Three Northern Oklahoma College mass communication majors are job shadowing this semester with VYPE magazine. Colton Shultz, Lee Drake, and Marcus Powell are getting hands-on experience writing sports articles for the northwest Oklahoma high school sports magazine.
Lee has had two articles published by VYPE. After writing the articles, he submits them to his mass communications instructor, Scott Haywood, who forwards them to VYPE.
Marcus has had an article published in VYPE about the Maverick women’s soccer team and is working on an article about a member of the Enid men’s basketball team. Colton is waiting on his first assignment from VYPE.
Mr. Haywood said, “This is a great opportunity for our students. Not only are they receiving recognition for their writing in a state-wide publication, but they are preparing themselves for a future in journalism.”
The students receive credit for the articles and are building portfolios for their future careers. All three are focused on sports journalism, but Lee and Marcus are also interested in sports broadcasting. Lee and Marcus provide play-by-play area high school games on KAYE radio and will be the voices of Maverick basketball this season.
Roscoe Migliore, Sales Director for VYPE magazine, said, “The students are doing a great job for us. They have shown a lot of professionalism. VYPE loves working with students and giving them a chance to do some work they can put on a resume.”
The three students also write sports articles for NOC’s newspaper, The Maverick. Lee writes articles about the men’s basketball teams in Tonkawa and Enid, Colton writes for the baseball team, and Marcus writes for the women’s soccer team and special sports assignments.
Colton Shultz is a graduate of Blackwell High School. Lee Drake and Marcus Powell are graduates of Ponca City High School.
Dr. Rae Ann Kruse, Dean of Academic Services, said, “It is a win-win situation for our students and businesses to work together. The student earn real-world experience at little or no cost to area businesses. The students make crucial networking connections and the employers groom the next generation of workers.” For information about sponsoring a job shadowing student at NOC, contact Dr. Kruse at 580.628.6341.