Whether you’re an Ohio University Scripps grad, current Scripps student or prospective member of the Scripps crew, it’s clear that the love for this school is just as great as it’s reputation. Ask any Ohio University Scripps kid what they have to say about this school, I’m sure not one of them will have a negative thing to say. This school makes us enthusiastic about our future. As for our present, Rachael Cathey, freshman, says, “Everyone is so passionate and excited to learn.”

Aside from Ohio University being the best college in the world (awarded by me), it’s Journalism and Mass Communication School is extremely recognized by employers and media experts. Even the Today Show’s Matt Lauer is an Ohio University Media Arts and Studies graduate. If the fact that one of Scripps’ own now works on one of the most popular morning television shows doesn’t say something incredible about this program, I don’t know what does.

We Scripps students have a lot to be thankful for. There are so many opportunities offered that it’s hard to take advantage of them in just four years. The school introduces you to so many possibilities and puts them right at your fingertips. Rachel Sider, junior, says it has introduced her to new passions. With professional speakers, countless student related organizations, networking events, resume, and interview work shops, the list really does go on and on.

The student organizations are highly credible and help students get fully immersed in their field of study. Not to mention, they also give the students content for their portfolio and a great addition to your resume. Just to name a few are Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Ohio University Advertising Association (Ad Club), and Radio-Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). In addition, we have our own firm, ImPRessions, that works with a number of companies doing real-life public relations for them. We even have our own TV station, WOUB, which allows students to report on air.

Professors within the school are yet another factor that makes our experience so rewarding. “I love Scripps because the experiences and opportunities I’ve been given inside and outside of the classroom are priceless. The professors challenge us and fellow students inspire us,” says Hayley Baldzicki, senior.

Being at Scripps benefits you in all aspects. It helps you to grow, not just by learning, but doing. Bella Eson, freshman, says the best thing about Scripps is “the amount of freedom we get when it comes to doing projects. We can be as creative as we want and it can only benefit us.” We consider ourselves a pretty creative bunch. And because of that we get to make choices that are out of the box every day.

The people within Scripps encourage us to follow our dreams, whether we’ve figured out those dreams or not. Micaela Marshall, sophomore, says, “I always knew I wanted to be a journalist. So when I applied for colleges, Ohio University was on the top of my list because of the prestigious [E.W. Scripps School of Journalism]. I love being a ‘Scripps kid’ because I have made amazing connections to like-minded and motivated students, to professors who care, and to future employers. All of the best broadcast stations look to recruit from OU because they know so many passionate, intelligent, and dedicated journalists began their careers with Scripps.”

The amount of friends I have made in this school, just by associating myself with people of similar interests and the same sense of motivation is uncanny. I joined PRSSA and decided to go on their networking trip to another city all within one day. Just in that day, I felt like I had made new friends and gained so many connections. Michelle Mwaura says, “I’ve met my best friends at the Journalism School! Even though were on different tracks and have different directions we want to go, we still have that common ground of meeting at The Scripps School of Journalism.”

I watch as I have conversations with professionals and their eyes light up when I say I am in the Scripps School of Journalism. It’s the best feeling in the world when your can proudly talk about your school in an interview and the credibility is already known by the person your talking to. It makes you feel like you are in the right place and all your work has been worth it.

The coolest thing is when you are away from Athens and meet a Scripps Bobcat and instantly connect with them. Kaylee Powers says she loves Scripps because “when you say that name, no matter where you are in the world, there will be a fellow communications Bobcat around who will immediately become your best friend.” Nothing beats that moment.

Not to knock down any other majors at any other schools, but how many colleges can you say can do so many amazing things while making students love their majors?

Alex Kreutler, a Scripps graduate, works at Kent Smith Photography as their Marketing Director and Portrait Consultant. After being asked why she loves Scripps, she answers, “it opened so many doors to me after college. It enabled me to feel confident and knowledgeable when going into interviews along with being well known to employers. Scripps made me fall in love with my major and made my college experience truly valuable to me.”

The connections are unreal, the possibilities are endless, and the family feeling never goes away. After some experience with reaching out to Scripps graduates, I can already feel their willingness to help out their journalism family. Hannah May, a May 2015 Scripps graduate, now works at Barokas Public Relations in Denver, Colorado. Of her love for this school she says, “right after college, when searching for jobs, my first thought was to reach out to my Scripps family because I knew that they would lend a hand. No one is selfish, but would rather see their colleagues succeed rather than fail in the competitive industry that is PR and Journalism. There is something insanely incredible and unique about being in line for a hot dog in the middle of now where in California and hearing someone say ‘yeah, I went to Scripps.’ Not only did that stranger and I introduce ourselves, but we ended up chatting, stayed in contact after and he ended up connecting me with contacts at PR firms all around the United States. That is when you know you picked the right school. Colleagues? No. Family? Yes.”

Haley Baldzicki adds, “I’m so proud to be a Scripps kid.” We all are.