The College of Journalism and Mass Communications had much to celebrate during the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 2023 Homecoming Week from Oct. 23-28.
We started Homecoming week as we do most weeks…with experiential learning! On Wednesday, Oct. 25, we ran a broadcast television workshop for Lincoln High journalism students in the Don and Lorena Meier Studio.
After learning to use the equipment and putting together a broadcast, CoJMC's assistant director of recruiting, Alex Fernando, took the crew to Memorial Stadium for a studio tour at Husker Vision.
"Experiential learning is essential to what we do here at the CoJMC and that's why it's also at the core of our recruiting efforts," Fernando said. "Our goal is to introduce our faculty and student-led workshops to every Nebraska high school, then bring them to campus for additional experiential opportunities."
Also, on Wednesday, the college hosted on-campus interviews for current students interested in working at the Lincoln Journal Star. Throughout the day, students interviewed for internship roles starting in 2024.
On Thursday, Oct. 26, this year's multicultural homecoming distinguished alum Adrian Whitsett ('08) arrived in Lincoln and came to Andersen Hall for a Campus Voices interview with associate professor and 90.3 KRNU general manager Rick Alloway.
After guest lecturing in a few CoJMC courses, Whitsett attended the Multicultural Homecoming Reception and was honored as CoJMC's multicultural homecoming distinguished alum. The reception is sponsored by the Nebraska Alumni Association, the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center and the Chancellor's Commission on the Status of People of Color.
Whitsett is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning anchor and reporter with over 15 years of broadcasting experience. He grew up in Papillion and worked at KETV Omaha for seven years before moving to Orlando, Florida, where he anchored the morning news at WESH 2 for five and a half years before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2020 to anchor for WCPO 9 News.
On Friday, Oct. 27, our Comprehensive Campaign Committee and our Dean's Advisory Board had meetings to discuss the upcoming accreditation, industry trends, the comprehensive campaign, alumni engagement and more.
On Friday night, we hosted our annual homecoming celebration at Andersen Hall. Our alumni family joined us for an evening of fun featuring a CoJMC trivia contest, a photo booth by I See U Mirror X Booth, tours of our spaces by the college's faculty and staff and a brownie van by Brownie Bar Bakery.
On Homecoming Saturday, CoJMC senior Hannah-Kate Kinney of Omaha was crowned homecoming royalty on the field at Memorial Stadium during halftime of the Nebraska-Purdue football game.
Kinney, a journalism, broadcasting and advertising and public relations triple major, and senior Preston Kotik of Hooper were elected by an online vote of the student body.