Two good things to report:

1. I am now a Knight Scholar! This scholarship will cover the cost of this summer’s class valued at $3400; selection was based on need. The Beijing Olympics program consists of two courses. Technically it’s two undergraduate courses (but that hasn’t stopped them from charging graduate class fees!). The two courses consist of a preparation class I’ll take in the spring titled International Sports Reporting and the second course will be the actual work done at the Beijing Olympics.

2. My 15 minutes of Emerson fame: I made it into the latest Marketing Communicator, Emerson’s Department of Marketing Communication’s newsletter. I present it on my blog with a slight cringe due to my quoted wordiness, but nonetheless, here it for your viewing pleasure:

Emerson’s Nov/Dec Marketing Communicator Newsletter

The entire Marketing Communications department has shown enormous support for the 3 selected from the department to participate in the Beijing program. I’ve gotten personal emails from professors and the head of the department offering congratulations which I full-heartedly appreciate.

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

Signing off….

Helen

Dear Friends and Family,

I have been back in Boston since September to finish up my Masters degree…however, I have found another way to push back graduation until the end of summer!  I am overwhelmingly excited to announce that I have been accepted into a program through Emerson that will send me to the Beijing Olympics this summer to support the Olympic News Service!!

I found out last Thursday night and will hopefully learn more within the next couple of weeks.  What I do know is that I’ll be doing grunt work to help journalists formulate stories about the Olympics.  Emerson describes it as “students will work side-by-side with professional staff to cover Olympic events, provide background information on athletes and competitions, and basically create Olympic news material for the international press who will be sending stories back to their homelands.” 

Depending if I stay for the paralympics, I’ll be in Beijing from July 7 until the end of August or til mid-September.  I’ll probably be assigned to a specific sport and there’s a chance that I’ll actually get to interview the athletes!   

My participation is contingent upon passing an exam showing thorough expertise on whatever sport I’m assigned; however, I’m not going to let this stand in my way of this truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!  Part of the program is to take a prep course in the spring to cover Mandarin (just basic conversational), sports journalism, and China’s history and culture.  I was selected based on an application, essay and interview.  143 students applied, 58 were interviewed and 25 selected.  Emerson is one of 5 schools in the United States selected to send students in partnership with the Communication University of China of which will house us in its dorms. 

As I get more information, I will keep everyone updated.  I’m going to try blogging and see how it goes.

I hope this blog finds you well and enjoying fall!  Have a wonderful veteran’s day! 

Warmest regards,

Helen