This article was written by Public Relations Intern John Thompson.
Savannah Taylor is a rising junior who’s thrown her hat into just about every ring at Bluefield University, dedicating her time to bettering lives on and off campus through her studies and occupations.
She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, as well as a bachelor’s degree in communication arts with concentrations in modern media, graphic communication, and digital marketing. Her dedication to her studies goes beyond the classroom. Taylor has been developing her skills by working on the school’s newspaper, The Rampage, for the past four semesters. She serves as a writer and an editor, reporting on the communities around the two Virginias.
“What I enjoy most about working on The Rampage is that I get to go out in my Bluefield community, and I get to see how people affect each other,” Savannah said. “That’s the reason I wanted to be a journalist, because it’s really cool to see the relationships people build with each other and the effect that people have on each other’s lives. I think reporting on that and cultivating that is really important.”
Taylor does more than just report; she embodies Bluefield University’s mission to create servant leaders. She applies her knowledge of communication and criminal justice through her many occupations while serving her community as a Campus Safety officer, cafeteria worker, summer maintenance worker, and even a full-time graphic design intern.
“I love it. I got the opportunity to intern with David Bailey Associates. He’s a member of the Board of Trustees. He’s based in Richmond, and he has his own lobbying practice, and it was such a good way to involve both of my majors because I get to see the political side of things and I also get to graphic design for it,” Savannah shared. “I really think it was a gift from God, honestly, to have both of those things as an intern opportunity, and that’s crazy to even think about that. I didn’t even know what Adobe was two years ago, and now I’m designing stuff that’s going around the Virginia State Capitol. That’s insane.”
“You need to try everything because you never know what’s going to happen or what God’s going to give you through these opportunities that you might have because you never know what you’re going to like, and you’re never going to know what is a talent you have that’s waiting to be discovered,” she added. “That’s the great thing about college for me; I’ve discovered so many things about myself that I didn’t know, and I’ve discovered so many things that I’m good at that I didn’t think I was going to be able to be good at. I would just say try everything because you never know what you might be good at.”
Taylor has been eager to make a difference since her first day at Bluefield, but how did this dynamic and dedicated student come to Bluefield?
“Going out of high school, I knew that I was good at writing, and I knew I liked talking to people, so I figured that journalism was a good career for that,” Savannah explained. “I joined The Rampage in my first semester as a volunteer because I hadn’t had the opportunity to work with the school paper before because my school was so small.”
“I always had a good relationship with Bluefield University. In my school growing up, there was always a tie with it, and my family would come and watch the theater performances, so Bluefield University was always in my life,” she said. “I received the opportunity to apply for the Presidential Scholarship, and I was blessed with winning it, and so I came here because of that.”
Savannah also shared that she is appreciative of the staff members and professors who have helped her flourish as a student, leader, and person.
She gave shout outs to professors Chris Shoemaker, Allen Roberts, and Dr. Kimberly Farmer. “They’re all the coolest,” she said.
Of Shoemaker, she shared, “He interviewed me originally for my presidential scholarship. I wouldn’t have been here without him.” About Roberts, she said, “I wouldn’t have been a designer without him. I hated graphic design, but now I love it.”
Savannah Taylor anticipates completing her studies and graduating in 2028. She hopes to pursue a career and chase her dream of working for WVVA, a local news station, to bring truth to and inspire the next generation.