Issue 11
Congratulations to PATH to Success Scholarships Winners!
Thanks to the more than 325 Westwood students who participated in the PATH to Success Scholarships competition. The focus of the annual scholastic award program is to reward students who are self-motivated, have a career plan and are taking steps to get a job in their field after college.
The Platinum $10,000 award (and the $2,000 campus Gold award) was given to Rachael Randell, a paralegal student from the Dallas Campus. In her essay, Randell demonstrated how her challenges have made her determined to create a comprehensive career plan to become an attorney. Her plans include working for a law firm to further her legal knowledge. After completing her associate degree, Randell intends to earn a bachelor's degree in political science or criminology and then go on to law school.
Randell credits the Westwood staff and faculty for providing the daily support she needs to make her career aspirations become a reality. "The teachers here at Westwood have pushed me to be not only the best student, but also a better person as a whole," says Randell. "Failure has never been an option for me, because the staff has always been there to lift me up and encourage me."
Prevailing over the deaths of both parents, various medical issues and drug addiction, Randell credits her deep faith in getting her through the worst of it. "Life is only as hard as you make it," says Randell. "Thinking positively can change not only your day but your whole life. Winning the scholarship was the best surprise I have ever gotten!"
Each ground campus had a Gold ($2,000),Silver ($1,000) and Bronze ($500) scholarship winner. Students from Westwood College Online were awarded five scholarships in each category. For a complete list of winners, click here.
Ear to the Ground
Students Reach for the Stars with Hands-On Learning
Inland Empire students received the ultimate in hands-on training by working on the set of and editing video for the film "A Foundling." Premiering this past June at the Dances with Films Festival in West Hollywood, the film was written and directed by Westwood adjunct faculty member Carly Heath (her pen name is Carly Lyn).
Three Westwood students were "on set" during production. LeRoy Adams helped with the sound effects, Russell Jones (Rothstein) was an assistant director and Heather Banks was a production assistant.
Adams, who plans to graduate in 2011 with a degree in animation, did the voiceovers for the father and the child aliens and the sounds of the horse. "Carly directed me in creating the sounds. It was such a privilege to be part of this movie project and witness all the stages come together," says Adams. After the film was shot, Heath's visual communications students learned how to edit by editing the raw footage in class. "Some of their editing was so good that it gave me ideas on how to edit the final product," explains Heath.
She continues, "I think it was very educational for the students who were able to come to the premiere, because they got to see the entire process of making a film from shooting to screening, and they could see how different raw footage looks from footage that has been edited, sound designed and color-corrected."
"A Foundling" has been selected to screen at the 2010 Berkeley Video and Film Festival in September and the LA Femme Film Festival in Hollywood in October. To see a story about the film, click here. For "A Foundling" on Facebook, click here.
Graduate Profile
Margo Seymour, 2007 Hotel and Restaurant Management
After spending 25 years as a legal assistant, Margo Seymour decided to pursue her dreams of opening up a tea room and restaurant. Before making the dramatic change, she decided to equip herself with the tools for success. Seymour earned an associate degree in hotel and restaurant management at the Denver North Campus.
After Westwood, she went to culinary school to earn a certificate as a pastry chef AND became a Certified Tea Master to complete the package! This June, Seymour opened the Denver Tea Room, located in a historic Victorian bed and breakfast. Menu items include such things as chilled strawberry soup, cucumber herb sandwiches, cream scones with lemon curd, jam and chantilly crème and profiteroles with vanilla ice cream.
And if that weren't enough on her pastry plate, Seymour also runs a catering business and a website that sells teas and accessories. She says she taps into the skills learned at Westwood on a daily basis.
"The best part of my job is seeing the satisfaction and joy from a customer after I've served them well,"Margo said. "I also like being my own boss and making the decisions, good or bad."
Check out her website and blog here.
Campus Briefs
Chicago Loop Volunteers Help Charity Reach $1 Million Goal
Earlier this summer, 263 Chicago Loop students and faculty took part in Jelly Belly Days, an annual fundraising event for Misericordia. The charity helps people who suffer from profound developmental disabilities. Carl Cooper, program chair for the criminal justice program and Michael Gray, Westwood graduate and former president of the Criminal Justice Club, helped organize the event. The campus and Cooper and Gray were honored recently for their outstanding contributions at a Misericordia Foundation banquet.
Arlington Ballston Students Spruce Up Community Residences
In July, Arlington Ballston Campus students, along with Kapres Meadows, program chair of the business and construction management program, participated in a community service project with Community Residences (CR). CR is a non-profit organization that provides services to enable individuals with a wide range of disabilities to live as independently as possible. The volunteers helped paint and do minor repairs to a home close to the campus.
On the Net
Brand Yourself
Here's an interesting video on personal branding that explains how to separate from the competition when conducting a job search. It asks five questions about what makes you unique and how to use that information to differentiate yourself from the rest of the herd.
Tips for Managing Your Money
Everyone can use some guidance in money management. This link takes you to a no-nonsense article entitled, "12 money-management tips for college students." One of the tips is to make a plan (budget) listing income and expenses. Another tip advises students to track their spending for two to four weeks to see where the money is going.
Westwood College Online
Design Stars Head to New York
Westwood College Online student Michelle Cunningham and July 2010 graduate Kristan Gooderham are headed to New York to attend the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) Design Conference on Oct. 14-16. The online campus ran a contest and sponsored these two winning design students to attend the conference. At the conference, they will learn about industry trends, network with professionals and have the opportunity to have their portfolios reviewed by industry professionals.
For more information on AIGA, click here.
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