December 19, 2007

TROY student raises awareness for local center

TROY – More than 70 people turned out to support the Troy Nutrition Center in December thanks to a class project of Troy University junior Ryan Charles.
 
The “Jingle Bell Jog,” a 5K run that started and ended on the Square in historic downtown Troy, raised about $500 for the center on Dec. 1.
 
“I like to run.  It’s something I am familiar with and something that would benefit the community,” Charles said.
 
A print journalism/public relations major from Denver, Colo., Charles chose the project as a scenario in one of his public relations classes. In the class taught by Professor Donna Schubert, students are required to choose a hypothetical event and create all of the publicity for the event.  
 
“I wanted something localized and actually ‘do-able’ where I could meet my goal.  So, I just started doing a little research and I saw it looked like a good cause,” said Charles.
 
He decided to turn his plans into actions and generated a productive outcome, attributing the event’s success to his class and professor.
 
 “The class definitely helped make the event more successful than it would have been because of the knowledge I obtained from that class.  From the publicity stand point, the class was a huge help.  Mrs. Schubert taught me how to get out there and get the word out,” he said.
 
Schubert said the aim of most Hall School of Journalism classes is to bridge the gap between the textbook and the real world.
 
 “In the School of Journalism, we work hard to marry classroom theory with real-life application, and Ryan's work demonstrates that mission. I am especially proud that Ryan saw a need and used his gifts and talents to help,” Schubert said.
 
 

Troy University junior Ryan Charles created “Jingle Bell Jog” as a class assignment in his studies in the Hall School of Journalism. The benefit 5K run raised money and awareness for the Troy Nutrition Center. (TROY photo)

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