Congratulations WCA Scholarship Winner Liza Winkler

By Ellen Decareau

Women Communicators of Austin will award Liza Winkler the Jo Caldwell Meyer Scholarship at the 40^th Annual Banner Brunch on Saturday, April 20 in Austin, TX.

The scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate excellence in academics and extracurricular activities as they pursue careers in the field of communications.

The Texas State University student always dreamed of becoming a print journalist and focused her activities on building her reporting skills.

Liza’s writing experience includes the award winning daily student newspaper The University Star, where she currently serves as opinions editor, Community Impact and Cy-Fair Magazine.

With an exemplary academic record and leadership roles with WC of Austin’s student chapter and The Byliners, a community outreach arm of the Texas State student newspaper, it’s a wonder how she has found time for it all.

Liza recently shared her career aspirations and offered advice for the next emerging group of communicators.

WCA: Why did you decide to pursue print journalism?

LW: I knew from a young age that I wanted to venture into the writing field for my career. I remember being in first grade and having to write a silly story about penguins for class. All of the other kids wrote about two sentences, and I ended up writing about eight pages. My parents and my teacher knew that this was my gift, and I have followed the path of journalism ever since.

WCA: What advice can you give to other students considering a career in communications?

LW: Although somewhat a cliché, my advice is to never give up. There is a lot of negativity surrounding the journalism field with many suggesting that print is dead. Yet, as digital media rises newspapers are beginning to adapt their print mediums to better fit their audiences because there is always a need to tell stories well.

WCA: Where do you see yourself in the future?

LW: I see myself working at an established newspaper or magazine for many years and eventually writing novels later in my life. I am interested in a variety of careers in mass communications as well as public relations and non-profit work. I just want to be able to tell people’s stories and directly interact with and impact the community wherever I am.

WCA: What has your involvement with WC of Austin meant to you so far?

LW: I feel blessed to have discovered WC of Austin during my freshman year at Texas State. I tried other organizations at first, but WC of Austin was the only group I felt a true bond with. My involvement has enriched my life. I’ve met so many wonderful professionals and friends, and I have learned so much about the mass communication field since becoming a member.
Please join us on April 20 as we congratulate Liza and the other 2013 recipients of the Jo Caldwell Meyer Scholarship at Banner Brunch on Saturday, April 20, from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. For more information and to register, visit www.BannerBrunch.com.