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Nicole Burrell has her eyes on the New York City media world. She says Caldwell College has helped her prepare to enter that world – the largest media market in the United States. “Caldwell College’s Communication Arts Department is unique. It provides students with valuable skills that I know we will all carry with us into our careers.” She appreciates the small class sizes because students have many opportunities to practice their skills. “From television or radio performance to editing, to production, you have the opportunity to get hands-on experience.” Caldwell College, she says, is unique because the professors know what the students’ professional goals are and they work to help them achieve those goals. “At Caldwell College, I have learned that nothing is impossible if you’re willing to work hard. This school truly supplies you with the tools you need to be at the top of your industry.”
A senior, Burrell says working on the Caldwell College student newspaper, The Kettle, as sports editor and editor, has been the most rewarding project she has been involved in during her college career. “It allowed me to take a leadership role on a newspaper staff and that really taught me volumes about decision-making and accountability.” She is proud of what The Kettle has become over the last couple years. “It is the voice of the campus today, and I feel like our staff has far surpassed any and all expectations the school had of what we could do with the paper.
Burrell, who is from Belleville, NJ, worked at The Star Ledger for her sophomore
and junior years researching and writing high school sports. During the summer
of
2008,
she interned
in the
promotions department at WPLJ radio in New York City and then was hired right
after the internship as a promotions assistant.
“College has been a busy time for me. Between work, school and church, it feels like the past three years have flown by.” But, she says Caldwell fosters an environment where she still had time for classes, an internship in her field and a social life. “There is a great balance to college life at Caldwell.”
A recipient of a Presidential scholarship, Burrell has a 4.0 in her major. “Caldwell’s help financially allows students like me, who could never afford to attend a place like this, have a great education without worrying about hefty student loans.”
As for her future, “I definitely want to be working in New York City in the media. I would love to be involved in either sports or music.” But there are no rose colored glasses for her—she knows it’s a tough business to break into and a tough business to work in, but she’s ready to give it a go. “For me, you have to live your life with integrity and no regrets. I think that you always have to stand behind your decisions in life. Graduating college is a scary time because you feel like every decision you make could change the course of your life. But at the end of the day, you have to trust yourself, your advisors and professors, and especially trust God and just go after your goals.”
I have learned at Caldwell College that …
Life is about risks and rewards. If you’re willing to work hard and take risks, like performing in front of three cameras in a studio, then you’re going to see rewards in your professional life!
MY FAVORITE THING TO DO AT CALDWELL COLLEGE IS…
work on a TV show for CCN8, the campus station. My junior year, we did “Cougar Sports Talk” where we talked about Caldwell sports and interviewed student athletes every week. This year, five seniors will be producing and performing in “Count on Caldwell”, a sitcom that has great potential.
THE MOST FUN I EVER HAD AT CALDWELL COLLEGE WAS…
working with Students for Life, the campus Pro-life organization. I remember getting together to pray when New Jersey was voting on Stem Cell Research. The head of NJ Right to Life spoke at the school that night, and when the vote came back, we were all so, so happy. There was a lot of text messaging happening among the group members the next morning! Saving babies is fun! |
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Major: Communication Arts
Class of: 2009 |
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