Since graduation from IWU, it seems Derik Hughes (Communication, 06) has always had a camera or microphone in his hands, and been paid to do it. From working at a radio station in Marion, to being a photojournalist at 2 different television stations, Hughes found that his experiences at IWU have been great tools for his daily use.
“I felt like I learned the most in participating in projects outside of class. It was that time spent outside of class that I learned the most from, ” he said.
These experiences have also been helpful in his teaching of video, editing and sound to other students. Hughes is a reminder that it is worth it to pay attention in class and get involved in the IWU community.
Using the skills that he learned while a student at IWU, he found that his interactions with others in the workplace are effective and positive. His participation in Crossroads on WIWU-TV, his completion of his senior project, and developing Wildcat Week, have also added to his knowledge in the television and communication fields. He has also found that the various activities involved in the IWU curriculum have been useful in his workplace endeavors.
“I like the trust the division put in the IWU students. They allow you to get hand on experience, much sooner than other universities do. I was able to take that confidence with me into the real world job market,” he said.
After working for WXIN Fox 59 in Indianapolis, he has now started his next endeavor. Hughes is now working on a Marketing degree and was recently hired as the multimedia specialist at the United Way of Central Indiana. He will be doing some still photography but mainly working on videos for the company in order to expand its clientele.