Summer 2009 - Texas Tech University

Book Man(continued from p. 6)“I always volunteered at my son’sschool,” said Schaller. “I volunteered alongwith 21 moms. I cut construction paper,I fake-baked. I would buy cookies at thestore and put them in sacks.”When talking about his son, Schallersmiles. He said his son is considering goingto an Ivy League university as well asTexas Tech.“I have learned so much at Texas Tech,”said Schaller. “I did not know I had thismuch learning left in me. I did not realizehow much I did not know. That has beenthe best part about being at Tech.”Schaller was a lab instructor for NewsWriting for summer 2007, fall 2007, andspring 2008.“I like teaching because I can help thesekids not hit a lot of the potholes in life thatI hit,” said Schaller.Jessica Fajans, a senior public relationsmajor and former student of Schaller, saidhe is dedicated to helping students.“He helped me improve my writingskills more than any teacher at Tech,” saidFajans. Schaller made her more confidentin her writing, she said.“He would always make you feel comfortableto write,” said Fajans. “He is easygoingand makes you work hard at thesame time.”She said Schaller is down-to-earth andinspiring.Ashley Diaz, a senior broadcast journalismmajor, also had Schaller as a lab instructor.“I learned a lot from him,” said Diaz.“He helped me transition to print.”According to Diaz, Schaller is alwayswilling to help.“In order to go to Spain for the summer,I had to have a scholarship,” said Diaz. “Hehelped me proofread the article for myscholarship and wrote a letter of recommendation.”Though she is no longer in his class, Diazsaid she still goes to Schaller for help.“He helped me narrow down my choicesfor graduate school,” said Diaz. “He evenloaned me the book he used to study forthe GRE.”“I can always count on him, as a teacherand as a friend,” said Diaz. “I can text himor e-mail and I know he will answer and bethere for me. Whenever he leaves Tech, Iknow I can still count on him.”Ann Rodriguez, a visiting professor ofadvertising in the college, said Schallerhelps students get internships and get incontact with people for jobs.“He is really good at giving studentsideas and direction and helps them alongthe way,” said Rodriguez. “Not a lot of facultymembers do that or go out of their waylike Bob does.”Both Fajans and Diaz still stay in touchwith Schaller.“I never thought people would stay intouch with me,” said Schaller. “I still havelunch with former students at least twice aweek at Chili’s.”Schaller said he also uses Facebook tostay in touch with his students. But, “you’renot going to see me (on Facebook) doingbeer bong shots in my bikini in Mexico,”said Schaller. “If you conduct yourself as aprofessional, you will be fine.”Schaller has won several awards for hiswritings. However, he does not like to attractattention to himself.“I love being the guy on the treadmillthat nobody knows,” said Schaller. “If youput something out there, put it out thereand leave it alone. If it is great, people willtell you it is great.”Some of Schaller’s upcoming projectsare books on Al Gore, Kanye West, and hisdissertation on Bill Gates, which he plansto also turn into a book. mc(Yackjaira Ruiz is a senior public relationsmajor from Katy, Texas. Courtney Ryburnis a photocommunications major fromMidland, Texas.)Olympic Interns(continued from p. 7)“The wrestling nationals are prettymuch the biggest event, next to the Olympicteam trials and World team trials,” Myerssaid. “I am very excited to be a part ofthe event, and meet and interview all thetalented athletes.”Myers said some of the athletes she haswritten about have gone through hardships,and now have become decoratedOlympic athletes. Her favorite piece wason an athlete who battled leukemia andepilepsy, and is one of the top athletes inthe country now.“I loved hearing his story, it was so interestingto hear how he overcame all of thoseobstacles, and is one of the best wrestlersin the nation,” Myers said. “Stories like thatmake your job worthwhile.”Alison Baldridge, a senior public relationsmajor from Celina, Texas, is also currentlyinterning in Colorado Springs forthe USOC. Although both students attendTexas Tech, they did not know each otherbefore the USOC internship.Baldridge’s internship is with the USOCcommunications division, handling mediaand public relations. One of two six-monthinternships offered in media relations, herinternship runs January through June. Thisis her fourth internship, which she foundthrough Wernsman.The different time periods of each of herinternships were valuable, Baldridge said,and she got different experience in eachorganization because of the various timespent with them.“Learning how PR works on aworldwide setting is important.”—Allison BaldridgeShe is a contributor to the “OlympicBeat” magazine and wrote an article onNastia Liukin, who is the USOC sportswomanof the year. She has been workingon a media book for the 2010 VancouverWinter Olympics and writing athlete biographiesand sport summaries for Olympichopefuls.“I researched news articles from Beijinguntil January, for our media guide here atthe USOC, and on the USOC Web site,”Baldrige said.“Learning how PR works on a worldwidesetting is important,” Baldridge said.”Once you get the connections you need tokeep them.”Myers said that her internship has allowedher to network with many PR professionalswho can help her get her footin the door after graduation. She said thatinternships are very beneficial in makingprofessional contacts.“Find something you really have apassion for,” Myers said. “You don’t wantto be stuck in a job or industry you don’tlike.” mc(Laura Hagen is a senior public relationsmajor from Houston. Breanne Koutekis a juniorpublic relations major from Dallas. AlisaHovland is a junior public relations majorfrom Houston.)Identifications listed from leftphotos by Kristen Shaw1. Dr. John Aure Buesseler, BenSargent and Cathryn Anne HansenBuesseler2. Cathryn Anne Hansen Buesseler andScott Pelley3. Dean Jerry C. Hudson, Julie Moreno,Ann Arnold and Don Flores4. Faye Kennedy, Charles Kennedy andVictoria Price5. Mike Davis, Celia Davis, Linda Millerand Bill MillerBuesseler Lectureship Series —The purposes of the Cathryn Anne Hansen Buesseler Distinguished Lectureship in Print Media areto provide opportunities for students and faculty to meet nationally known print media professionals and to engage them in dialoguerelevant to current social, cultural and political issues.34 | mc mc | 3514532