Off

William W. White Outstanding Seniors are chosen by department faculty to recognize academic merit, professional achievement and service to the college.

Areyana Proctor, Department of Journalism

After graduation, Proctor plans to join the Communication Arts MA + Ph.D. program at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

   Growing up, my parents always stressed to me the importance of going to college. Now that I am preparing to graduate with my degree, I am astonished and amazed that I have been able to fulfill not only my own dreams, but also the dreams of those that came before me."

Bailey Ghashghai, Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design

Bailey鈥檚 CMCI experience in three words: challenging, rewarding, growth

  "One of the most memorable projects has been competing in the PRSSA Bateman competition. This experience was really demanding but so rewarding. Having this capstone span two semesters, allowed me to build such strong relationships with my team and mentors. I could not have asked for a better way to end my time in CMCI.

Emmett Raymond, Department of Communication

Emmet鈥檚 CMCI experience in three words: world-building, evocative, perspective

   To graduate from 欧美口爆视频 with distinction, having given this program everything I have, is proof to myself that I can pull off massive undertakings and reorient my life when it鈥檚 needed. It鈥檚 also the culmination of a LOT of support from my family and friends, so graduating for me celebrates that too!"

Julia Foley, Department of Information Science

After graduation, Foley will spend six months working at Disney before looking for opportunities as a data analyst or UX designer.

  "Take the time to explore classes and subjects that you are interested in, so that you can find the major that best fits you and the path you want to take during your time here at 欧美口爆视频.

Kelsie Kerr, Department of Media Studies

After graduation, Kerr is excited to move to Los Angeles and immerse herself in the film industry, pursuing her passion for camera work and cinematography. 

   The most memorable project that I completed during my time at 欧美口爆视频 was flying to Phoenix, Arizona to take pictures for the band Bleachers at Zona Music Festival. I gained so much from the experience on the technical/camera end of things, but I also learned how to effectively communicate with band management and other professionals in the music industry (and Jack Antonoff even posted one of my pictures on his Instagram story!!!)."

Sky Kelsey, Department of Critical Media Practice

After graduation, Kelsey is joining the non-profit, Eldora Mountain Ski Club, as the head FIS coach for the next season.

  "My time at 欧美口爆视频 has allowed me to realize the importance of finding your own voice. If you have a cause and if you have the will, there is a support system for you at 欧美口爆视频 Boulder. Show your passion and the people will come.

Off

When she was admitted into 欧美口爆视频 Boulder, Isabella Fincher enrolled in one pragmatic major, economics, and one passion major, classical guitar

Driven by her passions for music and writing, she quickly became involved in various organizations on and off campus. She wrote an honors thesis focused on media representation of female guitarists and studied under world-renowned guitarist Sharon Isbin at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Her dedication to both academics and personal growth has culminated in a number of awards.

Fincher is now graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance, along with a business minor and certificates in music entrepreneurship and music theory. Additionally, she has been recognized as the College of Media, Communication and Information's William W. White Outstanding Graduate. This award is bestowed to the student graduating with the highest GPA in CMCI. She has also been named the College of Music鈥檚 Outstanding Graduating Senior, an award based on academic merit and strong records of musicianship, service and leadership.

"Graduating from college represents empowerment and self-determination through hard work, especially for women from diverse backgrounds," Fincher said, who identifies as a mixed-race Japanese American. 鈥淚鈥檓 so inspired every day by how they [my mother and her sisters] have persevered and carved out their own American dreams.鈥�

Her grandmother, who first came to the U.S. from Japan, encouraged all four of her daughters鈥擣incher鈥檚 mother and aunts鈥攖o pursue their education, and this encouragement was passed onto her as well.

Fincher has had quite the undergraduate experience at 欧美口爆视频 Boulder. In addition to being a high achieving student in multiple programs, she's received a number of awards including: the Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation鈥檚 Gerke Collegiate Award, the College of Music鈥檚 Outstanding Junior Award and the Presser Foundation鈥檚 Undergraduate Scholar Award.

Throughout her time at 欧美口爆视频, she found many ways to meld her love of storytelling and journalism with her passion for the guitar and music. She covered the arts beat while writing for the 鈥攚here she later served as managing editor鈥攁nd had a regular column in the classical music blog .

"As a student journalist, I primarily covered the local arts scene, drawing from my previous experiences with theater, art, film and music in high school," she said. 鈥淚t has been such a great opportunity to write about the vibrant arts and culture scene in Boulder and the greater Denver area, especially highlighting the stories of diverse LGBTQ+ and BIPOC creatives.鈥�

   "Graduating from college represents empowerment and self-determination through hard work, especially for women from diverse backgrounds. . . . I鈥檓 so inspired every day by how they [my mother and her sisters] have persevered and carved out their own American dreams.鈥�

As an honors student, she investigated how female guitarists are portrayed by the American music press and was invited to discuss her findings at both the 2023 National Conference on Undergraduate Research and the 73rd annual International Communication Association (ICA) Conference.

鈥淢y project, 鈥楢n examination of mainstream media鈥檚 treatment of female guitarists,鈥� was inspired by my own personal experiences of the barriers faced by women in guitar,鈥� said Fincher. 鈥淚t was very interesting to see how the music press has contributed to the erasure and marginalization of women in rock and blues over time, an issue that stems from the patriarchal structure of rock music culture and the music industry.鈥�

She was also a member of the College of Music鈥檚 Diverse Musicians Alliance (DiMA). She explained that this group was particularly impactful for her because she was able to find camaraderie with fellow students from diverse backgrounds and advocating for marginalized, BIPOC composers and musicians is important to her. In fact, her senior recital features the work of  three female composers, in part inspired by her work with DiMA鈥檚 Persevering Legacy project.

In fall 2023, Fincher is planning to study under at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a master鈥檚 student in classical guitar performance. While there, she plans to continue working as a freelance journalist focusing on the arts.

Until then, she鈥檚 grateful for all the experiences she鈥檚 had in the classroom and beyond.

鈥淚 am aiming for a portfolio career where I can perform and teach classical guitar and work as a freelance writer,鈥� Fincher said. 鈥淎fter the ICA conference, I will be working to get my honors thesis published in a research journal. I鈥檓 really excited to see where this research will take me and how I can contribute to raising awareness and addressing the racial and gender inequities of the music press.鈥�

Off

Rylee Vogel is a performer with a love for musical theater. She also loves communication and how it connects people. Now, these two degrees will help her make her way in show business.

This December, Vogel will graduate with a degree in communication, a minor in theater and the distinction of earning the William W. White Outstanding Graduate Award. This honor is bestowed to the student graduating with the highest GPA in the College of Media, Communication and Information. After years of hard work鈥攕ometimes even holding multiple jobs at once鈥擵ogel is graduating with a 3.96 GPA and plans to move to New York City.

鈥淐MCI has really taught me how to have personal conversations in the real world and how to walk into an audition or a job interview and be confident and know how to communicate with people well,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t makes you stand out when you are walking into that room.鈥�

Vogel was initially attracted to communication because she had an interest in law as it seemed a good combination. But she soon realized that wasn鈥檛 a path she wanted to pursue. Instead, she enrolled as a double major in communication and musical theater.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly interrupted her freshman year. Suddenly, she and her peers were sent home, zooming into class, trying to connect over the screen. Not long after, her two majors began conflicting, and it became apparent that keeping the dual degree would tack on more time in school.

鈥淚 realized I could start working [in the theater] instead of spending an extra year,鈥� she said.

After a meeting with her counselor and determining that she could get her theatrical training outside the classroom, she decided to keep her major in communication and change her theater studies from a major to a minor.

Vogel maintained her full course load while auditioning for plays in the area. She also landed a job at the Candlelight dinner theater, sometimes working up to 40 to 60 hours per week.

鈥淚 found, even though it wasn鈥檛 school-related, my comm professors were very, very helpful in making sure that my career was able to get started outside of class,鈥� she said.

She chose communication, in part, because of its practicality: In addition to performing, she鈥檒l be able to do media marketing or public relations, especially for theater companies. The combination will help her performance career be more sustainable, she said.

   鈥淐MCI has really taught me how to have [personal] conversations in the real world and how to walk into an audition or a job interview and be confident and know how to communicate with people well. . . . It makes you stand out when you are walking into that room.鈥�

Along the way, she鈥檚 found unexpected moments of joy from studying the topic. Although she never took a formal family communication course, she found elements of communication theory in her other classes that offered new insights into family dynamics.

鈥淚鈥檓 very family oriented,鈥� Vogel said. 鈥淎nything that dealt with family communication, I always found really, really fascinating鈥攖he way that families communicate with each other, how different families are built and what the effects of that are.鈥�

Beyond that, Vogel found her studies in communication actually help her be a better performer. She connects with the audience, director, castmates and even the characters she plays at a deeper level, all because of the lessons she鈥檚 learned about communication styles.

鈥淵ou can find different motivations for each character through connection and communication, and then on the personal side of it, you鈥檙e able to connect with directors and castmates to understand what their point of view is,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or instance, intimacy is an interesting thing on stage. Understanding how the other person is feeling, what their process is as an actor, and having these conversations is super important. It's communication that鈥檚 able to actualize that.鈥�

For her, it鈥檚 an honor to be recognized by the college that has given her so much support.

鈥淭hroughout my time here, time and time again, CMCI is supporting their students in ways that are not traditional, and I appreciate that so much,鈥� Vogel said.

Off