Dominic Brown
Lantern Staff
Butler Community College’s Mass Communication program is home to many successful individuals. On Wednesday, April 4, Alumni Kadrae Smith and Emily Maslow visited Keith West’s, a professor of mass communications, applied radio class to talk about life after Butler. Smith, who graduated in 2014, moved on to Fort Hays State University (FHSU).
Maslow moved on to Wichita State University (WSU) to pursue a degree in integrated marketing communications after graduating from Butler in 2014.
During Smith’s time here at Butler, he was involved in promotions and programs around Butler as the radio station’s marketing promotion director. Apart from the media program, Smith was involved with the Student Government Association (SGA). He helped promote the station with many live remotes or performing outside of the radio station while still broadcasting and hosting Butler Radio Battle of the Bands.
“I have a lot of experience with promotions and being on air,” Smith said. “The cool thing about Butler is you get a lot of on-air time. Take advantage of this program.”
Smith took a temporary break from school at Butler to take part in the Walt Disney College program for four months. Knowing the value of a degree, Smith decided to leave Orlando, Florida, and returned to Butler to finish his associate’s in mass communications.
“Whatever your passion, make that your focus because at the end of the day, that’s what really matters,” Smith said.
Maslow acted as the program director for the radio station at her time at Butler. She was in charge of all the content on the station from promos to the music that was added to the database. In her first semester, she interned through Clear Channel now known as IHeartMedia.
“Always go for internships, guys, even if it’s not paid,” Maslow said.
Maslow has a lot of strengths, one of which involves interacting with people.
“I worked in advertising at most TV and radio stations in Wichita,” Maslow said.
The alumni offered advice to students in West’s applied radio class such as asking questions, networking and pursuing internships.
“Moving on to a four-year university is really difficult,” Smith said. “If you continue, you’re more admirable to potential jobs.”
At the end of the presentation, the two shared advice for the students moving forward.
“The one thing I would do different when I was here or throughout college is I had tunnel vison,” Maslow said. “What was I going to do, {and}what’s the next step? I had no time to breathe. Take a step back and enjoy college and not be so focused on everything. Find a balance.”
