by Bill Riccetti
The CoJMC recently celebrated homecoming by showcasing multicultural alumnae in many classes and celebrating their accomplishments. Molly Chapple, an alumna and enrolled member of the Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, is one of the women the college was celebrating.
Chapple graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s of journalism from the CoJMC. She focused hard on her work and accomplished a first for her family - getting a college degree.
“It was different for me being a first generation student, applying for all these scholarships and such. I didn’t really know what I was doing,” Chapple said. “I just threw the idea out there, and it ended up working out.”
Chapple comes from Falls City, a town in Nebraska that has a very small population. It is so small, her graduating high school class featured only 12 students. She credits the William H. Thompson Buffet Scholarship for helping her get started and get through her college years.
Chapple is now attending graduate school at the CoJMC and is in her second year of the integrated media communications track. She works for the college’s communications team as a graduate assistant. She writes social media posts, newsletters, press releases and stories. She is also finishing up an internship at the Nebraska 4-H Foundation where she does digital marketing and online advertising.
During undergrad she had moments of doubt about her path of studies. She credits Jill Arth, an adviser for the CoJMC, in really getting her excited about the journalism program. Chapple also said Michelle Hassler’s multimedia journalism class was integral in preparing her for what she would end up doing after college.
“Her class was super helpful for my current role because it taught me about social media, graphic design, videography… pretty much the whole spectrum,” Chapple said. “We were able to dabble in a little bit of everything.”
While she was working hard and succeeding in her studies she was also exploring and embracing her Native American heritage.
“I’m in the process of trying to learn more about my culture because I recently reconnected with family members from my Native American side,” she said.
Chapple said she hopes that she will have a career that allows her to help Native American people that are in need.
“My future goals would be to work at a non-profit that would benefit the Native American community so I can serve my people,” she said. “The issues I find important within that community are alcoholism and domestic violence so those are two things I hope to make an impact in correcting.”
No matter what she does, Chapple is a great example of how hard work and determination can create a path for success. With her experiences in the CoJMC and her continuous embrace of her multicultural heritage, Chapple sets an example for students who are looking to make an impact as well.
“I feel that the support and guidance that I received from the faculty and staff at the CoJMC equipped me with the skills I needed to succeed in the field,” she said.
