Business, Communication, and Media

Holiday magic in an historic lodge. A new generation of shoppers for an old-school hardware store. A fresh twist on the traditional triathlon. Students from the Lundquist College of Business devised and launched these (and more) projects during an immersive experience working with the town of Oakridge, Oregon, and its local businesses. Their efforts to help Oakridge raise its profile are part of the UO’s Sustainable City Year Program, which is open to any major.

What happens behind the scenes of a hostage situation? How does the information shared shape public perception and policy? In a School of Journalism and Communication course, UO students get firsthand insights from a D.C. journalist who spent 544 days as a hostage. Pivoting from advocacy work to interviews with hostages’ family members, Ducks break new ground in this unique class.

From condiments to public housing, athletic gear to science education, Oregon students are bursting with ideas for business startups. The annual Oregon Innovation Challenge is a chance to turn that idea into reality. The 12-week challenge provides mentorship, community, and a competition for $150,000 in funding that draws hundreds of student entrepreneurs from freshmen to doctoral candidates.

Nathan Torres has played video games all his life. How to parlay that passion into a career? Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication offered a pathway with its esports (competitive online gaming) program. As an esports producer for student-run Duck TV, Torres got hands-on experience with the latest industry tools, including livestreaming software, 360 cameras, virtual reality headsets, and green screens.

A summer internship at Alaska Airlines gave public relations major Maya Valverde much more than unlimited travel benefits. During twelve career-changing weeks, she learned the ins and outs of corporate writing, connected with C-level execs, and got an inside look at the airline industry—from baggage handling to flight simulators.