Thankful For Experiential Learning Opportunities

Thankful For Experiential Learning Opportunities

The holiday season, complete with some of our favorite foods and most cherished people, is upon us. It is a time of year when we not only create special memories with loved ones and friends, but many of us also provide to others. Whether that is volunteering at a food kitchen, donating warm clothes, or pledging money to a worthy cause, it makes memory-making possible. We are fortunate that many of you do the same to support The Butler Way and our various avenues of reinforcing a valuable education steeped in experiential learning.

All of CCOM, but especially our engaged faculty, are thankful for the generous support of our alumni, friends, and community because you have helped make so much more possible for the student experience with your generosity to a number of activities and funds.

The Dean’s Priority Needs Fund—used to support initiatives for our students and faculty—is one of the most important avenues of impact. Support to this fund has enabled us to accelerate experiential learning for our students and make opportunities available that otherwise would not be possible. In the last two years, 224 unique donors have contributed nearly $80,000 to this fund. These gifts have been put to meaningful use in preparing our students for their future careers and further distinguishing CCOM as an exceptional choice for aspiring communication and media professionals—and, maybe most importantly—critical thinkers. 

Here are examples of how these funds were used:

Butler In LA: It helped pay for professionals and equipment to support our two-week “Butler in LA” program in May, where students produced a nearly 7-minute short film titled “Cycle.”

Atlanta Braves at Cincinnati Reds: 10 Butler Sports Live (BSL) students were hosted by Braves TV play-by-play announcer Brandon Gaudin ’06 in September. The intensive experience included time on the field during batting practice, a walk-thru of the production trucks, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the announcing booth setup on the press level.

Butler in Nashville: CCOM students traveled to Nashville for an exciting career trek in early November. Visits included Sterling Sound, and their fully immersive Dolby Atmos experience within the studio, and Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) where professionals explained what they do for streaming services and artists alike. Watch a behind-the-scenes look at all of the adventures with the Instagram story done for Butler University by student attendees Isabella Ernsberger, Katerina Anderson, and Logan Goettemoeller. 

Donors have also supported other efforts in the college, including:

  1. The Valentine Family Fund: Supports students in Creative Media and Entertainment, especially as it relates to film production. 
  2. The Roger and Bonnie Lindberg Fund: Supported Eva Hallman ‘26 attending the National Broadcasting Association Conference in Las Vegas—where she was also able to shadow professional TV and radio broadcasters for the Minnesota Wild professional hockey team.
  3. The Susan Ebbinghaus Warsaw and Harris Warsaw BELL Program Support Fund: Assists in underwriting the annual costs associated with the Butler Early Language and Literacy clinical program within Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. 
  4. The Collegian Support Fund and the five fountains Fund: provide fuel for some of our top student-run organizations. 

This wide array of experiences and resources within the college are made possible because of our generous donors. We appreciate every single dollar that allows us to make the student experience even more special at Butler, within CCOM, and for each specific major. So this Thanksgiving, as I sit around the table and wonder why we only make pumpkin pie once a year, I remain enormously thankful for the support of the Butler community and family that helps set our initiatives apart from other institutions.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Butler Sports Live – Beyond the Final Whistle

Butler Sports Live – Beyond the Final Whistle

Fall is the best season, with the colorful array of leaves on the trees, or crunching underfoot during a cool walk across campus. There is energy and excitement and a little urgency due to mid-term exams and knowing it kicks off the final stretch of the semester. And, of course, Halloween, with the creative outlets of costumes, pumpkin carving, and seeing decorated houses. And then there is sports.

For sports fans, there is the return of three major things:  The Fall Classic (World Series, for the non-baseball initiated), the National Football League, and the Saturday favorite, college football. Chances are, you have taken these in once or twice, or been around someone who watches one or all of these sports with a cult-like passion. Most people don’t get to see every game in person, and instead watch them with friends around the television, with nary a notice as to the complexities that go into pulling off a seamless viewing experience.  

Homecoming weekend, I spent some time with a very special group of Bulldogs who know firsthand how much goes into delivering the sports content we love to watch: Butler Sports Live. Constituted of students from CCOM’s most populous major, Sports Media, Butler Sports Live produces between 60-80 Butler Bulldog sporting events every year, including Football, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball and Lacrosse.  Butler Sports Live, or as it is commonly called BSL, has around fifty students who work with CCOM faculty member Nick White and engineer David “Dutch” Duchnowski to stream all of this content to families, friends and viewing audiences around the country.

What does a day look like for this crew? On the day I stopped by, the Bulldogs were set to play a 1pm Women’s Soccer match, but call-time for the BSL crew was 10am—even before the athletes reported! They arrive early to ensure all the cameras are set up and working properly, running lines around the field, and testing communication among a number of other tasks. 

Live production is rewarding but it is not for the faint of heart. Even if a viewer doesn’t realize it, the process is not always smooth, but then again, experiencing how to handle these challenges is part of the learning laboratory that is BSL. Like any production, something invariably needs to be fixed, and tensions can even get a bit testy at times because a game’s start time is a fierce master. In reality, the crew has two hours to get things working because they start broadcasting pregame content an hour before the game action begins. There is always something going on in the CCOM Live Truck that serves as the base of operations for the broadcast, and our students are in the thick of it, learning from Nick and Dutch almost every single game.

The students run each broadcast, setting up graphics, calling camera angles, cutting fast-turnaround replays to “air” so those watching have a great experience. When the game is over the crew is not done. They finish postgame programming and then pack up the gear—a process that is not easy, nor short. Finally, about an hour after the game, the BSL crew are some of the last to leave, battle-tested, but proud of another broadcast.

Homecoming weekend is busy for many of us. For BSL it meant four broadcasts in three days. But even on consecutive days they do it with joy and enthusiasm. Students know how prepared they will be to get an internship or a job after graduation thanks to the opportunity they are afforded by BSL through the strong partnership CCOM has with the Butler Department of Athletics. That partnership grows stronger by the day—The Butler Way of working together shows the unique and awesome potential of our academic-athletic partnership.  

And no matter what season we’re in, make time to watch a BSL broadcast—and I hope you can appreciate what Nick, Dutch, and the team of BSL students in our experiential learning landscape are accomplishing with each event.

Addition By Subtraction: A Tale of Surgery & Support

Addition By Subtraction: A Tale of Surgery & Support

Mark Twain as an example of—sans pipe—what CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano should have been doing at home after his surgery. (Photo: UniversalImagesGroup/Getty Images)

Mark Twain said, “Tell me about a person’s family, friends, and community, and I will tell you what his opinions are.” In the coming words, I’m sharing a personal story of the last few months that will shed light on my opinions—at least, according to Twain.  

In late May, during a routine scan, doctors found a lump the size of a lemon in my neck. Weeks later, after a follow-up scan, they determined the lump was on my thyroid.  A few more weeks and a biopsy later, they thankfully determined it was likely benign. Whew! Except, did I mention it was big? My doctor said these things typically get larger and that it needed to go. After avoiding any surgeries my entire life the procedure was scheduled—“yay!” for new experiences! 😉

As the Fall semester got rolling I let the college community know that I would be out of commission for 1-2 weeks in late September to have the uninvited guest removed. That’s where my family, friends, and community showed their true colors.

First, my wife, Lauren, could not have been more supportive through the entire process and surgery. She insisted I rest—even when email tempted me and my inability to sit still beat in my head and body like the haunting aspects of Edgar Allan Poe’s “A Tell-Tale Heart.” I won the lottery when I met her, that’s for certain. 

My mother-in-law, a retired pharmacist, helped me understand the surgery and the medications that might be necessary.  She’s one of the smartest people I know, and I am so lucky to have her in my life—especially when she makes a play-dough model of the surgery I was about to undergo! She and my father-in-law have huge hearts, and spent the week of my surgery with us to help make sure the load was manageable. Even my son made sure I did not talk so I could heal faster.

My friends were just as amazing. The sheer number of texts and emails checking in and wishing me well was a meaningful reminder of the amazing nature of the people I’m fortunate to have in my life.  

Then there’s the Butler community, especially CCOM. 

Mere moments after I shared the news with CCOM faculty and staff, the support poured in. Dr. Eileen Taylor pulled me in her office and shared that I was on her prayer list. Another faculty member shared their history with thyroid surgery that helped give me a clear understanding of what I was being thrust into. Dr. Margaretha Geertsema-Sligh checked in frequently. 

Knowing the dry humor but absolute passion of our Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) faculty, I didn’t know what was going to happen when Dr. Mary Gospel urged me into her office. There was no practical joke (this time) but she used a visual aid from her teaching tools to show me what was going to happen during and after the procedure. One of our newest faculty in SLHS, Dr. Rachel Arkenberg, a national expert on swallowing, took time to educate me on the issues with swallowing that can accompany the surgery and the importance of preventing infection—she even provided me with some specialized lozenges for a dry mouth.  

From left: SLHS faculty Dr. Tonya Bergeson, Dr. Rachel Arkenberg, Dr. Mary Gospel, and a CCOM student having fun at a “Dogs With the Dean” event in September 2024.

My Dean’s Office team also stepped up—ensuring students, faculty, and staff were still fully supported in my absence. Additionally, they also made a pact to just ignore most of my impatient efforts to get into the mix—forcing me to rest when I was supposed to. There were other folks and other moments, but this showed me what true community is about, and how blessed I am to be surrounded by such caring people, including experts in the field from which I needed information.

I’d be remiss if I did not also mention the offers of support from terrific folks outside of CCOM as well. From Jill McKinney, Craig Caldwell, Stephanie Hinshaw and others offering to drop off food, to the indomitable Lisa Brooks who lent an ear and checked in on me repeatedly, I could not be part of a better team of people. This is what makes the Butler community so special.

So, Mr. Twain, these are my family, friends and community.  My opinions? They are amazing, caring, thoughtful, supportive, and smart. I am so deeply grateful and fortunate that these are the people that help shape who I am—and who help shape our students and CCOM DNA every single day.

Thanks for reading and, for those who can make it, see you at Homecoming!

Welcome, Butler CCOM Class of 2028

Welcome, Butler CCOM Class of 2028

The CCOM Class of 2028 on Academic Day (Monday, Aug. 26, 2024).

New York City in the summer would get HOT. My father said his favorite way to cool down was running through open fire hydrants. The start of a new academic year always reminds me of this as the university welcomes new students to Bulldog Nation. I mean, they are drinking from the proverbial fire hydrant or hose.  

“New-ness” is everywhere in this next stage of their adventures. There are so many opportunities to pursue, and endless choices about joining this activity or that club. But orientation and “Welcome Week” are honestly a joyful time of the academic year for returning students and faculty alike, and especially for the incoming Class of 2028.

Here’s a look at the past couple weeks from our side of things:

CCOM Leadership Retreat

Dr. Tonya Bergeson shares research information with fellow CCOM faculty and staff at the first College Meeting of the school year.

Fall 2024 festivities began for CCOM last week when we welcomed back the faculty from their well-deserved summers away from campus. CCOM Leadership started it off with a retreat where we discussed our priorities for the coming year. A few days later we hosted a full College faculty meeting filled with smiles, stories, and introductions of our new faculty members. It always warms my heart to see everyone after taking a break from the typical grind. 

Student Move-In Day and Convocation

Sydney Haworth (left), SGA President, with Olivia Coy, SGA Chief of Staff, addressing CCOM students during Academic Day. Haworth also presented at Convocation over the weekend.

Students moved into their residences during the last full weekend in August —likely after stopping at Target, IKEA, or Kroger to stock up on necessities and decorate their campus homes. That Sunday we celebrated the time-honored academic ceremony of Convocation, where our new students officially became Bulldogs and launched their journey towards graduation. Lori Greene, vice president of enrollment management, shared the characteristics of our 1,048 new first-year students, including the popular and unique pet names they brought with them. Sydney Haworth, president of the Student Government Association and a speech, language, and hearing sciences (SLHS) major, welcomed her new peers and shared advice for the new students. The event finale was President Danko sharing perspective on what his job entails, and movingly sharing with students how much we care about each and every one of them.

Academic Day  

Joe Valenzano, Dean of the College of Communication, welcomes students during Academic Day.

The Monday before the term started CCOM faculty and staff are provided the opportunity to welcome our new students—seemingly right as they reach peak new info overload. 😊 This is where their great CCOM stories begin. As I told them, four years from now they all will be very different. They will grow based on the choices they make now that they have the freedom a college experience provides. They are now their own authors. Faculty, staff, and other mentors and resources across campus serve as editors, guiding them to the best versions of themselves, but the stories are each student’s to write. 

The new students might be exhausted at this moment—potentially overwhelmed as they persevere through a combination of heat, activity, and a firehose of information they have tried to absorb gracefully. But this challenge empowers them and nurtures their evolution to adulthood. I still maintain that the start of an academic year is, to date, the most exciting adventure in a student’s life. I can’t wait to see what paths they choose to follow and excel in.

To the Class of 2028, and the start of yet another fun-filled, amazing year in CCOM and at Butler!  

  

CCOM Student Post: Paris is great, but you have to get through Indy first

CCOM Student Post: Paris is great, but you have to get through Indy first

With CCOM Dean, Joe Valenzano, enjoying a well-earned European family vacation we are thrilled to have rising senior Sarah Hohman ‘25 contribute the first student guest post to CCOM Pawprints.

Oui oui! The U.S Olympic Swimming Trials are taking place in Indianapolis this week and the city is embracing its hosting duties—complete with a smaller replica of the Eiffel Tower on Georgia Street. Butler students are playing a role as Professor Bob Shultz gathered a group of student volunteers to help the Indiana Sports Corp produce their latest ground-breaking event.

Sarah Hohman ’25 with 2-time Olympic swimmer Kaitlin Sandeno and three of her Olympic medals won during the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 2004.

In honor of the Trials in Indianapolis, I was proud to attend the Economic Club of Indiana’s luncheon with a talented panel discussing the impact of swimming on their lives. I even got to hold a gold medal won by Kaitlin Sandeno at the Athens Games! The panelists consisted of medal-winning Olympians Sandeno (2000; 2004), Cullen Jones (2008; 2012), and Brendan Hansen (2004; 2008; 2012). Nic Askew, the Director of Swimming and Diving and Tennis at Howard University, and a recipient in 2023 of the Indiana Sports Corp Pathfinder Award, rounded out the group, with OneAmerica Financial Vice President Karin Sarratt moderating the event.

The topics varied but the panel was centered around what it takes to be a champion and competitor. The main question of the day was, “Are you a champion or a rainmaker?” By definition, a champion is a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition. A rainmaker is a person whose influence can initiate progress or ensure success. While the panelists debated which of the two they were, the athletes shared stories of success, but most importantly failure—and overcoming it.

The Economic Club of Indiana’s swimming-focused panel (from left), Karin Sarratt, Brendan Hansen, Kaitlin Sandeno, Nic Askew, and Cullen Jones.

This week, many athletes will be left humbled and defeated. A maximum of 52 swimmers can qualify for the U.S. national team, 26 men and 26 women. More than 1000 swimmers are trying to squeeze into these cherished spots. The opportunity only comes every four years, so I can’t imagine the pressure these athletes feel. It certainly has to be more than my eighth-grade volleyball tryouts. No matter how excited we are for these athletes to get to Paris, they have to get through Indianapolis first.

Jones said something during the panel session that stuck out to me. 

“I think we are in a society where we are afraid to start.” 

Failure is scary, we all know that, but I think never failing is scarier. Learning how to fail is learning to succeed. I relate to this in my journey in sports media and journalism so far. As a woman in sports it can be scary to try something new or be outgoing in a field dominated by men. I just know that never trying at all seems a lot more scary to me. These athletes know the pressure that they are under, but not folding is their biggest accomplishment, even when they may not qualify. It’s important to remember that these athletes are human when they are trying to qualify in Indianapolis this week. When you are watching swimmers compete in Lucas Oil Stadium, don’t just cheer on those in the lead, cheer on those who need the extra boost to finish.

Butler CCOM students while volunteering for Indy Sports Corp during the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming in downtown Indianapolis.

Circling back to the Econ Club luncheon, most of the panel considered themselves rainmakers. At their level of personal success, I think it makes sense that they want to help the entire sport of swimming to progress. I think we should all strive to be rainmakers one day, helping to initiate progress in areas that need improvement. I certainly hope I can someday and maybe even earn my own version of a gold medal.

A special thank you to Butler’s Office of Strategic Engagement (OSE) for providing this opportunity.

Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences: SLHS Summer Spotlight

Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences: SLHS Summer Spotlight

May represents graduation and the celebration of hard work by students and faculty within the world of higher education. May goes even further for our stellar Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) majors, and annually carries special messages and recognition into June.

Every year the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA) celebrates their important work with National Speech Language Hearing Month in May, and continues the focus with Aphasia Awareness Month in June. This is a great opportunity to highlight the important contributions our SLHS students and faculty make to the Butler CCOM culture. What they accomplish also hits close to home for me.

Dr. Mary Gospel receiving the CCOM Faculty All-Star Award from Provost Brooke Barnett and CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano during halftime of men’s basketball game on Nov. 10, 2023.

When I was growing up, my father published a magazine for children with special needs and the people who care for them. This allowed me to attend the Special Olympics and learn about various challenges people can face, including developmental delays that impact a child’s ability to speak. I also learned about the impact traumatic brain injuries can have on speech during my time helping out at his company. It’s one of the many reasons I am so humbled by, and proud of, the SLHS faculty and students in CCOM at Butler.

SLHS isn’t just a major—It is a heartfelt culture that expertly walks the line between developing professionals and making a tangible impact on the community, while also embracing fun and joy in their work. It’s easy to point to the fact they beat the national acceptance rate for their students into graduate programs by an astounding 50%, but how they do it is even more impressive. Their engagement goes beyond the classroom and our impactful clinics that allow undergraduate students valuable and rare hands-on opportunities. 

Members of the ASL Club during their 14th Annual Hands on Fire event on April 9, 2024 in the Reilly Room on the campus of Butler University.

The SLHS program boasts not one or two, but FIVE different hands-on clinical experiences for our students—something no school I know of in the country does. These include multiple cutting-edge research opportunities with faculty and unmatched undergraduate clinical practicum experiential learning opportunities with our on-campus speech-language clinic, community preschool speech-language hearing screening events, the Butler Early Learning and Literacy (BELL) preschool program, and our Butler Aphasia Community. Visiting these experiences is powerful, as you witness the life-altering work our students do under the guidance of faculty mentors like Dr. Mary Gospel, Prof. Ann Bilodeau, and Dr. Suzanne Reading.

SLHS is also integrated into student groups on campus, providing leadership opportunities and exposure. There is Butler’s National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter that provides a variety of social, academic, and professional support, as well as the American Sign-Language (ASL) Club. The ASL Club annually signs the National Anthem at a Butler men’s home basketball game and hosts the “Hands On Fire” signing event on campus, providing more community and experiential opportunities within this important course of study.

SLHS and Butler CCOM were well represented by students and Prof. Ann Bilodeau at ISHA Legislative Day 2024 and even spent time with Indiana Senator Greg Taylor (left image).

It’s not just about the great clinical and co-curricular experiences in SLHS either. In February, students provided free speech, language, and hearing screenings at the International School of Indiana. During this year’s kickoff event, our SLHS majors provided services to 55 students. Prof. Bilodeau, who was appointed by former Gov. Mike Pence and has served 12 years on the Indiana Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board, brought 30 Butler SLHS students to the Indiana Statehouse in February to participate in training on how bills are created and to discuss issues relevant to the profession, such as pending literacy bills at the state level.  In fact, they also met Indiana Senator Greg Taylor who referred to Butler and our SLHS program as a crown jewel in his district. Not too shabby!

Recently graduated seniors, (left to right) Mackenzie Beal, Sarah Mahnesmith, and Emily Bowyer at ISHA Legislative Day at the Indiana Statehouse on Feb. 12, 2024.

The culture in SLHS is also remarkably inviting. This year they hosted two external speakers.  Dean’s Advisory Board Member Amy McConkey Robbins talked with students about supporting language development and listening through music, and Dr. Irina Castellanos discussed cochlear implants and spoken language skills. In addition to intellectual engagement, SLHS knows how to have fun too. Whether it’s their ice cream social at the start of the year, their senior breakfast at the end of the year, their pumpkin decoration tradition at Halloween, or the fact one of their faculty taught a class in a dinosaur costume after a Day of Giving Challenge was met, SLHS brings joy with them wherever they go. I’ve also been the subject of a patient prank by Dr. Gospel. Shortly after I arrived at Butler, she snuck into my office and slipped a Justin Bieber book in with the rest of my small library—and it took me two months and a hint or two to actually find it! It didn’t take me long to realize that these are my people.

SLHS students decorate pumpkins to look like their professors each Halloween.

Although this time of year provides an intentional spotlight on the work of speech, language, and hearing sciences professionals, our CCOM SLHS faculty deliver their work with heart and joy day in and day out. They embody the connection between Butler and our community, and exemplify the sense of fun and heart that fills the halls of Fairbanks Center. Everyday they remind me of my father, his company, and the chance I had early in life to learn about the diversity of human experience and how special people give of themselves to help those who need it.

Dean Valenzano’s 2024 CCOM Top 10

Dean Valenzano’s 2024 CCOM Top 10

From popular music to the top sports plays of any given day or season, Top 10 lists are synonymous with excellence. I witnessed accolades worthy of applause during my first full school year at Butler University as Dean of the College of Communication. There was a whirlwind of excitement, accomplishment, partnership, growing pains, and most importantly learning experiences and enhanced relationships for students, faculty, alumni, staff, and the entire Butler community.

These 10 highlights from the 2023-2024 school year are not in any order of significance but are impactful in my eyes. I’d love to hear about your favorite memories and experiences that didn’t make my list (I know there will be some that I curse myself about not including) but here we go. So imagine your favorite voice actor, as you see the transition frame with a huge one and zero on it. I’ve got the voice of Amy Dichter ‘98 in my head starting us off with an energetic and powerful, “NUMBER 10!” vocalization.

#10 – COMMENCEMENT CELEBRATION WEEKEND

Graduation is the most significant moment of any college student’s career. On Saturday, May 11, 2024, we celebrated 138 CCOM graduates from our undergraduate programs. They were accompanied by another dozen or so students from our Strategic Communication graduate program. In CCOM we like to have fun so we expanded a memorable event into a full Commencement Celebration Weekend. Thursday night kicked-off with the inaugural CCOM Senior Dinner, where about 80% of our seniors, approximately 60 parents, 25 faculty and staff, and six alumni from our Dean’s Advisory Board came to celebrate this year’s graduating class.  Experiencing families getting to meet the faculty who shepherded their loved ones to the precipice of graduation was special for everyone and a reminder of why we work so hard for student success! On Friday, our very own Scott Bridge gave a moving and inspirational speech as this year’s University Commencement Faculty Speaker. Finally, on Saturday, students received their well-earned diplomas in Clowes Hall after hearing reflections and advice from senior Micah Horne ‘24, and Professor Amanda Stevenson-Holmes. This was a graduation weekend I will never forget!

#9 – AWARD WINNING STUDENT GROUPS

The Intercollegiate Speech and Debate Team earned 153 different awards throughout the ‘23-’24 season. These awards include a first place overall debate ranking at State, senior Abby Kom’s All-American award, and our overall 8th ranking in the nation in combined speech and debate at Pi Kappa Delta. The Collegian student-run newspaper brought home 32 awards from the Indiana Collegiate Journalism Association, while also taking home more hardware in the form of Mark of Excellence awards from the Society of Professional Journalism. 

#8 – RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP, AND A TED TALK

The trophies and medals do not even begin to capture all the cool things our students accomplished this past year.  Six students (Eva Hallman, Arie Lihktman, Lauren Browning, Sarah Mahnesmith, Elaine Stribley & Abigail Dame) attended four different major academic conferences this year to both learn about and deliver research. Abby Kom, previously mentioned and now on her way to the graduate program at the University of Tennessee, also delivered a TED Talk entitled “So You’ve Been Called Aggressive.” These students continue to amaze me with their drive to make meaningful contributions to a wide array of fields.

#7 – ELITE ALUMNI

Our current students are not alone in the recognition department.  This past Homecoming we celebrated two CCOM alumni who have made significant contributions to their professions, our communities, and Butler. Jacqueline Eckhardt ‘13 was presented the Joseph Irwin Sweeney Alumni Service Award, while John Doyle ‘74 exhibited grace and humility in accepting the Butler Medal, the university’s highest honor. I can’t wait to see this year’s graduates take home these awards in the future.

#6 – THE FAIRWAYS AT FAIRBANKS

It was a moment of pride and joy when CCOM again led the academic pack on the Day of Giving this past February. We didn’t just receive the most gifts among the colleges, nor simply raise the most money among that group. As we strive to do, we led the way in fun too. We turned our classroom building into a miniature golf course with eight unique putt-putt holes created by faculty and student organizations within the college. The bar has been raised for next year.

#5 – BELL RINGS TRUE

The Butler Early Language Literacy program (BELL), spearheaded by Associate Dean Dr. Suzanne Reading and the faculty and students of the Speech Language and Hearing Sciences department received a huge boost this year. Their program received a major leading gift to establish an endowment, ensuring this vitally important, community-facing, clinical opportunity for our students will be a part of CCOM and Butler forever. Additionally, the SLHS students continued their trend of attaining 50-60% more graduate placements for seniors than the national average.  

#4 – FAIRBANKS “FOMO”

Fairbanks Center, the home of CCOM, proved that even though we are on the edge of campus, we are a huge part of its heartbeat. From our first “Dogs with the Dean” event to the aforementioned Fairways at Fairbanks, we produced successful events all year. We’ll only grow from this year’s inaugural Chili Cook-Off (who puts peanut butter in Chili, anyway?!), a March Madness viewing party, and even an appearance by the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Dean himself during our Halloween office decorating party. The word is out, and people have a fear of missing out on the fun that is Fairbanks. 

#3 – WAJC RADIO REUNION

WAJC Radio was THE experiential learning lab for students in communication for a long time at Butler. The university sold the station in 1993 and unfortunately the station and the students who staffed it seemed to float away like lost radio waves. This year, however, we invited these trailblazers of experiential learning back for a very special reunion in April. I like to think it proved their legacy is a critical piece of CCOM and that the spirit of WAJC lives on today in the DNA of the college. Sharing time with these alumni, from seven different decades, who returned to campus from as far away as California, Texas, and Minnesota to celebrate and reminisce was special. We’ll work on more ways to keep the band back together.

#2 – DOWNTOWN BIKE TOUR (AKA: GOLF CART OFF-ROADING)

No year is complete without something that makes you laugh every time you think about it.  For me, it was in Professor Bob Schultz’s Fall Hospitality and Tourism Promotion class. He regularly hosts a bike tour of downtown Indy but had two students who could not bike due to injury. So I stepped up to drive them around the route on a golf cart. What could go wrong? Well, near Centennial Park there were metal pylons that the bikes could get through, but the golf cart? Not so much. It got stuck, and everyone had to push the golf cart back out—a memory that will always make me smile.

#1 – BUTLER ALL STARS WITH THE NBA

CCOM is nimble and hungry to provide unique opportunities for our students. This was epitomized by the same Bob Schultz who got me stuck in the golf cart. 😉  Bob spearheaded an effort to offer 100 students a one-credit experience where they served as hospitality ambassadors for the city of Indianapolis while hosting the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. The weekend was frigid, but these students gave a warm embrace to visitors and finished with stories that will last them a lifetime. This is just the tip of the iceberg for what is possible for students in CCOM going forward.

As I reflect on the year and these wonderful accomplishments, I am so humbled by the hard work, dedication, and care our students, faculty and staff bring every day. CCOM continues to build momentum, and I am eager to see where things go next academic year.  But for now, we all can take a short breather. Have a great summer! 😊

WAJC’s Reunion Tour Launch

WAJC’s Reunion Tour Launch

It just feels right when a formal gathering of friends, peers, and mentors evolves into more of a family reunion than a general get together. Everyone doesn’t necessarily know everyone else, but at some point they have shared experiences: they waved the same flag, performed the same duties, learned from the same professor and can reflect upon it fondly.

My good friend and colleague, Ross Hollebon, reminded me recently that a central theme of the Star Wars franchise is “found family,” (yes, we shared “May the 4th Be With You” texts over the weekend) and that is the type of connections that were rekindled during that special evening on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Robertson Hall.       

Generally speaking, a found family refers to a group of unrelated people coming together to establish their own definition of a family unit or close-knit community. In what is now CCOM (many of the attendees graduated from “Radio & Television” and other degree names of the mass communication degree program) there is no more appropriate way to refer to the alumni who graduated after having found themselves during activities for Butler’s former FM radio station, 104.5 WAJC.

How do I know?  Easy, they fit the definition.  

The 120+ alumni and guests who attended this first reunion in over thirty years were (largely) not related, but they are the WAJC family. The number of hugs, laughs, jokes, and stories told when they arrived at Robertson Hall were as warm as the sound of the crackling vinyl albums they used to spin on live broadcasts. 

Since meeting Dave Arland ‘85, the first alum I encountered after joining Butler, it became a goal of mine to get this storied group of Bulldogs back together on campus. Dave educated me on the importance, as well as the somewhat challenging history, of WAJC over dinner in my first week on the job. There was passion, the affinity, and the care with which he and others held WAJC and its legendary faculty, including for a number of alumni, Mr. Jim Phillipe and Mrs. Ann Harper.  

The radio station, founded in the 1950s, was sold in the early 1990s, leaving many of the WAJC alumni stunned and upset after more than four decades of being part of the Butler DNA, especially for students studying areas of communication. 

The station helped launch so many notable careers in radio and television, that I wanted them to know that their work, and the legacy of their station, was not only too important to forget, but was also alive and well in CCOM today. With the help of Corey McPherrin ‘77, Chelsea Hennessey ‘12 MS ‘23, and the aforementioned Jedi Hollebon, we set out to welcome the WAJC community back to campus. We would show them they remain part of our foundation and still have a place in CCOM and at Butler. 

We sent a “Save the Date” and were blown away with the response. Numerous alumni with graduation years ranging from 1956 to 2015, RSVP’d “Yes.” Others that couldn’t make it emailed, called, posted on the WAJC Facebook group, or shared positive notes through friends that they couldn’t attend this time around but were thrilled to know it was happening. 

The 2024 WAJC Reunion

Notable moments from the evening as we honored these alumni and what they accomplished together, as found family, started with my welcome remarks explaining that “WAJC was experiential learning before experiential learning was even a thing.”

We honored two very special people by presenting them with inaugural awards named for key WAJC figures.

Norman “Norm” Wilkens WAJC Lifetime Achievement Award  

Named after a WAJC lifer whom we lost last summer, this award represents someone, who like Norm Wilkens ‘57, demonstrated tremendous work ethic and professional achievement, but similarly personified commitment to Butler and CCOM.  

Barry Hohlfelder ‘66 was recognized as the inaugural recipient of this award. What made this even more special is that Barry and Norm were indeed “found family.” He was unable to attend the reunion, so, accepting the award on Barry’s behalf was Norm Wilkens’ daughter, Lauren O’Brien. What made this even more cool—Lauren’s daughter, Norm’s granddaughter, will be a Bulldog this Fall!

James R. “Jim” Phillipe Service to CCOM Award  

Mr. Jim Phillippe came to Butler in 1946 to teach drama but ended up building a college and evolving a radio station. Some people know him from his work as public address announcer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while others still hear his echoes off the walls of Hinkle where he announced basketball games for over 30 years. The people at this reunion, however, remember him as the manager of WAJC.  

The winner of this award was retiring professor, Scott “Mr. CCOM” Bridge ’82 MS ’91. I can confidently say that, like Jim Phillippe, CCOM would not be what it is without Scott, though his humility would force him to disagree. Like Jim as well, he is someone students never forget working with. Whether it is teaching broadcasting or journalism, advising students in all things academic, career, and personal, or giving countless tours to prospective students Scott has led a life of service to Butler and its students unparalleled by anyone. 

I was honored and privileged to recognize Mr. Wilkens, Mr. Phillippe, Barry and Scott, along with all of WAJC.

WAJC VIDEO HOMAGE

Then came the showstopper. That designation was reserved for an 8 minute video celebrating the memories and legacy of all things and all people WAJC related. The video, created by Corey McPherrin, was a tour de force, filled with reminiscences, pictures, and even music spun by the WAJC disc jockeys over the years. It was truly a labor of love about a labor he loved, and one everyone in the room adored. Whether it was smiles, tears, laughter, or general warmth, emotions were plucked like the strings of an acoustic guitar.

After the formal program, and a group photo of most of the attendees, the reception commenced with impersonations, stories, hugs and good feelings, even as the bar and food were packed up. These alumni created a special place within the buildings and on the airwaves when they forged 104.5FM as a destination on the radio dial. It’s also, as I pointed out that day, a legacy we continue through our work in podcasts and audio production.  

Moving forward, I want WAJC alumni to be an integral part in these efforts, helping not only to guide and shape its direction, but to share their experiences and passions with the students of today. That’s what reunions are about—reconnecting with the past, and connecting with the future. That day could not have been better if we tried and I hope the WAJC alumni are willing to adopt some more members into their found family.

A Taylor, a Rose, and a Bridge

A Taylor, a Rose, and a Bridge

Stories feed our imagination. A compelling narrative, masterful worldbuilding, and a well-written hero (or villain) stick with readers and viewers—for a lifetime in some instances. I have been fortunate enough to live the culminating on-campus chapters of three award-winning protagonists during the past year and a half as part of CCOM. My time here allows only short story versions of what this impactful trio has developed, nurtured, and shared through their nearly 100 years of combined service to Butler University.

This is a true story about a Taylor, a Rose and a Bridge. They have earned their beautiful and inspiring academic sunsets after so many selfless seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years of preparing Bulldogs to have their own bright, fulfilling futures.

Once upon a time, somewhere in the vicinity of 4600 Sunset Avenue…

Prof. Christine Taylor spending time with friends and peers at the CCOM Retirement Celebration.

The Taylor: Tailors mend broken clothes, impact design and fashion, and help make their clients look well put together. Our Taylor, Christine, has also done some mending, lots of designing, and has helped her students achieve their best for three decades in CCOM. Christine has been a faculty member at Butler through ebbs and flows and evolution in her immediate work environment and the discipline in which she resides. She seamlessly assimilated from the Department of Radio and Television in the Jordan College of the Arts, to the Pulliam School of Journalism and Creative Media in the College of Communication. Christine has helped build community, develop curricula, and educate students who desired the feel of a camera in their hands. She has evolved with the times, learning new technology and practices in the broadcasting industry from her days at CNN to her long tenure with Butler. Christine has been a voice of calm, a source of wisdom, and a faculty member her former students never forget—and we hear about that often.

Dr. Rose Campbell, with her husband Ken, during the CCOM Retirement Celebration.

The Rose: A single rose can, at times, be more powerful and meaningful than dozens of flowers from a florist. We know it first-hand in CCOM because we only needed our Rose—Rose Campbell. She is actively celebrated by others who have taught me how invaluable her presence and actions have been while building the foundation of our college.

I learned about Rose’s authentically forged connections with students from Trey Meehan ‘14. He told me that her investment was grounded in care, but also high expectations. Her colleagues in the Department of Strategic Communication reflect constantly on her dedication to CCOM and to Butler University. Provost Brooke Barnett echoed this by leaning on Rose as a special assistant the past two years during a grueling accreditation process. That is just one example of her “for the greater good” service throughout an award-winning career. Rose has served as chair for seven years, special assistant for two years, and a mentor to colleagues and students for her entire 25+ year career. She has always emphasized students, and that is an approach I embrace and appreciate. Rose also initiated the CCOM Experiential Learning Fund which has helped numerous students pursue education and resume-building opportunities they otherwise would be unable to take advantage of. Experiencing higher education with Dr. Rose Campbell, as a student, mentor, or peer might be best summarized in the final line of the poem “What A Rose Can Say,” by Margie Driver: “No matter what there is to say, a rose can say it best.” Butler and CCOM know this to be true.

Prof. Scott Bridge in a moment of reflection, as his wife Maryann proudly watches him at the CCOM Retirement Celebration.

The Bridge: The bridge is a way to connect people and places, and Scott Bridge has epitomized this during his time as a leader at Butler. He has done transformative work with CCOM’s thriving internship program. I can’t imagine anyone being surprised that during the pandemic he hosted a weekly Zoom meeting with a first-year journalism student to make them feel connected to the campus from 900 miles away. “Mr. CCOM” has done it all—from tours of campus for prospective students to hours spent advising students from all parts of the university during his career. Scott is a two-time graduate of Butler and a longstanding faculty member. His shoes aren’t likely to be filled by any single person.

At the CCOM’s retirement reception for our spectacular trio one alum told me he was explaining to colleagues that he needed to leave early because his college professor was retiring. One colleague commented, “I don’t even remember who my college professors were.” The Bulldog alum responded, “If you went to Butler, you know Scott Bridge.” We all have our Scott Bridge stories, and true to his last name, he connects students to Butler and CCOM.

The vignettes about Christine, Rose, and Scott are endless. They include dozens of mentored colleagues, and thousands of lives changed for the better. Their compelling stories navigate years of hard work and dedication as three heroes in our college—a Taylor, a Rose and a Bridge—take their final, celebratory Butler CCOM bows.

They represent the best of the best in Bulldogs Nation, and I count myself lucky to have worked with them even for such a short time. May their next career be filled with joy, adventure, and fulfillment equal to that which they have given here at Butler.