Scholarship Spotlight: Jessica Kendall

by Rachel Jordan-Shuss

In 2005, UT Austin graduate Jessica Kendall was awarded a Jo Caldwell Meyer Scholarship. Up until that time she had worked at least two jobs to pay her way through college. Now an Account Supervisor on Edelman Public Relations’ Seattle Tech team, Jessica is the lead on two of the team’s largest accounts. Take a moment to learn a little more about this month’s Scholarship Spotlight.

 

 AWC Austin: What’s your hometown?
JK: Van Alstyne, Texas – a little teeny tiny town about an hour north of Dallas.

AWC Austin:  What was the favorite thing (or a few favorite things) you wanted to be when you grew up?
JK: I really wanted to be a spy. Or, more realistically, I wanted to be a children’s book writer. I even wrote my own book of stories in the second grade – it’s really fantastic stuff. The stories were all about chocolate castles, chocolate houses, and chocolate animals (apparently I really liked chocolate).

AWC Austin: Why did you pick your particular field of study?
JK: Because my high school English teacher told me to. I was undecided my senior year of high school but was really involved in Literary Criticism for UIL (University Interscholastic League) and writing sports articles for the local newspaper (the Van Alstyne Leader). So, my teacher recommended that I start with journalism and could always switch later if I changed my mind. That’s exactly what I did, and instead of changing my mind, I ended up adding public relations as a second major. It worked out perfectly for me. I was lucky to make up my mind early and not struggle with choosing a major.

AWC Austin: How did you learn about the Association for Women in Communications and the Jo Caldwell Meyer Scholarship?
JK: I believe that one of my journalism professors told me about the organization and scholarship. I wasn’t involved with the chapter, but I think the organization is great. Communications is definitely a female-dominated industry and we need to stick together. This organization really promotes that and offers mentorship opportunities for young women looking to break into this industry.

AWC Austin: What led you to apply for the scholarship?
JK: I was working at least two jobs all throughout college to pay for school. So, as you can imagine, I jumped at the opportunity to apply for the scholarship. I feel blessed to have received scholarships so that I could continue my education without working 60 hours a week. I was able to cut back my hours at my second job and actually have time to study for tests and get some sleep too!

AWC Austin: What would you say to students who are thinking about applying for the Jo Caldwell Meyer Scholarship?
JK: Do it – you never know if you don’t try. Take every opportunity that comes your way.

AWC Austin: What advice would you give to students studying communications?
JK: INTERNSHIPS, seriously. Do as many as you can – the classes are nothing like the real-world of PR. You have to have experience to truly know if you like it and want to do it. And, without two or three internships under your belt, it is very hard to get a full-time job. I had friends that were pursuing the same major that I was who did only one internship before they graduated and most of them did not get jobs right out of school.

AWC Austin: What are a few communication resources you swear by (i.e. books, blogs, newsletters, etc.)
JK: I live and die by the AP Stylebook. Also, since I specialize in enterprise technology communications, it is really important to be constantly reading about what’s going on in the technology industry. It is a fast-paced industry and very technical – the more you read, the better understanding you’ll have and the better counsel you’ll provide to clients. I read at least 10-15 technology magazines and blogs every week.

Also, take time to read something fun that you are truly passionate about. I make a point to read fiction novels constantly and I have about 20 design/fashion blogs bookmarked on my computer. They keep me sane.

Download a Jo Caldwell Meyer Scholarship application today. Deadline to submit is Jan. 21, 2011!