This article was written by Public Relations Intern John Thompson.
Chesed Russell is a Bluefield University senior who has gone above and beyond. Not only is she working diligently on The Rampage, she is scoring points for the BU women’s volleyball team, working as a Resident Advisor, serving the school as a Student Ambassador, and traveling the world through mission trips, all while completing three specializations in Communication.
“I grew up in Powhatan, Virginia, which was honestly a place with not a lot of diversity. My father is a pastor there and that is one of the reasons that my faith is such a big aspect of my life today,” Chesed said.
“I initially wanted to get recruited for volleyball after high school but almost had to give up on that dream because of some coaching issues. That is, until my parents and I found Bluefield University,” she added. “I loved the location, smaller size, and surprising amount of diversity. I later reached out to the coach and was offered a scholarship. I was not quite sure what I wanted to major in though.”
Her uncertainty didn’t last very long, however.
“When looking at Bluefield’s programs, Graphic Communication really piqued my interest. I had already committed to Bluefield for volleyball before having a formal visit, but on my campus tour, Professor Roberts actually came and sat down with me and my family. This meant a lot to us because he took time out of his Saturday to meet us and answer any questions we had,” Chesed shared.
Graphic Communication was not the only program she ended up pursuing. Chesed is also currently finishing out the Digital Marketing and Sports Communication programs, but her work in communication didn’t just end at her majors.
“During my freshman year, I learned more about The Rampage through Professor Shoemaker. He then encouraged me to apply to become a Rampage Scholar,” Chesed said. “I have received this scholarship for the last 2 years, and it has truly helped me grow creatively.”
Since then, Chesed has used her time on The Rampage to develop her skills professionally and creatively, with her primary role being page layout and design.
“The thing that I enjoy most about working on The Rampage is getting to design and layout the print version of the magazine,” she shared. “Over the last 4 semesters working on The Rampage, I’ve been able to work with Jenny Mitchell, John Thompson, and Ben Ayers to create 7 different editions of the magazine. It feels extremely rewarding to see your work printed, especially in a technology driven world.”
It’s more than just working on a magazine for Chesed. It’s a rewarding experience that spans across campus to all departments and students. It’s a rewarding creative journey that lets students better themselves and see that their work and effort can have an impact outside the classroom.
“If you are interested in news, writing, photography, or design, I would strongly recommend joining The Rampage,” Chesed said. “This is a great resume builder, but it also gives you experience working on a team to create something special. You learn skills like problem-solving, website management, marketing, and even social media management.”
At Bluefield University, Chesed has built impactful, long-lasting relationships with her professors and values the connections and advice they have given her, a sentiment that many BU students share.
“The thing that I enjoy most about being a Communication major at BU would have to be the professors. Professor Roberts and Professor Shoemaker have taught me, and continue to teach me, many skills and lessons that I can apply to my future career,” Chesed explained.
She also appreciates the sense of connectedness and community that comes with being a Communication student at Bluefield University, which provides valuable experiences inside and outside the classroom with rewards that benefit the surrounding local communities while helping develop aspiring communication majors.
“Some of my favorite classes include hands-on work that helps me build up my portfolio and even make new contacts. One great example is the Designing for Graphic Customers class taught by Professor Roberts,” Chesed said. “He contacts non-profits, small businesses, and churches in the community to see if they need design help. This includes logos, fliers, websites, etc. My classmates and I then ‘compete’ to have our designs chosen. I enjoyed this class so much, I actually took it twice.”
“If you are considering declaring Communication as your major, I would strongly encourage it,” she added. “Communication is the foundation of almost every career and every aspect of your life. Communication majors are also extremely versatile and have a role for practically anyone.”
With her time at BU coming to an end, Chesed is doing anything but slowing down, continuing to push herself physically, creatively, and professionally. She has left an impact not just on her peers, but the campus as a whole, working hard to help her professors carve a future for communication through her hard work and dedication. No matter where she goes, Chesed is sure to make a positive impact.
“After this Spring, I will only have one semester left at BU,” Chesed shared. “I hope to continue to grow as a student, athlete, and individual during this time. I am planning on working with my professors to perfect my portfolio/resume to be best prepared for life after college. Once I graduate, I hope to find a job where I get to utilize my majors, especially graphic design, and maybe also get my feet wet in the wedding planning world, on the side.”