🌴 Spring break hustle

Good morning, Athens County. While many college students spent spring break on sandy beaches, 30 Ohio University students found themselves rubbing elbows with celebrities like Paul Rudd and Michelle Obama at South by Southwest. Armed with platinum badges and guided by program director Josh Antonuccio, these media arts students transformed their break into a career-launching expedition filled with film premieres, music showcases, and invaluable networking opportunities that classroom learning simply can't provide.

The spirit of Bobcats helping Bobcats extends beyond career development to basic needs on campus. The THRiVE Drive is racing to stock Cat's Cupboard before finals week when food insecurity peaks for many students. With ambitious goals to collect 1,804 pounds of non-perishables and tempting rewards like Beats headphones for donors, the initiative reminds us that supporting community wellbeing enhances personal success too – a lesson that carries through from campus food drives to those career-defining internships that are reshaping students' futures.

🌤 Sky Skoop

Athens

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Nelsonville

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The Plains

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Albany

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Chauncey

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☕️ What's Brewing Locally

🎭 South by Southwest transformed 30 Ohio University students' spring break. The School of Media Arts and Studies program gave students platinum badges to access all festival events in Austin, Texas. Under the guidance of program director Josh Antonuccio, students attended film premieres, music showcases, and networking sessions with industry professionals. The festival featured appearances from celebrities like Aaron Paul, Paul Rudd, and Michelle Obama, while offering valuable career connections through mentoring sessions and panel discussions. The experience created lasting bonds among the OU students while providing exceptional experiential learning opportunities.

🍲 Students helping students fight hunger at Ohio University. The THRiVE Drive food collection initiative aims to stock Cat's Cupboard with non-perishables before finals week when food insecurity hits hardest. Donation locations are set up across campus, with organizers seeking essential items like grains, cooking oil, sugar, and canned proteins. The ambitious goal is to collect 1,804 pounds of food, and students who donate can earn rewards including Beats headphones and hockey tickets. Beyond helping others, organizers emphasize that supporting community wellbeing enhances personal wellbeing too.

🎓 Internships are crucial for students seeking real-world career experience. Ohio University students and faculty emphasize that internships help demonstrate practical application of classroom learning while providing valuable networking opportunities. Silas Graser, a conservation and wildlife biology student, credits his national park internship with cementing his career path as a future park ranger. Faculty members like Erin Roberts and Elizabeth Godke Koonce highlight how internships create professional connections and provide concrete projects for students to discuss with potential employers. Many OU majors even require internship credits, making these experiences both beneficial and necessary for career development.

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