29 March 2013

KOKOMO, Ind. – When Hannah Brewster stepped into her social media class this semester, she had no idea what to do or where to begin.

Hannah Brewster & The Burlington Scoop

"I didn't even have a Twitter account or know what to do with it," said Brewster, a junior majoring in communications.

Already, she's survived half the semester and her social media efforts have proved successful.

Brewster is taking the skills she's learning in the classroom and applying it to the work she's doing with her client, The Burlington Scoop. She's developed a Facebook page and Twitter and Pinterest accounts to help The Scoop connect with the community, their customers, and promote their products.

"I love being able to help them, while learning something new," she said. "Everyone is on social media, they see the power it can have for business. They are ready to dive in."

When she graduates, Brewster would like to be an event planner and knows this experience is actively preparing her for that career.

"Whether I'm working with clients or not, having an understanding of what you can do for different clients through social media is important," Brewster said.

However, Brewster claims it's no walk in the park. Her classmates agree.

Krystyn Bell says it's difficult to stay consistent and that it takes a lot of time to manage accounts effectively. At the beginning, they spent weeks trying to understand the client's audience and determine what kind of information they want to see.

"Trying to engage people and interact with them is the biggest challenge," Bell said.

"We thought it would be easier because most of us have personal Facebook pages or Twitter accounts – but it isn't," Brewster added.

To overcome these initial challenges, Brewster, Bell, and their classmates decided to have some fun. They worked on making posts specific to their clients' audiences, and make it fun and personal by adding photos and fun facts.

Bell's client is Body in Balance, a therapeutic massage and bodywork salon located in Peru, Ind. For the month of February, she focused less on promoting deals, specials, and services at the salon, and more on creating heart health awareness.

"Body in Balance is a big advocate for health and wellness, and massages can help with overall physical and mental wellness," Bell said. "It doesn't matter how many deals I throw you; it's the connection that you make with the business."

Like Brewster, Bell is a junior majoring in communications, but would like to work in public relations after graduating. Through public relations courses, Bell understands more of social media's role and the connection it has to her future career.

Ultimately, the students are happy to help these local businesses because they don't have time to do it themselves.

When Crave Crepes, located in Greentown, expressed interest to Stephen Green about assisting them with social media, he jumped on the opportunity. Green was looking for a business to connect with and receive some real-world experience.

"I spent a lot of time finding my footing and building a relationship with the owners," said Green, a junior majoring in new media communications. "Crave Crepes had a lot of awesome ideas for how to build their social media; they simply needed help implementing them."

Green has helped the business with social media contests and other tips and tricks to connect them with the Greentown community.

All three can agree that they have made mistakes with social media, but it's helped them learn what not to do. They don't claim to be experts, but the knowledge they've gained throughout the semester has been extremely value to them.

Raul Mosley, assistant professor of communication arts, is focused on equipping his students with the skill set to succeed in their future careers. It is key for his students to learn from each other, and instead of creating a class; he hopes to create a community of learners.

"The content they learn this semester could easily become outdated in the fast-paced social media world," Mosley said. "Our world is changing, our skills need to change, and this course has changed each time I have taught it."

It's important to contribute to the success of the community, while learning a new skill set. Mosley hopes that his students become aggressive learners and continue to keep up on new trends with all forms of social media.

Bell, Brewster, and Green are only a few students getting their hands dirty this semester. Other students are taking the initiative to promote their own photography and graphic design businesses, art, and music.

N351 – Cyberculture and Community is offered in the spring semesters, and is open to any student who wishes to learn more about social media. For any questions or more information about the course, contact Raul Mosley at ramosley@iuk.edu.

To learn more about the businesses featured, search for them on these social media platforms:

Facebook – The Burlington Scoop, Body in Balance, Crave Crepes

Twitter - @B_icecream, @Bodyin_Balance, @Crave_Crepes

Instagram - @bodyinbalanceperu or @cravecrepes

Pinterest.com /bodybalanceperu or /burscoop

Story by Mary Olk. Mary is a student writer in the Office of Media & Marketing.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

29 March 2013

KOKOMO, Ind. — Many teenagers use their college years to distance themselves from their mothers, asserting their independence.

Jennifer and Ashley Miller

But for IU Kokomo freshman Ashley Miller and her mother, Jennifer, college has been a bonding experience, drawing them closer.

"We're still mother and daughter, but we have more of a friendship now," said Jennifer, a junior.

"I get to know her on a more personal level now," Ashley added. "She's a cool mom."

The two have a lot in common — both are studying health management, they are in the same folklore class, and both serve on the IU Kokomo Student Alumni Association board.

Jennifer began attending IU Kokomo four years ago as a part-time student, and enrolled fulltime in fall 2012. She plans to graduate in 2014, and then plans to pursue a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree before seeking a job. Ashley is a recent high school graduate.

Jennifer was first to join the student alumni association, as a way to make the transition to being an alumna in the near future. She encouraged her daughter to join as well to help her make a connection to the campus.

"The student alumni association works hard to bring events to campus for campus unity," she said. "As I'm getting closer to graduation, I'm enjoying the opportunity to get to know alumni, making connections that could help me in my career."

Ashley enjoys being involved in the group with her mother, and is glad she pushed her to join.

"She encourages me to find ways to be involved with the group and on campus," Ashley said. "I like it."

Jennifer said, in the past, she tried to be just like all the other college students – having her daughter on campus has been an adjustment. She laughs, recalling their first week on campus together when Ashley called to her from across the quad.

"She yelled, 'Hey, Mom!' at me, and I was kind of embarrassed at first," she said. "I've always tried to feel like I'm just one of the students. Then I realized she was excited to see me at an age when most girls don't want to hang out with their moms."

They've also had to learn to work together as colleagues, rather than as a mother and daughter.

"I have to remind myself that I don't have to be the mom all the time," Jennifer said. "I have to remember that Ashley has her own opinions, and we are in this as equals."

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

29 March 2013

KOKOMO, Ind. — The student University Theatre group at Indiana University Kokomo presents its production of the romantic comedy, Almost Maine, next week.

Troy Brooks and Sarah Ferenc rehearse for "Almost, Maine."

Presented as a series of two-character vignettes in Havens Auditorium, the play includes 18 student actors and five crew members.

Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday (April 5) and Saturday (April 6), and 2 p.m. Sunday (April 7). After Friday's production, audience members are invited to stay for a "talk back," when the actors will return to the stage to talk about their characters and the show, and answer questions.

Admission is $5 for students and $7 for the public. Tickets will be available at the door. The show is suitable for people age 13 and older.

Biz Bates, student director, said the audience is sure to enjoy the varied personalities of the characters, set in the fictional town of Almost, in rural northwestern Maine.

"There is someone everyone can relate to in this show," she said. "I think people will recognize some of the situations, and will be entertained by how the characters react in those situations."

Adjunct faculty member J.L. Murdoch, the production's director, said at its heart, the show is about relationships.

"We all know about falling in love, but the way it happens in each of these stories is pretty unique," she said. "The humor in this show comes from very unexpected places. There is something every audience member will connect to and enjoy."

For more information contact Joann Kaiser at 765-455-9558 or jskaiser@iuk.edu.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

26 March 2013

KOKOMO, Ind. — A suit cleared out of one person's closet during spring-cleaning could help another person obtain a job.

Indiana University Kokomo's Enactus student organization is collecting suits and other business-appropriate clothing, along with shoes and accessories, to help women at the Family Service Association's domestic violence shelter.

"Many of the women had to leave behind their possessions when they came to the shelter," said Enactus member Jacob Faust. "Not having the clothes to wear to an interview or to work is a barrier to finding a job to support themselves and their children. We want to remove that barrier, so they can become self-sufficient."

Students will have collection boxes in the Kelley Student Center Commons, Alumni Hall, and in the library through April 12. They will take the donated clothing to the shelter, which provides housing and other services to women seeking safety from violence.

Enactus members also volunteer at the shelter, teaching the residents skills such as how to create a resumé and how to build a household budget.

Faust said any clothing not used right away would be kept for future shelter residents.

"We encourage our campus and community to check in your closets and see if you have anything you can give," he said. "Even a small donation makes a big difference, when it can help someone take care of herself and her family."

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.