Wildcats Beyond the Classroom

How do you turn a passion for student media into a full-time faculty career?In the season finale of Wildcats Beyond the Classroom, we sit down with Dawson Wagner, instructor and Assistant Director of Wildcat Electronic Media at Kansas State University. Dawson shares his journey from K-State student to graduate assistant, and ultimately to his current faculty role in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication.In this episode, we discuss:How clubs, student organizations, and undergrad internships can bring ultimate clarity to your career path.The power of applied learning experiences in preparation for a career in media.What it means to mentor campus students and help them find their "light bulb" moments.Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed the season!

In this episode, we sat down with one of our podcast producers and interns, senior Madison Neal, who is preparing to attend graduate school in Ireland after graduation. She shares how her applied learning experiences helped her build professional skills, grow in confidence, and get ready for her next step.

In this episode, we talk with Wildcat 91.9’s News Director and Wildcats Beyond the Classroom’s very own Adolfo Blanco. We discuss how past experiences teach us how to apply ourselves to new opportunities.

In this episode, we talk with the associate director of K-State’s Career Center, Anthony YBarra. We discuss how internships can be used as applied learning and advise on how to find internships. 

In this episode, we talk with the director of K-State’s Education Abroad Program, Katelin Christianer-Donkers. We discuss how global experiences can be used as applied learning and ways for students to get involved with education abroad.

In this episode of Wildcats Beyond the Classroom, we sit down with Lawrence Settles, a senior in Agricultural Technology Management and an Undergraduate Research Assistant with DART (Digital Agriculture Research Team).Lawrence shares how he first got involved in undergraduate research at K‑State, what sparked his interest, and how research has shaped his academic and professionaljourney. He walks us through the projects he’s worked on, what he’s learned along the way, and the opportunities that opened because he said “yes” to research.We also talked about Lawrence’s recent experience presenting his research at the Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol and what it was like, what he presented, and what the moment meant for him as a Wildcat.

In this episode, we talk with the Associate Director of Scholarship Development and Undergraduate Research, Dr. Susan Rensing. We discuss her involvement with the ALE Core Team and how research can be used as an applied learning experience.

 In this episode, we talk with K-State’s Applied Learning Intern, Sadye Patterson. We discuss her involvement in the ALE imperative and the creation of the ALE ambassador program

In this episode, we talk with K-State’s Student Body President, Brady Kappelmann. We discuss ALEs from a student perspective and reflect on the experiences that have shaped his leadership.

In this debut episode, we talk with K-State Applied Learning Experiences (ALE) Program and Project Administrator, Maggie Billman. We discuss what ALEs are, why they matter, and how they support student success at Kansas State University.