Olivia Babin, a Wichita State University student entering her senior year, is the winner of WPC’s 2020 scholarship. Babin’s work ethic and quality combined with her depth of experience made her a clear standout from a field of 13 candidates for WPC’s $2,0
00 award.
While working on a double major in communication/journalism and political science, Babin has made sure that her work experience is relevant to her degrees all the while carrying a 3.967 GPA. She is also picking up minors in anthropology and art history.
The list of jobs that have improved her skills in social media, fundraising, designing, writing, editing and publishing while studying for her degrees include: (1) communications intern for the James Thompson campaign for U.S. House of Representatives; (2) project manager, designer, reporter and writer for the crisis-driven 2019 Symphony in the Flint Hills; (3) Sunflower designer and opinion writer; and (4) spring 2020 press intern for U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.
“My favorite part of the (press intern) job is fielding journalist questions and requests,” wrote Babin in her cover letter for the scholarship. “I have been able to learn more about what questions to ask, how to frame them and who to talk to to get answers.”
In addition, she has been active on campus, serving as a senator for WSU’s Student Government Association before adding journalism as another major, staying active in her Gamma Phi Beta sorority, and remaining involved with The Sunflower and the Elliott School of Communication.
Congratulations to WPC’s 2020 scholarship winner, Olivia Babin, who will graduate in May 2021 and hopes to take the best of her majors and minors into a solid future in communications.
– Shannon Littlejohn, WPC scholarship chair