Comm, a Perfect Fit

"Last summer I was looking through the [academic] bulletin studying the classes listed under Education, Communication and Spanish. I looked at the classes listed for Communication and I realized they totally fit me!" Anneke Ingram's eyes sparkled as she reminisced about the reasons why she chose to become a part of the Communication Department. She continued, "I think how to communicate is a skill that applies to everyone. These skills are useful no matter what I end up doing professionally and personally."

Anneke Ingram, a 20-year-old Junior from Los Angeles, California, sat down to talk with me the other day about why she is at Andrews University. "Andrews University was the smartest financial decision," she said. "The scholarships that Andrews offered made an important difference." Since 2002 Andrews University has offered students the merit-based Andrews Partnership Scholarship. Also available to students are student missionary/task force volunteer scholarships, summer ministries scholarship program, and Andrews Gift Aid, to name a few.

This is Anneke's first year at Andrews University and she has become very involved in campus life. She is active in a dorm prayer ministry, Reaching Out Connecting Kids (R.O.C.K.), and also serves as the pastor for the Communication Club.

When she went to find a student job, she determined not to settle for "a brain dead job." She went to the departmental assembly at the beginning of the semester. Dr. Ponniah, assistant professor of communication, spoke about the media ministries available on campus. Dr. Ponniah related stories about how these ministries had touched many lives.

"I went up to talk to Dr. Ponniah afterwards," Anneke recalls. "I asked him if there were positions available. I told him that I did not have any experience but that I was willing to learn. To make a long story short, I was given the opportunity to be mentored in the position of line-producer for the program Focus on Michiana."

This was the first time Anneke had come across the term Michiana and it sounded odd to her at first. She learned that Michiana refers to a community that included parts of Michigan as well as Indiana. She described the show: "Focus on Michiana is about people, places, and things to do in the Michiana area. It is a secular show without overt religious content. Through it we can build a connection with the community."

Anneke enjoys learning a lot through being involved with Focus on Michiana. "I think this is a part of the communication field that I can use later on wherever I might end up," she said. She gained skills operating a video camera, editing video, lighting, and organizing materials, people, and time. "I've learned a lot about interpersonal communication in a business setting," she said. "Being involved in this media ministry has allowed me to build connections with people. I think building connections is equally important as the knowledge and skills that I have learned."

I asked Anneke to summarize to date her experience in the Communication Department. "The Communication Department at Andrews University offers a very practical education that is useful in many different careers," she said. The faculty make an effort beyond being educators to be friends and advisors. It has really touched me that they care about not only my academic future but also getting to know me as a person."