On Oct. 21, the department of Communication Technologies, along with the Public Relations Organization, hosted Creative Communication Day for 75 high school students and their advisers. Students were also encouraged to attend, and communication technology classes were canceled.

Photograph by Anthony Bauer


Stephanie Rux from Southwest Technical College learns studio portrait photography in a session lead by Melissa Rakow.

Participants from Scales Mound, River Ridge, Dakota,  Guilford, Onalaska and Portage high schools, as well as students from Southwest Technical College attended the day-long event to gain a better understanding of what the UW-Platteville communication technology department has to offer.

“The purpose of Creative Communication Day is to reach out to high school students who are not aware of the careers in the communication field and to give them the opportunity to interact with professionals,” BJ Reed, communication technologies professor and adviser for PRO, said.

The day was broken down into hourly sessions, and students were able to select workshops to attend based on their interests. Each workshop covered a different section of what the department offers for programs.

UW-P faculty and staff, as well as outside professionals, gave the high school students presentations in areas of broadcasting, computer software, yearbook design, photography and special events, among others.

“I think it’s important for students to get a different perspective of the job opportunities available in the field of communications,” Angella Day, owner of Wishes and Dreams Special Events, said.  “I also feel that as a graduate of UW-P, it is important for alumni to stay involved and interact with current students.”

Tours of the WSUP radio station, TV-5 television studio and the Exponent newsroom were given to students, showing them how each organization operates on a day-to-day basis. Creative Communication Day gives the high school students and also current students the chance to see the many opportunities that can arise when studying communications,” said Katelyn Enloe, a communication technologies major.