Below are a variety of articles and news briefs written by or about students in the Mass Communication programs. |
 The Public Relations/Business Club celebrated a busy 2007-08 with a cookout at the home of faculty advisor Dean Beckman. The cookout featured games (including a Wii bowling tournament) along with burgers and brats, and the students elected new officers for the 2008-09 academic year.
President: Niki Kolupailo
Vice President: Katelyn Wadewitz
Secretary: Sami Traxler
Treasurer: Maria Sullivan
Be sure to check out the Club's new page on Facebook for photos and other information.
  
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 Students in the PR/Business Club toured the Metrodome and heard from professionals with the Minnesota Twins and Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. The tour was given by MSFC Event Manager Bobbi Ellenberg (pictured in yellow shirt below). Other speakers included MSFC Executive Director Bill Lester and Minnesota Twins Public Affairs Executive Director Kevin Smith. This was the second tour of the year for the PR/Business Club. In the fall, the students went to Chicago to hear from Chicago Blackhawks President John McDonough, an SMU Alumnus, at the United Center.
 
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PR Minor Wins PRSA Award
 Saint Mary’s University student Lindsay Dickson, a senior social science major and public relations minor from Brooklyn Park, received a 2008 Student Classics Award, sponsored by the Minnesota Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Dickson, the daughter of Jim and Janie Dickson, competed in the “Special Purpose Publications” category for a brochure she helped create in her PR Writing Class for the Saint Mary’s Office of Outdoor Leadership. The Classics Awards banquet was held in Minneapolis on March 27. Congratulating her is SMU faculty member Dean Beckman.
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 Two public relations students were among five finalists in the Saint Mary's University 2008 Outstanding Female Senior competition. Amy Kalina (left in picture), daughter of Stephen and Kathleen Kalina of Webster, Minn., is majoring in public relations and double minoring in Spanish and psychology. She served as freshmen volunteer representative and junior class officer and has been involved with Future Alumni Committee, Public Relations/Business Club, "The Cardinal" student newspaper, Delta Sigma Epsilon, Student Activities Committee, College Republicans, Senior Class Committee and Senior Class Gift Committee. She has also been an academic skills tutor, a Phonathon caller and supervisor, Faith Formation Teacher, Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteer and Catholic Worker Volunteer. Next year she hopes to participate in the Lasallian Volunteer program.
Lindsay Dickson (right in picture), daughter of Jim and Janice Dickson of Brooklyn Park, Minn., is a social science major and a public relations minor. Lindsay is currently the editor of "The Cardinal" newspaper, an intern for the Alumni Relations Office, and a class officer for Student Senate. She has also been involved with the Student Activities Committee Executive Board, Lasallian Honors Program, Phonathon, New Student Orientation, and with volunteering around Winona. Her other interest include cross-country skiing, "The Wizard of Oz," and trying new things. During her semester in London, her favorite memories include attending "Wicked" and venturing around the city. After graduation, Lindsay plans to pursue a career in public relations and event planning.
Learn more about Outstanding Senior Day.
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Jenny Pater, a 2008 Public Relations graduate, compiled information on Saint Mary's University Mass Communication alumni dating back to 1987. We'll periodically update this website with six new entries.
Tom Wistrcill (1992)
Tom Wistrcill, a Public Relations major, currently works for the University of Minnesota as a Senior Associate Athletic Director, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Previously Wistrcill was a General Manager for Learfield Sports at the University of Wisconsin and the NCAA Conference Commissioner. “The broad based education at St. Mary's has proved to be tremendously helpful to my career path,” said Wistrcill.
Kelly Ballarini (1993)
Kelly Ballarini, a Public Relations major, is a stay at home mother. Previously she has worked for Minkus & Dunne Communications as an Account Executive, a Senior Account Executive for Graham Marketing, an Account Group Supervisor for BSMG Worldwide, and a Manager for Golin Harris in Chicago, Illinois.
Mary May (1993)
Mary May, a Public Relations major, currently works for the Chicago Board of Trade as a Title Broker’s Assistant in Chicago, Illinois. Previously May worked as an Elementary Teacher for the Chicago Board of Education. “St. Mary's was all around a great experience. I love the friends I made there, and the personal attention you get from the professors due to small classes was great and very beneficial,” said May.
Carroll Jordan (1993)
Carroll Jordan, a Public Relations major, currently works for TeamWerks, an IT consulting firm, as a Consultant, Project Manager in Chicago, Illinois. Previously Jordan worked for KSTP-AM 1500 as a Sales and Promotions Coordinator in St. Paul, Minnesota. She also worked as a Sales and Marketing Administration for Outer Circle Products in Chicago, Illinois.
Jim Tagye (1993)
Jim Tagye, a Public Relations major, is currently working as a Marketing Coordinator for Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa. For nearly ten years Tagye marketed global travel experiences to alumni from every major college and university alumni association in the nation. His experience there included, “acting the role of a tour guide for 5 consecutive Rose Bowl Alumni tours- (we traveled 10,000 Michigan alumni and friends to and from the Rose Bowl-FAA claimed it was the largest civilian air movement in history!)”
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 About 30 Saint Mary's students, mostly Public Relations and Electronic Publishing majors, learned about the "real world" from business communications professionals representing the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). The speakers represented all areas of business communication, including PR agencies, corporate communication, government agencies, non-profit organizations and independent consulting. After their presentations, the professionals talked with the students in small groups to answer questions, look at resumes and offer advice.
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