Sunday, August 27, 2017

Introduction

My name is A.J. Pleasant and I am a freshmen here at Washburn University. At 18 years old I enjoy playing basketball, hanging out with friends, and spending time with family. I have a mom, dad, brother, and sister. My dad has retired from NFL playing and coaching and is now working Front Lines Ready and my mom partners. My brother is a senior in high school at Blue Valley Northwest and my sister is starting her career in New York as she graduated from college. I like mass media because technology is huge in the industry. I came to Washburn because I was recruited for basketball and the convenience of being an hour away from home. My goal is to get to know as much as I can with media because I want to try sports broadcasting someday.

Phillip Witzke


Hi!  My name is Phillip Witzke. I grew up in rural Oklahoma in the Panhandle region where I graduated from Turpin High School in 1988.  Shortly thereafter I enlisted in the U.S. Navy and am a veteran of both the U.S. Navy (nine years) and the U.S. Army (17 years) where I served for a combination of 26 years as a journalist, photojournalist, videographer, editor and public affairs officer.

During my tenure, I was deployed world-wide and covered conflicts in Panama, the Middle East, Southwest Asia and Afghanistan as well as multiple hurricanes in Louisiana and natural disasters throughout the mid-west.  I have had the privilege of providing media coverage both internally and externally in support of freedom where ever the need arose.  I retired in July 2014 and returned to school at Washburn University in the fall of 2017 to pursue a degree in Mass Media with an emphasis in Public Relations and Contemporary Journalism.
  I am definitely a "family man" and enjoy spending time with my wife of 22 years and our three children.   In my spare time I also enjoy playing guitar, vacations with the love of my life and remodeling homes. 
Pictured above is my wife Denise and I on a Segway tour through Garden of The Gods in Colorado Springs, Co, during one of our many excursions.  Best Tour EVER!!!

Class Introduction: Hannah Garrard

Hi! My name's Hannah and I'm from here in Topeka, Kansas. I am a sophomore this year and am still undeclared in my major but highly considering Communications. I work at TJ Maxx, Life Patterns, Topeka West High School, and here on campus as a Peer Educator. I also volunteer for the Roadrunners (Topeka NAHL hockey team) as an off-ice official during the season.
As you can see, I work a lot and also take 15 credit hours so I wouldn't say I have a ton of extra time for hobbies. But when I'm not working or at school, I like to chill and watch Netflix or be outside and experience nature; honestly anything that doesn't take a lot of thought or require me to talk to a lot of people is a great leisure activity for me. I'm also interested in learning new things in any way possible, like reading about serial killers or watching how-to videos to going out and meeting people from other cultures or going to events celebrating diversity to try something new.
I chose Washburn originally because it was something I could afford and seemed like a small enough campus for me to get comfortable at quickly. I was also offered the opportunity to live on campus over the summer before my Freshman year through the Ichabod Success Institute to take a couple classes and adjust to college life. During that time I loved what I felt here and decided this was a good fit for me; as a first-year college student, I knew that would be an important part in actually succeeding throughout my college career.
Above is a picture of my nephew and I; he's exactly like me when it comes to having an attitude, being deceivingly clever, and eating as much ice cream as possible.

Introduction - Michael Soelter

Hello everyone, my name is Michael Soelter and I'm your average nerdy college student that is interested in anything related to geek culture. From things like video games to comic books, I love it all. For the past 20 years of my mundane life, I have lived right here in Topeka, KS with my grandparents. I've also never really been outside of Kansas either. We've always stayed in one spot because we never saw a reason to go anywhere else. Don't get me wrong I love Topeka, but being boxed in the same place for twenty years make you want to go explore everything else. That's why when I get older, I would like to travel the country and later the world. To see what everything has to offer and what I can gain from it.

Now, some of you might be asking why did I choose Washburn if I want to travel out of state? Well there are two reasons.
1. It was reasonably priced and close to my house.
2. While I do want to travel I have an obligation to help my grandparents and my two little brothers for the time being. Without having a mom and dad, I want to be there for them for whatever comes their way.

Why am I studying Mass Media?
1. Because I have an interest in film and video making, and would later like to learn how to edit my own content. 
2. Because I believe that mass media has a significant force in modern culture. Whether is be with TV, music, or social media, mass media reflects and creates our culture.

What are my personal hobbies?
1. Video games. They're a passion of mine. I've been playing them since I was a little lad with a gameboy in his hand and I'll keep playing them till the day I die.
2. Reading in my spare time. More specifically comic books, manga, and fan-fictions. Mainly because I love super heroes and science fiction in comic books, I love the art style and storytelling of manga, and I just love to read trashy fan-fictions because we could all use a laugh every now and then.
3. Working out. While I am a nerd that sometimes spends hours a day in the same chair playing games. I do think it is important to live a active and healthy lifestyle. Plus I've developed a great sense of multitasking while doing cardio and playing video games at the same time. (So far I've only tripped twice)

Well I'd say that's enough about me. I look forward to seeing what this class has to offer and I hope we have a great time this semester.


 

MM199 First Blog

Hello everyone my name is Cooper Holmes, I am 20 years old and I am from Concordia, Kansas. I am a sophomore mass media major here at Washburn and I also play on the men's basketball team. Music, basketball, art, and film editing are a few of my favorite interests. When I am not enjoying one of my hobbies I am usually spending time with my friends and family. My dad is an elementary principal and my mom is an office clerk. I also have one older brother, Grant, who attends Fort Hays State. He is a marketing major and also plays on the basketball team. I chose to be a mass media major because I want to be a film editor one day. I do not know exactly who or where I want to work at but film editing has always been a passion of mine and it is something I feel like that I would enjoy doing for a profession. I came to Washburn because I was recruited here for basketball but I also loved the school as well. The campus is very easy to get around and the people on campus are friendly and helpful. Washburn just felt like the right fit for me and that is why I chose to come here.



Saturday, August 26, 2017

Introduction - Alex Grimes

Hey guys so my name is Alex and my main hobbies include video games, listening to music, binge watching some random show, playing disc golf, and sleeping. In my 19 years of existence I have lived here in Topeka and have only been to one other state, Missouri, but I plan to move to Cleveland after I graduate since I know some people there and I just REALLY need a change in scenery. Also I just want to travel and see the world and see what I’ve been missing out on. I’m studying Mass Media with an emphasis on film and video and I hope to someday work for Alternative Press as someone in their post-production crew editing videos they make since I’ll be in Cleveland and that’s where they’re located but I’ll gladly go anywhere that will hire me.

Earlier I mentioned video games and music as my hobbies, and they are certainly my 2 true passions in life. They are what keep me going and certainly why I’m still here today. Both are a great escape from the world when the world sucks and let’s be honest the world sucks A LOT and we just need that something that keeps us sane after a long hard day. My taste in music is very odd compared to other people so I apologize for that but it’s helped me significantly in my life. I like anything from pop punk to metalcore and heavier stuff too like deathcore. Since I love music so much you can guess that concerts are my favorite things to go to and if there’s a good metal or pop punk show in Lawrence, you'll definitely see me there. 


Anyways that’s enough about me, thanks to anyone who took the time to read up a little bit about me! 


Introduction-Kassadee Clark


Well hello fellow class mates, I am Kassadee.




 I was born in Lancaster, CA, we moved to Topeka when I was 8 and have been here since. I am a Mass Media major with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in history. I work at StormontVail Health part time in the evenings as a Certified Nurse’s Aide in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (its where you wake up after surgery). I am very grateful for my coworkers and supervisors who encourage me to do homework whenever possible. I also work at Dillon House a recently renovated house turned event venue. Dillon House was built in 1911 by Hiram P. Dillon, a prominent lawyer and avid party host, built Dillon House around entertaining guests. I currently help with hosting events and maintaining  the appearance.





Growing up my mom was the event coordinator at a local hotel and our church. As I got older I started helping her with setting up the events and coordinating weddings. In 2013, she gave me the chance to coordinate my first wedding and completely loved it. When my best friend got married in 2015, with only a 3-month engagement and fell in love with the whole process of planning a wedding. My second love is history, making my dream job being an event coordinator at a historical landmark or historical place, somewhere like the Dillon House.


I wouldn’t say I have any hobbies but I love looking at real estate online and thinking of ways that I could improve the houses if I owned them. Like every other American watch TV, over the summer, I started rewatching Greys Anatomy on Netflix. Currently my favorite show is Outlander on Starz, if you love history and medicine you should check it out.  

MM 199-A: First Blog Post

Hello Everyone,


            My name is Brenen Dapkiewicz, yeah don’t feel bad if you cannot pronounce my last name, no one can. Although my ancestry is Polish, I have lived in Topeka, Ks for a good portion of my life. My father was in the military so I moved around as a kid. I was actually born in Mountain Home Idaho on a military base back in 1995, so, I’m 22, going to Washburn, and a senior who has changed majors. When it comes to my hobbies and interests, a few things I really enjoy doing are photography/videography, hunting, and being a part of my fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. I chose to study mass media because as said before, one of my hobbies is photography/videography. I did broadcast journalism in high school all four years and not only enjoyed it but succeeded at it. I am, however a Nursing major trying to decide if I would like to double major and find a way to do both photography and nursing at the same time, maybe even combine the two. Now, although I came to Washburn for premed, my first major, I have stayed because of the outstanding nursing school, my fraternity, and the great staff Washburn has to offer the students.

Vinnie's Media Blog

Hey how's it going mates

My name is Vincent Downton.

I am 24 Years old and is starting out as a Freshmen in Washburn University in Topeka Kansas. Originally, I am from Missouri. But I have Traveled and Lived in a few state for either school or Projects with helpful Environments.
I Have Done a bit of Media work in my past Regarding of Photo landscapes, Recording of audio's and video's, and Writing a few Articles. I decided to pursue Film and Videos (Mass Media) to open up a new chapter in my life to work on things that my mind has wanted to show to the world. To be dedicated to this opportunity to become something or to have a new line of work on the side.
 From Movie's, to Landscapes, to Skits, to Music Videos. These are some of things I wish to try for and make happen.

I Really Enjoy 
Reading: Anime manga, Dark novels, and Fan fiction Stories
Writting: Letters, Small poems, and Scripts for Voice Acting,
 Dancing: to up beat Jazz, Waltz, Hip Hop, Swing, Zumba Fitness.
 Voice Acting
 Singing
 Playing: Traditional Drums, Video Games, Card Games, and Music
 Watch: Anime, Game Grumps, People play Horror Games
 Listen to: Jazz, Lofi Hip Hop, Techno, Punk Rock, Classical, Celtic, Medieval Folklore, Gothic.
 Having Tea
 Baking Sweets
 Planting (Future Goal)
Photography

Intro: Issac Castro


Greetings to everyone! My name is Issac Castro and I’m from Hugoton, KS a small town in the corn of SW KS. I grew up In Hugoton for most of my childhood then I moved to Chihuahua, Mexico for a couple years. I picked Washburn University because I was offered a running scholarship and I really liked the fact that professors will actually know you by name. I am currently undeclared but in the process in being a Mass Media major.  I enjoy filming, photography, editing videos, running, and soccer. These are a few things I like to do on my free time when I am not buried in homework.






Friday, August 25, 2017

Jordan Turner's Biography

Jordan Turner

Greetings! My name is, as I'm sure you have guessed from the large heading, Jordan Turner. Over the course of my 18 years, I have had few interesting events to tell of, so I shall instead speak on my interests in this world.

In class, most will begin to associate me with Star Wars T-shirts. Starting sometime in late 2015, I became a massive fan of the series, and have since read countless novels (canon and EU), watched all the cartoons, and begun collecting action figures. However, and this may come as a shock, Star Wars is not my favorite series ever. That spot is reserved for only one item: Lord of the Rings. The pure genius involved in the books, and all the extended reading available...it is incredible. The movies are just brilliance, and Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King holds the place in my heart for greatest movie of all time.

As I type this, I listen to Mahler's 5th Symphony. Music is such an influential part of my life, as most of my high school career was spent in the band room. Currently, I am working towards an audition with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. For those who do not know, Drum Corps International is a professional form of marching band, open to anyone good enough up to the age of 21. Here is a picture of my mom and I at the Drums Across Kansas show in El Dorado, this past July 17th.


Recently, I have become addicted to comics. Namely, Green Lantern. Just before I begin writing this, I started the prologue for Blackest Night, the first of the Blackest Night saga/stories. Though, it seems to be a very expensive hobby, so I may put any further collecting on hold for now. Other than comics, I love Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, as well as the Dune series by Frank Herbert. Of course, in a post such as this, I must not skip over the one book I believe to be the very best, greater even than  Lord of the Rings: Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. No matter who I talk to, if the subject of books comes up, I shall recommend this. For a 1200 page book, it goes by instantly. Pure beauty in the form of text on paper.

That about wraps up my biography. I thank those who read to this point, and wish everyone a good day!

~Jordan E. Turner