Alex Rodgers

Alex Rodgers, a December 2009 graduate from Kent State University’s Visual Communication Design program, is now a successful business owner, specializing in printing trendy and affordable clothing and décor for children. His company, Lil’ Burritos, is a Northeast Ohio based design boutique that both sells items online and in a few specialty shops in the Cleveland and Columbus areas.

While Rodgers may not have always aspired to start his own business, he did always want the opportunity to work for himself. He began Lil’ Burritos in October of 2010 with his girlfriend Stephanie Rericha, also a Kent State graduate. At the time, Rodgers was working part-time at the American Greetings World Headquarters in Cleveland but unsure if it would result in a full-time position so he decided to start his own “passion project.” Now he works full-time with both companies.

The business stemmed from Rodgers’ passion “for creating cute, whimsical illustrations” and Rericha’s knowledge of kid culture. Though it started as a hobby, the business has turned into so much more and Rodgers says he couldn’t be happier with the result.

The name of the company was inspired by a term of the same name used to describe newborn babies as they were swaddled. Late in the planning stages, however, he had what he calls a “eureka moment” and decided to wrap the onesies in foil, like burritos. He says both he and Rericha have “an unhealthy love of Mexican food” and continued to say that the name fits on multiple levels.

The company began with onesies but has grown to include prints, tote bags, and night-lights, in addition to some adult shirts in their line of Big Burritos and dog shirts in their Doggie Burritos line. Most of the products fit into one of three categories: Regional Pride, Lil’ Animals, and their Swell Series. With Rodgers and Rericha both being from the Stow/Kent area, they admit to having an attachment to Northeast Ohio. Rodgers says the regional items seem to be most popular and are sold to many customers outside of the state.

Lil’ Burritos has grown into something Rodgers and Rericha never anticipated but they are still just a two person team. They love watching it grow and are simply along for the ride.

Look for Lil’ Burritos at the Kent Heritage Festival and Kent’s Art In The Park festivals this summer. For more information on Lil’ Burritos or how to purchase products, visit the Web site at www.LilBurritos.com.

Every day people use their smart phones to take pictures and videos that are later uploaded to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other social media accounts. At Kent State University, a course is offered that teaches students how to refine these skills to produce quality photography.

Cell phone photography, taught by JMC Lecturer David LaBelle, aims to teach students about composition and light, how to anticipate action and emotion and to tell stories with pictures. Students must complete a picture story with captions as a final project. This spring is the second semester the class has been offered, and it is proving to be quite popular.

“The course was born out of discussion in a faculty meeting about classes that we would like to offer to those outside of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication,” LaBelle said. “Recognizing how many people had cell phones with cameras, the growing interest in cell phone photography and the increased quality of image files, I felt the time was ripe to offer students the chance to learn the basics of photography without having to invest in a digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera. It looks like the class is here to stay.”

LaBelle teaches the class like a basic photography course, with discussions of light, timing, color and composition. He focuses on topics like portraiture, landscapes, dealing with motion, ethics of cell phone photography, ways to deal with low light situations, color correction, transmitting images and storage.

“The file sizes on the cell phones and smart phones make it possible to create some amazing images, many comparable to 35mm SLR,” he said. “We also talk about different applications available for different phones. We look at different types of images being created today – art, commercial and photojournalism. The camera phone is no longer a toy or a novelty; it is a very real tool used by beginners and professionals.”

This course is open to all students on campus. Part of the purpose for the class is to introduce non-JMC students to the department and specifically the photojournalism sequence, LaBelle said.

“I learned you don’t need a nice camera to take good pictures, and that a picture is more than an image; it holds value, emotion, tells a story, supports a cause,” said Casey Engelhart, sophomore electronic media major. “Photography is more than images; it is life.”

LaBelle loves seeing students get excited about photography and learning new things.

“Teaching this class also reminds me how much I love photography, without all the expensive, intimidating gear,” he said. “If I could teach a point and shoot film camera class, I would like that even more. I truly believe less is more. Beyond this, I truly love the students.”

Photos by David LaBelle.

Nicole Gennarelli is a senior public relations major and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

Jillian Coorey and Gretchen Rinnert, both Assistant Professors in the School of Visual Communication Design (VCD), have developed a summer creative camp called Inspire that will take place this summer. The day camp is for students who have completed their freshman year of high school, are between the ages of 14 and 19, and have an interest in design, photography, illustration, and creative thinking. There is no requirement of previous experience, transcripts, or a portfolio to attend this program.

Gretchen Rinnert

Taking place the last week in July from Monday through Friday, this camp will provide students with an overview of graphic design disciplines such as 2-D print, 3-D print, image making, motion, and interaction. With covering a different discipline each day, Coorey said they want to keep each session fresh and exciting for the students.

The idea for this camp has been in the making since 2009 when Rinnert began planning it with a former faculty member, but since this past summer, the planning has been in full swing. Coorey and Rinnert have high hopes for the success of this program. With only a handful of similar design camps in the country and nothing similar in the area, the directors hope this camp will become an annual event, eventually turning into an overnight camp with multiple sessions in order to reach out to more than just the local community.

Not only will students in attendance be able to either add to their portfolios or begin creating one, they will also be able to learn about careers in the field.

“So many students come to college and change majors,” Rinnert said, “the earlier students can learn about programs, it’s such an advantage for them.”

Jillian Coorey

Coorey added that the camp will act as both an introduction to the field and serve as a college experience for the students.

“Some people don’t understand the impact that graphic design has,” she said. “The term ‘design’ is an umbrella for so many things.” Rinnert added that the term design is “so overused.”

In addition to the knowledge students will gain, Coorey and Rinnert want to begin creating a community that involves high school students and VCD students and faculty. Helping with the camp is “a great tool for our grad students” as they will lend a hand during the workshops, said Coorey.

For more information on camp details, how to donate or sponsor students, or to register for the program, high school students should download an application on inspirecamp.com. Applications are due March 1, 2012 and are on a first-come first-served basis.

Do you have a love for photography and film? Kent State provides you an opportunity to show off your work at the first annual College of Communication and Information (CCI) Film and Photography Gala on Friday, March 30.

“Students should enter their work so that they have the opportunity to have their photos and videos shown to the public and people in the entertainment industry,” said David Sadvari, senator of Undergraduate Student Government. “A lot of students don’t have the opportunity to show their work because there aren’t many screening options for them in this area.”

The event will have two separate competitions: photography and film.

The photography exhibition will be a judged screening of the Through Our Eyes exhibit in the FirstEnergy Auditorium Lobby at 5 p.m. in Franklin Hall.  Photos in this exhibit were compiled by students from elementary and basic photography classes, Visual Storytelling, photojournalism and specialty classes, as well as photos taken for student media and personal projects. The images represent the diverse talent of Kent State students and are currently being displayed in the lobby.

The doors for the film competition will open at 6:15 p.m. in the FirstEnergy Auditorium. Judging will be based on originality, technical merit, execution and audience appeal. Each film entry should be submitted on an individually-labeled DVD and can be between one and 15 minutes long. Films must have been created in the past two years and free of any copyright infringement.

The first, second and third place winners will receive a prize that will be announced at a later date.

“This will be a networking event where professionals in the industry, faculty from the university and the student producers and photographers have a great chance to get together for an exciting event,” Sadvari said.

A non-refundable flat fee of $15 per person is required to enter the film competition.  All submissions are due to Jennifer Kramer in 131 Moulton Hall (CCI Dean’s Office) by March 26, 2012.   Each entrant must be a current Kent State CCI student.

Important dates to remember:

-          March 26: Submissions are due

-          March 28: Receive notification of acceptance

-          March 30: Film and Photography Gala event day

For more information, visit the College website.

Technology is forcing a wave of change onto journalism and communication professions. Take a deep breath and swim with the current, because this isn’t a bad thing.

According to Jeffery T. Child, an assistant professor and undergraduate coordinator for the School of Communication Studies here at Kent State University, it’s an opportune time to study communication. The Internet has changed the way that people communicate, seek news and organize information.

“We’re in an era where communication skills have never been more important, given how online communication has changed the available means for interaction,” Child said. “People need help understanding communication in different contexts, for different goals, through different channels and understanding the rich avenues for the study of interaction in this day and age when so many jobs require such an advanced communication skill set.”

The media in which people communicate and gather information may be evolving from print and face-to-face meetings to the Internet, but the basics still remain.

“It’s not changing in terms of the basics, meaning, accuracy, credibility, thoroughness and fact-checking,” said Jan Leach, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Kent State, said. “It is changing in delivery, desire for media, finding it and those kinds of things.”

That’s a good thing for COMM and JMC majors. The basics that students are taught at Kent State are those listed in the Forbes article The Seven Most Universal Job Skills. Here’s how:

1. Top-Notch Communication Skills- Students in COMM and JMC studies are taught communication skills from day one in their core classes, like Introduction to Human Communication and Introduction to Mass Communication. Then this knowledge turns into skills as students progress in their upper-level classes.
2. Creativity- Whether it’s choosing an angle on a news story or developing a new way to reach an audience, COMM and JMC students learn diverse and creative skills to make an impact when it matters.
3. Curiosity- Students in both schools are expected to be curious, so they can find more news stories and consider the effective functioning of communication contexts in growing fields, such as the health industry and the new major concentration in health communication.
4. Good Writing Ability- Not only do both COMM and JMC majors at Kent State have plenty of writing to do between the research papers, campaigns and news stories they must write for classes, but the students are taught to write professionally.
5. Ability to Play Well with Others- Students within both majors experience teamwork through group projects, clubs and organizations.
6. Re-engineering Skills- Using a variety of clients for projects, interviewing people in many different industries and developing an understanding of communication theory and practice are just a couple of ways that Kent State helps its COMM and JMC students become re-engineering.
7. Computer Skills- Various courses in COMM and JMC help students to be familiar with different computer programs, social media and online researching tools.

These schools aren’t going to leave students treading water with these basic skills, though. Each has made changes in the learning sequences that flow with the wave of change in the professional world.

This past year, the School of Communication Studies added two new concentrations in global communication and health communication. This allows students the ability to acquire critical communication skills required for jobs in demand today.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers a high-tech TV and print newsroom where students can practice the skills they learn in the classroom. Both schools have adopted online classes and hybrid (online and face-to-face) courses to keep up electronically.

Students need to take the initiative to swim with the current, too.

“Effective students are those who love learning, do everything they can to further invest in their education and be fully present in it,” Child said. Do this by standing out to professors, joining groups, being involved in your professors’ research and applying for internships that provide opportunities for enhanced skill development and networking.

These experiences will help you to land a job in an economy that’s tough for everyone.

“It’s a tough job market for everyone in all markets,” Leach said. “If you have multiple skills (interview, practical, multimedia and news skills) and really, really work at them, you’ll have an excellent chance of being employed in your field.”

Within this job market, traditional jobs are evolving with the Internet. Opportunities in both communication jobs and journalism jobs are more and more online focused.

So, the wave of change in communication and journalism fields may be creating different types of online jobs, but the basic skills professionals will need remain the same. Kent State COMM and JMC students are being prepared for the changes.

Here’s an eye-opening video about how the Internet and social media is changing communication and journalism in important ways…

Social Media Revolution 2012

I know what you’re thinking.  It’s February why do I need to think about my summer plans? The answer is simple, there are a lot of early birds out there who have already eaten the worm. There are college students all over the world who have already landed their summer dream job. Now it’s your turn!

These key steps should help you get an awesome summer internship:

1.  Search high and low- There are a lot of companies out there in desperate need of hard-working summer interns. The only problem is, the companies are waiting on potential interns to find them. Take the initiative & really search for an internship that fits you and your strengths. After all, if you put maximum effort into searching and applying for a job, it will show when you actually begin working there. Check out the websites below for listings in various communicati0n fields. You can also contact your advisor and professors for leads on internships. Don’t forget to check out the companies website, as well.

-ED2010

-Internprogram360

-Linkedin

-Internqueen

-FreeFashionInternships

2. Prepare, prepare, prepare-Once you have your list of positions you want to apply for, it’s time to start preparing your application packets. Each position calls for a custom resume and cover letter. For instance if you are applying for a public relations job at a university and at a theater company, you would cater each resume for each position.  Also different companies may call for different resume supplements; some may call for writing samples, some may just want a resume/cover letter and list of references.

3. Set up a timeline- You should have a calendar with all of your application deadlines on it. The calendar should also have the date you actually applied, as well as a follow up deadline. If you are contacted  about the position, put the date you were contacted as well as the day you had your interview. It allows you to make sure you follow up and send thank you notes in a timely fashion.

4. Apply- It’s never too late to apply for a summer internship. In fact even in May or June companies are normally still looking for students to fill its positions. However, it is best to start searching and applying for internships as early as possible. This allows you to make all the revisions and changes to your resume, contact your references and even practice your interviewing skills.

Remember, no matter how early you start applying for summer internships, the most important thing to show an employer is that you are organized and hard-working. What better way to show these traits then during the application and interview process? Take this advice, build on it and find the internship you’ve been waiting for!

Britany is a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information. *Britany also has held four past internships*

Study in Paris and Florence with CCIKent’s Global Comparative Media Course

For more information and to complete the application, visit: http://kentglobalmedia.wordpress.com/

Check out the website and email Deborah Davis with your questions – dldavis@kent.edu.

It’s less than a month into another busy spring semester. And while  a lot of people would want to hibernate until the sun comes back out, a select few of you will use this semester as a chance to get involved on campus. Whether you’re in the market for some new friends, community service hours, a resume booster, or fine tuning an old hobby, Kent State University has the organization or club that fits your needs.

1. Greek Life: Greek life is not just paying for friends as some people would say. As a member of a sorority myself, I see it as an opportunity to become a part of a sisterhood or brotherhood. It gives you the opportunity to serve your community while building lifelong friends and becoming a better person. Check out Kent’s Greek Life page to learn more.

2. Join a Special Interest Group: What better way to bond with new friends than through a shared hobby? You can join a fashion club like Modista, a film club, and even a bicycle club. Check out this special interest list for more options.

3. Serve the Community: While almost every student organization on campus does some kind of community service project, there are organizations on campus that were created solely to serve the community. You can join an organization that’s specific to KSU, such as Kent Student Ambassadors or participate in national service projects with groups like Habitat for Humanity.  Check out CSI’s service organizations list for more opportunities.

4. Build your Resume:  Getting involved on campus is the best way to build your resume and network. It’s important to gain professional experience and meet people within your major who could be your future colleagues. The College of Communication and Information offers many organizations for its students to join. Communication majors can join the Kent Communication Society. Journalism students have numerous options like PRSSA, AAF Kent and various student media outlets. VCD students also have several professional societies and companies like Glyphix.

Getting involved outside of the classroom allows students to make lifelong friends. Take the time to explore interests outside of academics and you might be surprised how many organizations catch your interest. It’s ok to join a organization just to meet people with similar interests. You’ll find that you may also be able to do other things like serving your community or find a new hobby while making new friends. To find a organization or club that fits your needs, check out Kent’s student life page.

Britany is a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

Information from CCI Commons

As an incoming freshman, you can’t wait for the freedom of moving out of your parent’s house and moving into a dorm room with a new roommate. However, as freshman year comes to an end, you may start entertaining the thought of living off campus in an apartment or house. All first year students must live on campus for two years, so why not sign up to live in a living and learning community? There are many benefits that an LLC can provide compared to living off campus.

According to the College of Communication and Information (CCI) Commons website, it is “a living a living and learning community housed in Olson Hall exclusively for students with majors or pre-majors in one of the College of Communication and Information’s four schools (Communication Studies, Library and Information Science, Journalism and Mass Communication or Visual Communication Design). Students live with others who are studying the same major or similar fields of interest, allowing an open exchange of ideas and experiences that go beyond the classroom. CCI Commons is the central hub for activities and information related to CCI Kent State. Weekly programs offer students a peek into various career possibilities and current practices in the broad field of communications.”

CCI Commons is located in Olson Hall right in the middle of campus near the Kent Student Center and close to the coordinating buildings for each of CCI’s four schools.

“As a resident of the commons for three years, I can say that living here is not just a place to sleep and do homework, it is an experience all in itself. The people you meet are going through your classes with you, so you suffer and grow together. Its a way to make a large campus seem a lot smaller.” – Kristen Deran, CCI Commons resident

Building Benefits:

• Studio Space
• Community director on site
• Advising and technology help provided weekly
• Classes help within the hall with other Commons members

Why should you join CCI Commons?

• Connections with other students who share the same academic and professionals goals/interests
• Close location to your college advising office and classrooms
• Guest speakers geared toward your major
• Computer lab and studio space available in your hall
• Up-to-date valuable information  about CCI with the Community Director’s listserv

How do I join?
Students must be accepted to the College of Communication and Information in order to be eligible to join the CCI Commons. Rooming assignments are based on the date you turn in your housing application. To receive a CCI Commons assignment, make sure to get your application in early!

Students who are interested in applying to participate in the CCI Commons need to follow these steps:

• Select Olson Hall and CCI Commons as your #1 choice on your residence hall application, and alert the academic advisor during your Destination Kent State: Advising & Registration program that you would like to participate in the CCI Commons.
• If you have already completed and submitted your residence hall application and now want to make changes, you may re-enter your application by logging back into it through the residence hall application website.
• If you need further assistance, or have questions about how to join the CCI Commons please contact the community coordinator.

“The CCI Commons offers advantages to our students both academically and socially to help them connect to their major and set them up for success. We’re a living/learning community, so in order to reap the benefits of our programs and services students are asked to live in Olson Hall.  It’s the only live-in community on campus for our CCI majors, and we work very hard to provide programming and support to help you succeed here at Kent State.  With more than 200 students living in the community, you have an opportunity connect with others in the College of Communication and Information and to make bonds that will last beyond KSU.” –Marianne Warzinski, CCI Commons Director

Nicole Gennarelli is a senior public relations major and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

By Britney Beaman

Let’s face it, the days consisting of sleeping in, hanging out with friends, going out and having delicious holiday meals are over. It’s time to get back into our school routines, and sometimes, it’s a hard adjustment.

Since the first couple weeks can be just as nerve-racking as the final weeks of the semester, I’m going to give you all some tips for how to make the adjustment back to school a little easier.

Tip #5: Buy an agenda. I don’t care what anyone says, an agenda is necessary in college. It’ll be especially helpful to have one in the beginning of the semester when you are trying to adjust to new classes and the groove of the semester.

Tip #4: Manage your time wisely. Poor time management is going to lead to poor work. You’ll do your best work when you don’t procrastinate. Take a look at Maria Pascucci’s expertise about time management. She’s the author and founder of Campus Calm, a website and book dedicated to making college less stressful.

Tip #3: Get some sleep. Pascucci mentioned this in her blog as well, but I can’t stress this enough. Your work load is usually the smallest during this time in the semester. Take advantage of it by going to bed at a decent time and getting sleep. I’ve learned from experience that the more regular my sleep patterns are, the more productive (and happy!) I am.

Tip #2: Join student clubs and organizations. This is a great way to make friends and gain experience that will help you after college & it’ll look good on a resume, too! The College of Communication & Information has great opportunities including anything from student media to national societies. If you are not familiar with these opportunities, below you can find informational links about different organizations to get involved with.
- JMC Opportunites
- COMM Opportunities: Kent Communication Society and Lambda Pi Eta
- SLIS Opportunities
- VCD Special Programs
- Teleproductions
- The Tannery

Tip #1: Enjoy it! Yes, it can be a bummer going back to class after break, but your years here at Kent State University are limited. Figure out how to manage school with friends because you won’t always live on the same campus as them. As a senior, time has gone by incredibly fast. I used to wish my time away because all I wanted to do was graduate, but now that I graduate in May, I wish I had more time here at school with my friends. What’s the point if you’re not enjoying your learning experience, anyway?

So, there are my five tips that I think you might find helpful in surviving these first couple weeks. If you have any other helpful tips, please let us know! Good luck with your semester!

Britney Beaman is a senior public relations major and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.