Communications | North Central College

Chad Comello

"I came here as a history major but I took a writing course and found something I was good at and wanted to pursue," says Chad. "I started writing for The Chronicle my freshman year."

He started as a staff writer at the student newspaper and worked his way up to co-editor-in-chief his junior and senior years. "If I’d gone to a larger university, I wouldn’t have had these opportunities," says Chad, who has also been active in campus ministry and traveled to Columbia with other North Central students for an international service trip.

Chad particularly enjoys writing about music and reports that his dream job would be serving as a fine arts editor for a print or web publication. Toward that end, he began writing for the online college music magazine Hear/Say. "It’s been great to get more experience—and free tickets to some Chicago area shows!" he says.

Kelly Rivard

Kelly Rivard's roots in rural Illinois has given her a deep appreciation for agriculture. The graphic design track within IMS is giving her expertise with video production, social media and the Internet—which can benefit farmers and agriculture organizations—to forge her career. “The challenge is to help farmers gain access to the current technologies,” she says. “Some still have dial-up Internet access.”

She’s already become a video editor and is pursuing an English minor to polish her writing skills. Kelly has interned with AgChat Foundation, which teaches farmers and ranchers how social media can reach consumers; and also for the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and NutraHealth Media, a marketing company for health foods. “North Central gives you opportunities and you can build your career from there,” she says.

Sam Suarez

Sam, an IMS major with a concentration in graphic arts, thumbs through the North Central catalog with excitement. "There are lots of options here, and you don't have to limit yourself to any one tool or medium,” she says. “I’ll be taking classes in Web design, Flash animation, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign and learning how they all work together." As a student worker in the College's office of marketing and communications, Samantha has already learned that proficiency in multiple programs increases her value as an employee. To date she has worked on print ads, Web banner ads and posters, seen all over campus.

Laurel White

The College Scholars program, robust study abroad programs, and variety of research grants attracted Laurel to North Central. Once here, she took advantage of every opportunity. Interested in public policy journalism, she traveled to London to study British impressions of the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign. She attended a taping of the “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” to research the culture of political satire. And she presented the results of both projects at the National Conferences for Undergraduate Research.

Co-editor-in-chief of North Central’s student newspaper, The Chronicle, Laurel landed a spot at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She also won a highly competitive Dunn Fellowship to work for one year in the Governor of Illinois’ Press Office in Springfield, IL. “The Dunn Fellowship is an excellent learning opportunity, which wouldn't have been possible without the encouragement and support of North Central faculty,” she says. “I am lucky to have had a group of excellent professors to support and encourage me throughout the application process and my entire academic career.”

Marc Dahlquist

"My goal is to be a sports reporter for a major network in a major market," says Marc. "I chose North Central because people raved about its radio program and because I wanted to try out the broadcasting field as soon as possible."

Marc learned the tools of the trade first in radio, then TV. "I feel you need to know all aspects of broadcasting," he explains. At WONC, he started reading traffic reports before working his way up to serving as station manager with his own weekly on-air show.

In TV, Marc landed two sports internships. "I worked at ESPN behind the scenes on Division I college football," he explains. "It was a great way to learn how big college games are produced." His second internship—at Naperville Community Television (NCTV)—led to a paid position as a sports producer in charge of shooting and editing videos for weekly highlights shows. "I wrote and edited scripts and sometimes reported at events," he says. "North Central’s faculty have taught me all I know and were vital in helping me get the internships and job. Now I know this is what I want to do."

North Central professor to take part in WFMT Haydn performance

A North Central College professor will take part in a performance of Haydn’s “The Seven Last Words of Christ."

A North Central College professor will take part in a performance of Haydn’s “The Seven Last Words of Christ” that will be broadcast live March 31 on WFMT-FM 98.7, Chicago’s classical music radio station.

Perry T. Hamalis, assistant professor of religious studies and director of North Central College’s Office of Academic Opportunities, is among eight prominent speakers who will deliver short meditations about Christ’s final words.

North Central hosts symposium about water usage and conservation

The public is invited to hear national, regional, state, local and Canadian officials discuss water usage and conservation at a symposium April 15.

The public is invited to hear national, regional, state, local and Canadian officials discuss water usage and conservation during a symposium April 15 at North Central College.

Mock Trial team makes "serious noise" against top teams at nationals

Seven members of North Central's Mock Trial team faced top top teams across the country in the American Mock Trial Association national tournament.

When seven members of North Central's Mock Trial team advanced to compete in the American Mock Trial Association national tournament March 12-14, they didn't know they'd be facing the top teams in the entire country.

Team members tried legal cases against the Universities of Minnesota, Michigan, Chicago and Notre Dame and finished the tournament with a 3-5 record, missing a bid to the National Championship Tournament in April. Co-captain Brett Buckley '10 (photo, third from left) was recognized as an Outstanding Attorney.

Mock Trial team advances to national tournament

North Central College’s Mock Trial team will compete in the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) national tournament March 12-14 in Waukegan.

Contact: Ted Slowik, Director of PR and Media Relations, 630-637-5307, tjslowik@noctrl.edu

Feb. 22, 2010—Students from North Central College’s Mock Trial team will sharpen their critical thinking and public speaking skills and knowledge of legal practices by competing in the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) national tournament March 12-14 in Waukegan. Top finishers from the opening round advance to the National Championship Tournament April 16-18 in Memphis, Tenn.