Straight A Tips From Zion Riley

So this is what a straight A report card looks like!

I never did this well, and I think it's safe to say, most students never had a semester of perfect grades either.

Riley outside the Comm building 

Such academic excellence is not "old hat" to sophomore Zion Riley but it is something she is used to achieving.

In three semesters at SC State, Riley has consecutive straight As. Last fall she earned all As while taking eight courses!

Her only "blemish" was her first term as a spanking new freshman when she received one B (the one-hour biology lab- dang!).

Her current GPA is a gleaming 3.979.  The communications major and Honor's College member came to SC State from Edisto High School in Orangeburg County.  Her GPA there was 3.998.

Riley was born in Macon, Ga., and spent many childhood years in Atlanta.  Her parents, Barbara Andrews and Harold Riley, are SC State Bulldogs as are several other relatives.

Q and A with Mr. Kelechi Benet

Mr. Kelechi Benet

Interview and writing by Chelsi Ham (Class of 2019)

A face many students know all too well on the second floor of Crawford Communications is that of Mr. Kelechi Benet. 

One of the pillars that keep the communications department thriving, Mr. Benet has been giving his best services to this department since he joined in 2017. He became a favorite in the halls of the communications building for not just students but faculty too. 

Presidential Candidate Stumps on Campus

The South Carolina State University community had the opportunity last Friday to see up close and personal one of the Democratic presidential candidates. 

Texas U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke is in a crowded field of Democrats who have announced they will run against President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

O'Rourke's afternoon stop on campus was part of a busy day of campaigning that started in Rock Hill and ended in Charleston.

Steps to Success: Three Recent Graduates Share Advice Friday

Life after college- making it in the "real world." This will be the theme of the next Communications Club Speakers Series forum.

Three recent graduates of SC State's Communications Program, each currently working in broadcasting and/or public relations, will return to campus Friday, March 29, to share their job and life experiences since earning their diplomas.  The event begins at 11 a.m. in the auditorium (Room 208) in the Crawford Communications building.  It is free to attend open to the campus community and the general public.

Each of the three speakers is working professionally in the broadcasting and/or public relations fields.  They are:

Breylon Jones, Class of 2015, on-air personality, SummitMedia Greenville (107.3 Jamz radio)

Kris Bennett, Class of 2016, on-air personality, Z-93 radio, Charleston, and community relations assistant, Charleston RiverDogs baseball team

1 Lt. Jaylaan Riley, Class of 2017, U.S. Army officer, Signal Corps, Fort Gordon, Ga.

For more information about this event, please contact Communications Club President Ashley Hendricks at (803) 290-4713 or ahendric@scsu.edu, or club faculty advisor Patrick Harwood at (803) 536-8839 or pharwood@scsu.edu.

South Carolina State University's Communications Club's mission is to offer students tools to advance in the communication industry. The goals are to promote responsibility and professionalism. Events include bringing successful professionals, especially alumni of the school's Communications Program, to campus to share their career paths, work experiences and advice to current students. 

BNN's Latest Here!

Bulldog News Now (BNN) is back after a well-deserved Spring Break!  The latest news production is out and you need to check it out here on the Communications Program Facebook site. 

PicCollage by Professor Pryor

Past BNN programs can also be viewed on this Facebook site. 

Dr. Hawes Receives 10 Year Pin

Dr. Janice Hawes (center) stands with other 10-year employees

Congratulations to Dr. Janice Hawes for her 10 years of service at South Carolina State University!

The interim chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages was recognized Sunday, March 3, at the school's annual Founders Day event.

For more on Dr. Hawes' educational and academic achievements, click here. 

Editor's Note: It's time to remove the "interim" from her title!

Orangeburg Massacre Video Wins Award!

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Orangeburg Massacre, the bloody shooting on campus that left three young men dead and scores of others wounded. Scared for life in different ways too were the victims and others present when on Feb. 8, 1968, law enforcement opened fire on a large crowd of unarmed SC State and Claflin students, and other young people.

Last spring two students in our communications program collaborated on a video to commemorate the anniversary. Their fine effort won a contest on campus and $50.  Read more here.

Congratulations to Ferrante Dunham and TiAnna Dawson

Mysterious Mr. Mims Honored!

Photos by Alicia Pryor

Professor Joshua Mims has a mysterious side to him. Mysterious in that under his pen name Jay Mims he has written several mystery novels. 

Today, the communications faculty member was one of three featured authors at the 11th Annual Page Turner Book & Author Luncheon & Silent Auction at the Orangeburg Country Club. 

The Orangeburg Times and Democrat sponsors the gala as a way to bring together area authors and readers. Proceeds benefit Newspapers in Education.

Kelechi Benet and Joshua "Jay" Mims at the OCC 

Meet Professor Alicia Pryor!

The always amazing Stephen "Zach" Mason produced a fine interview with Alicia Pryor, who joined the faculty in 2017 after many years as a television news producer and reporter.  Professor Pryor's many contributions to the program include launching Bulldog News Now (BNN).  Learn about that and her broadcast news background in this interview.

Why Choose SC State? Here are Lots of Reasons!

In one of my video production classes I asked the students to break into teams to shoot and produce a school recruitment video.  The question was what current SC State students would say to a high school student who may be considering coming here.

Here is one example of the final product.  Click to watch the video. Go Bulldogs! 

Thank you Tianna Dawson and Tean Becoate for the the anchor/host work!  

Social Media Mix: Cocktail Bandits and USA Today

So-called "legacy media" and upstart "new media" came together last fall when the Communications Club brought together experts across the media spectrum.  The forum was chock full of perspectives, reflections and advice for the students in attendance. And the faculty learned a lot too, we suspect.

Read all about it! 

From left, Charleston's Cocktail Bandits Johnny Caldwell and Taneka Reaves,
and from USA Today, Sheeka Sanahori

Keeping Up With Kris

Kris Kaylin Bennett is one busy bee!  The 2016 SCSU communications alumna recently began a marketing/promotions position with the Charleston RiverDogs baseball team.  She also continues her part-time on-air work at Charleston's Z93 Jamz radio.

In February 2018 the Communications Club invited Bennett to speak to students. Her talk was motivational and very well received.  Read more here.

Pathway to Success With Andrea Butler

Andrea Butler, a 2016 SC State communications graduate, has achieved a lot since receiving her diploma. She turned an internship at WACH-TV in Columbia into a full-time job. Then she accepted a public relations position at Morris College in Sumter, S.C.  In November 2020 Andrea returned to the SC State campus to take a job as a public information specialist with the school's 1890 Research and Extension office. 

Brianna Salem, now another fine graduate of our program, interviewed Butler for a broadcasting assignment a couple years ago.  Butler shared her life after college experiences.

Be sure to connect with Andrea Butler on LinkedIn. Here is the link to her site.  

Brianna Sailem is also LinkedIn.

In March 2022, Brianna became an e-commerce customer support specialist with amika, the hair care company. See her Linkedin site here.