Issue 18
Anaheim Students Win Big at ADDY Awards
There may not have been a red carpet, but this year’s Orange County ADDY competition, sponsored by the Orange County Ad Federation, saw 11 Westwood visual communications students run away with 22 ADDYs! The ADDY Awards are advertising’s equivalent to the Oscars.
How did so many Westwood students happen to enter the ADDY competition? According to Bob Peterson, program director at the Anaheim Campus,
“Every year, we have about 12 to 13 students enter. Westwood pays for the entry fee to encourage them. This year, we once again had a great group of
talented students enter their work.”
One Westwood student, Aaron Purnell, not only won several ADDYs, but received the Orange County Advertising Student Achievement Award. Purnell’s
interest in art started in his childhood, and that early start has really paid off. Due to graduate this July, Purnell has maintained a 3.99 GPA. His work
is known by its cutting-edge style and unique creativity. You can see his work at creativehighwaydesign.com.
Be sure to go to OC Ad Federation's art gallery to see pictures of the ADDY Awards event and a PDF of all the winners’ work.
Your Success Team
Along with tulips and daffodils, buttons and lanyards are springing up on Westwood campuses as a reminder that the Success TeamSM is ready to help you out in any way as you’re pursuing the goal of a higher education. “We want the buttons and lanyards to be a constant reminder to our students that they have a dedicated team to rely and lean on,” says Rick Yaconis, chief operating officer. “Each member of the Success Team is here to support and encourage our students every step of the way. Call on them at any time!”
Ear to the Ground
Free Music Downloads and More – Check it Out!
Take a break, download free music from up-and-coming artists and learn more about Westwood College. Watch
compelling personal stories from the Westwood 100, view an informative video about paying for college and enjoy some laugh-out-loud Westwood videos featured on YouTube. Westwood College’s new social media player is available to all students. Here’s what you’ll find included in this cool new tool:
Westwood College’s new social media player is available to all students. Here’s what you’ll find included in this cool new tool:
- Music Break: Westwood-sponsored artists include free music tracks from J Swift, NITRO, Tequila, Zeta, Ms. Cristal and N.B.
- Video graduate success stories: Watch the first-person accounts of Westwood graduate success stories—motivating messages to keep you on track for graduation.
- Link to Westwood 100: If you haven’t already seen it, take time to become even more inspired by Westwood graduates and the stories they share about their journeys to graduation in Westwood 100—Volume 1.
- “Paying for College” video: A practical tutorial that provides the basics of applying for grants, scholarships and loans to pay the cost of your college education.
- “Help Me” videos: Three YouTube videos that playfully depict the value of getting a college degree.
- Links to Facebook and Twitter: Join in on the conversations and keep up with the latest events and news from Westwood.
- Link to Westwood.edu: A great resource for answers to many of the questions you or your family and friends may have about the college.
- Request more information about Westwood and Career Success Kit: If you know someone who might be interested in attending Westwood College, this is a great place to send them. All they need do to is fill out a brief form and download the PDF of the Career Success Kit.
Share! Share! Share!
Don’t keep this site a secret. Feel free to click on the “share” button and send the link to friends and relatives so, they too, can download the free music and learn more about Westwood College. It’s all at social.trueanthem.com/WestwoodCollege/.
Graduate Profile
Ryan Wessels, 2007 Information Systems Security Graduate
Ryan Wessels’ work life started with a high school and college job that he describes as: “The hours, pay and boss conspired to make it the worst job I’ve ever had.” Fast forward to 2011. Today, Wessels is a Westwood graduate and works for Kohler Co. in Wisconsin as a security analyst.
Wessels’ journey to a job that gives him “the independence to pursue new technologies and techniques” included a decision to attend Westwood. “Westwood classes worked for me because of the focus on the core of your studies,” Wessels explains. “Most colleges I looked at did not place such an emphasis on what you would be doing for the rest of your life.”
He credits Westwood faculty for giving him the benefit of their real-world experiences and an unsurpassed depth of insight to the materials. The breadth of the faculty experiences helped provide Wessels with the credentials to be working in IT security at Kohler. He’s written security software for
the company and works with a team that responds to virus outbreaks, intrusion attempts and a myriad of other security-related events.
Wessels encourages students to always ask questions and ask for help. “Don’t ever let anything go unasked because you think it might be stupid or
unimportant,” he advises. “The people at Westwood are willing to listen and help.”
Job Tips
First impressions are important! Your cover letter is the first thing a potential employer will see. Make it short and simple (your résumé serves to provide the details), but talk about some of your achievements and have the confidence to show them you are truly qualified for the job. Check out more cover letter tips here.
Campus Briefs
Chicago Loop Students Tackle Real-World Design Project
Ten Chicago Loop visual communications students participated in a project to help a local start-up company, Element Bars, design a more user-friendly website. Students visited the plant, received an overview of the products and the design challenges and in two weeks submitted initial design drafts. Co-owner Jonathan Miller was “blown away by the creativity and out-of-the box thinking the students gave the project.” Armed with feedback, the students went back to the drawing board to work on final mock-ups. Brandon Chase was proclaimed the winner with a design featuring product ingredients and a new logo.
Student And Graduate Voices Heard During Hill Day
Chicago, Denver and Virginia campus students and graduates recently spent several days in DC meeting with members of Congress and staff to express their opinions on critical issues facing private-sector colleges. Issues included gainful employment and a proposal limiting Pell Grants, which could make attending college full time very difficult. One student who attended says she’s convinced that their visit had an effect on individuals—and maybe the legislation—by being able to present their side of the story. For more information and to make your voices heard, go to myeducationchoice.org.
On the Net
Stay Connected to the Westwood 100
Visit Westwood100.com often! It’s a reminder that previous Westwood students stuck with it, overcame obstacles and walked away with a college education and personal experiences of success.
- Sort the profiles by region, program, degree, age and even those with children.
- Click on the Facebook icon within a grad’s profile to share the link on your Facebook page.
- Some grads are featured in Westwood TV commercials or campus lobby videos. Click on the YouTube icon within their profiles.
- Do you know any Westwood grads with great success stories? Have them click on “Tell us your story” at the bottom of the page to submit their stories for the Westwood 100 – Volume 2.
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