Professional ProfilesSpring 2015 Featuring eleven alumni of the UNCP Department of Mass Communication A magazine by students at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke 2 Spring 2015 Notes on Contributors Janae Curtain is currently a senior at UNC Breyonia Moore was born in Laurinburg, North Pembroke with a passion for Carolina, and graduated from writing. She is majoring in Mass Scotland High School’s Visual Communication with a con- and Performing Arts program centration in journalism and is in 2009. Upon graduation she working toward a minor in me- plans to move north to seek em- dia integration. She aspires to be ployment in fashion or urban a magazine editor one day. music publication industries. Mónica Espitia is a senior journalism major from Sara Owen is a senior at UNCP majoring in Bogotá, Colombia. She came to mass communication with a UNCP to play for the women’s concentration in journalism. The Professional Profiles was varsity tennis team. After gradu- She is Managing Editor at Pine Needle reported and written ating in May 2015, she plans student newspaper ARRAY during spring 2015 by to start graduate school in New and an intern at maga- students in York City and ultimately hopes zine. Her dream is to be a suc- JRN 4600—Investiga- to work as a reporter. cessful writer and photographer. tive Journalism: Jasmin Jenkins is a senior journalism major at Cody Allen Parker was born and raised in Laurin- UNCP. She is the advertising burg, North Carolina where he Janae Curtain manager for The Pine Needle continues to live. He has always student newspaper. Upon grad- had a love of sports and is study- Mónica Espitia uation in May 2015, she plans ing journalism at UNCP in the Jasmin Jenkins to begin her career in news hopes of becoming a sports while attending online graduate writer. Samantha Langley school at Regent University. Marian (Elise) Quidley is from the Outer Banks Breyonia Moore Samantha Langley is a senior mass communica- of North Carolina and will be tion major with a double con- graduating from UNCP in May Sara Owen centration in journalism and 2015. She is a journalism major public relations. She is the cur- who hopes to work either as a Cody Parker rent UNCP Relay For Life Stu- news reporter or in the fashion Elise Quidley dent Event Chair and is also a magazine industry. Hawk Assistant for the Colleges Zhuxuan Yan is an international student from Zhuxuan Yan of Arts and Sciences. Shanghai, China. She is a senior Dr. Jason Hutchens, majoring in mass communica- Professor tion with a concentration in journalism. She worked for The Pine Needle in 2014 as a staff writer. Professional Profiles 3 2CONTENTS2 Life through a Lens ............................. 4 A Drive for Success .............................14 Curtis Adams Garrett Locklear Class of 2011, Broadcasting Class of 2011, Broadcasting/PR 2Profiled by Janae Curtain 2Profiled by Breyonia Moore Perseverance of a Producer ................16 Celebrity Hobby Leads to Career ................6 Vonti McRae Wade Allen Class of 1994, Broadcasting Class of 2010, Broadcasting/Journalism 2Profiled by Cody Parker 2Profiled by Mónica Espitia Venezuelan Finds Her Dream .............18 Decades Later: A PR Executive .............. 8 Maria Gabriela Plana Jimmy Autry Class of 2013, Journalism Class of 1977, Journalism 2Profiled by Mónica Espitia 2Profiled by Cody Parker and Zhuxuan Yan Big Dreams Yield Big Rewards ............20 Newy Scruggs Emmy Winner Finds Happiness ...........10 Class of 1994, Broadcasting Jackie Bower 2Profiled by Sara Owen Class of 2006, Broadcasting/PR 2Profiled by Sara Owen Pixie Dust and Other Perks .................22 Springboard to Career .......................12 Kristina Smith Class of 2011, Broadcasting Ellen Cooper Click on any title in the 2Profiled by Samantha Langley Table of Contents to go Class of 2012, Public Relations to the start of that pro- 2Profiled by Sara Owen and Jasmin file. Click on the2 at Jenkins Professional Profiles was designed and produced during the end of any profile to spring 2015 by the students in PRE 3450—Computer- return to this Table of A Hard-Hitting Educator.....................13 Assisted Editing and Publication Design: Contents page. Daniel Henry Alexis Benson Serenity McLean Class of 2006, Public Relations Brandon Blakney Autumn Scott 2Profiled by Elise Quidley Julian Brown Brittany Shapiro Jasmin Jenkins Carla Young Jason Marshall Sara Oswald, Instructor 4 Spring 2015 Life Through a Lens By Janae Curtain “It was only just two years of broadcasting that got me where I am today.” athering his thoughts over the phone, Curtis Adams describes the chal- lenges he faced entering college and is thankful that he was able to re- CURTIS ADAMS Gmain motivated despite the obstacles he faced. Videographer and “At the time, I had no idea I would even do good in college. I just went Editor because I had nowhere else to go,” he said. Adams graduated from the mass com- ABC 11 News Class of 2011 munication program in 2011 with an emphasis in broadcasting. He admits that Broadcasting it took him a while to find his direction. Born on October 21, 1988, in Myrtle because of how poor his grades were in high Beach, South Carolina, Adams was a military school. baby who lived in many different places until “I was actually a business major. I was in ending up in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the business because I had my own company. I age of seven. would make highlights for athletes using Fi- “My dad was in the military, so I’m from nal Cut, you know, and I would make a lot all over the place,” he said. of money. So I created a business and I was He graduated from Southeast Raleigh like well, maybe I should go into business,” High School in 2007 with no interest in at- he said. tending college. After taking some business classes, he re- “I played football, got a big head, and I alized the department wasn’t for him. Since didn’t have good grades,” he said. he was already working in video content cre- Adams received an acceptance letter from ation, he decided to check out the broadcast- UNCP, so he reluctantly decided to check it ing track in the mass communication pro- out. “It was either go to UNCP or go to the gram. military. My dad didn’t want me going into “Why am I doing this when broadcasting the military,” he said. is right across the campus?” he asked himself. Even after being accepted into UNCP, At the start of his junior year, Adams tried Adams had to retake English and math classes some broadcasting courses. Two years later, Professional Profiles 5 Curtis Adams editing video (opposite page) and in a remote production vehicle (above) he graduated with honors and was named took him some time to transition after college broadcasting graduate of the year at the de- and get to his current position, he’s ultimately partment’s annual awards banquet. glad he chose UNCP. A Thought: Since departing UNCP, Adams has “It was only just two years of broadcast- You never know how long worked at a number of agencies including ing that got me where I am today,” he said. it’s going to take you but News 14, Fox Charlotte, UNC Athletics, and He stresses the fact that as a recent gradu- it’s going to happen. the Carolina Panthers. ate, nothing will come easy and there will be Currently, he works as a videographer and many ups and downs for any communica- editor in electronic news gathering (ENG) at tions professional coming out of a bachelor’s ABC 11 News. program. Adams believes that the key is drive Adams attributes the multiple skills that and determination. he learned at UNCP to his success in the field. “You never know how long it’s going to “Once you graduate, you’ll see that every- take you but it’s going to happen. You just thing becomes consolidated to where people have to be patient. As long as you keep work- who don’t have multiple skills are getting laid ing hard, it will happen. Trust me,” he said.2 off,” he said. Adams strongly believes that the broad- casting skills he obtained at UNCP molded him into the person he is today. Although it 6 Spring 2015 Celebrity Hobby Leads to Star-filled Career By Mónica Espitia “In my personal life I have met about anybody you could imagine.” hen he was 16, Wade Allen sent a fan letter to television actress Mary Tyler Moore asking for her autograph. To Allen’s surprise, the actress WADE ALLEN not only responded with an autograph, she sent a personalized letter Lifestyle Reporter W thanking him for being her fan. The letter ignited his favorite hobby, collect- Gaston Gazette and the Shelby Star ing celebrity memorabilia. Allen has received so many letters from celebrities Class of 2010 that he stopped counting when he hit the 10,000 mark in 2010. Although he Broadcasting/ Journalism has no idea how many letters he owns today, he receives an estimate of nearly 20 letters a week. “In my personal life I have er from Rutherfordton, North Carolina, has met about anybody you could imagine be- also encountered plenty of remarkable people cause I travel on the weekends. Sometimes I through his job. For example, he has inter- just go around here and sometimes I go far viewed former Secretary of State Madeleine away to get autographs,” he said. “The farthest Albright, Dallas star Linda Gray and Broad- I have been is Los Angeles.” way legend Chita Rivera. Allen’s close connection with the world of Allen’s love for entertainment has not celebrities is not only a hobby that he pur- only allowed him to meet hundreds of ce- sues during his free time; it is also reflective of lebrities in person, but it has also made him his work as a lifestyle reporter for the Gaston feel quite famous on occasion.