Finally, one of the best decisions I ever made was joining AWC. Through AWC I’ve been able to grow as a professional and leader. I’ve had the opportunity to help members and the COM Department. I’ve made connections with people all over the country, and at Purdue, who have helped me get to the next step in my career. My hope for all of you is to gain as much out of AWC as I have, and to grow into high-caliber professionals. Utilize every resource you have right now. Intern in the summer and school year. Volunteer. Don’t let your grades slip. Meet as many people in your industry as you can. And most importantly, love what you do.

Best of luck to all of you, and please don’t hesitate to contact me at vpetrey14@gmail.com if you need advice or a letter of recommendation! Valerie Petrey AWC President 2010-11

AWC Member of the Month: Kathryn Warner

Major: Public Relations Year: Freshmen Hometown: Dyer, IN Plans for the future: Over the summer I am going to apply for part-time work. As far as internships go, I’ll keep my eyes peeled because the more experience I build up, the better. Fun fact: I am ½ Polish, ¼ Greek, and ¼ Serbian. Someday, I want to travel to all of those countries amongst others.

Industry News Master TweetDeck How to be the Best Intern Ever Writing a Great Internship Resume Winning Job Interview Tips 20 Ways to Impress the Boss Define Your Why How to Balance and an Internship and Job

WeWishYouAllGoodLuckOn

YourFinalsAndAGreat

Summer!

100 N. University Street West Lafayette, IN 47907

Purdue AWC, Beering, COM Office 2114

President Valerie Petrey @valeriepetrey Vice President Myriah DeBoer @myriahdeboer Treasurer Nicole Kowalczyk @NicoleKowal Marketing Director Julie Smith @Julie_Smith55

Special Events Coordinator Irene Wang @irenew0201 Multi-Media Director Taylor Adams @T_TayJ Newsletter Editor Lauren Hausermann @Lelyse14 Alumni Relations Director Megan Fingert @MeganFingert

Secretary Alejandra Sierra @ alesierra2424

Interested in writing or taking photos for the newsletter? Email Lauren Hausermann at lhauserm@purdue.edu

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Advisor Dr. Stacey Connaughton