Keep on Communicating

Every year Flagler College hosts an amazing week long event full of lectures, discussions, and networking opportunities. Known as Communications Week Connect to Success, the goal is to do just that, help the students connect and ultimately be successful in their own means. Very few colleges across the country offer such an event and Flagler students know they would be deserving themselves if they did not participate.This year at Com Week Flagler hosted an elite group of professionals to say the least. The keynote speakers were Kevin Sites and Connie Schultz.

Sites is an award-winning journalist and author who has spent the past decade covering global war and disaster for ABC, NBC, CNN, and Yahoo!. Sites spoke about his adventures through the world's most dangerous places carrying only a backpack with his equipment. He described, in depth, what it felt to be a journalist while witnessing some of the most challenging human experiences. Sites had to remove his human feelings to be only a journalist in the toughest of situations, questioning himself about weather to same a man or leave him to die. Working along with the US armed forces, Sites has seen things you and I have only experienced in movies. After his travels, Sites wrote his first book, "In the hot zone: One Man, One Year, Twenty Wars," which shares his effort to put a human face on global conflict, reporting from major war zones. Winning the Edward R. Murrow award and nominated for an Emmy for his contributions to a series on landmines, Sites has opened the eyes and hearts of many, showing us the truths behind the war that we see very little of.

Schultz's presentation was insightful to say the least. She is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, OH, Creators Syndicate and the author of two books. She spoke to us about her life as a writer and her trials and tribulations in the field of journalism. Schultz explained the way she interacted with her readers and followers. She receives around 100 emails an hour, 24 hours a day and she reads them all. "It is fun and interesting to pay attention to who is reading me, I get ideas for columns from comments readers have made," Schultz said. To be in her presents was a treat. She was warm, friendly, fun, and informative. I truly enjoyed listening to the stories she told about her family and about other people and their families who's lives she has touched through her writing.

Amongst the key note speakers, Robbie Gordon, Alfredo Corchado, Anagla Kocherga, and Allen Olivo were featured speakers.

Com Week at Flagler College would not so successful and helpful if it weren't for the variety and wealth of knowledge the speakers brought to campus. It is a time for students to not only think about the next chapter in their lives, but also explore the opportunities that are out there while making connections to the people who make it possible.

Written by

Tessa Manton