By Mavi Cole - Gaylord College Media Practicum
The Gaylord College Student Experience Fund has provided many students with life changing opportunities, including current first-generation student Miranda Renteria.
Renteria is a junior majoring in public relations and minoring in Spanish and human relations, and is very involved on campus– she’s a resident advisor, a Henderson Scholar, in the President’s Community Scholars, in Crimson Club and will be a Gaylord ambassador this upcoming year. She has also received a slew of awards during her time at OU so far, including the Regents Award for Outstanding Juniors. This is no easy feat, and shows the passion Renteria has for her school and community.
Being a first-generation student and paying for her education on her own is a challenge, especially with how involved Renteria is. This is where the Student Experience Fund has come in, helping her attend the New York Agency Immersion Trip this past year.
“I applied, and I was able to get funding to cover my round-trip flight to New York, which was super helpful since that was one of the most expensive parts of the trip,” Renteria said. “I even had some funds left to help pay for the program itself.”
The fund is also helping Renteria study abroad in London this summer for Gaylord’s British Media Studies Program.
“Not every college offers something like this, especially for giving students the opportunity to travel and learn more about their careers beyond their college or hometown,” Renteria said. “It shows how much Gaylord cares about its students. College isn’t cheap, so having this opportunity really demonstrates their support for us and how they prioritize our well-being above everything.”
The New York trip allows students to visit multiple media companies and PR agencies, connecting with Gaylord alumni and other professionals. They’re also able to explore New York City. It was not only a fun experience, but a time of learning and reflection for Renteria.
“The trip helped me solidify that I wanted to pursue public relations as a career. It was also my first time really leaving Oklahoma and its surrounding states, other than visiting Mexico for family. I didn’t think I’d like New York because I’m used to Oklahoma, but once I went on the trip, I fell in love with the city.”
Programs like the Gaylord Student Experience Fund not only provide students with cool chances to travel and do new things, they allow students to explore their potential careers further, and make informed decisions about their futures. Whether it’s to the Student Experience Fund or another program, donating on Giving Day helps OU students in countless impactful ways.
“It’s truly about giving back to the community,” Renteria said. “For example, I’ve heard about alumni donating, and even I, as a future alumni, would love to help out because I know what it’s like to be in the shoes of a college student. Giving Day is a great opportunity to give back while also showing support for OU.”
Joy Akande, like many other Gaylord College students, has taken initiative during her time so far at the University of Oklahoma. Joy is a current senior studying advertising and is a current co-team lead for Gaylord College Media’s marketing team. She also is a creative lead in Gaylord’s Lindsey + Asp, a student-led advertisement and public relations team that focuses on youth culture. Joy utilizes these organizations to express her love for creating content and showing others what it’s like to be a student at OU.
For many students, the path to higher education is linear. For others, it is winding. For Artra Nelson, a soon-to-be graduate of Gaylord College, this path included a stint in the Navy, a degree in political science, and a growing passion for public relations.
As graduation approaches, Aniketh Koneru, a senior Public Relations major, reflects on his Gaylord College experience. His four years here have been shaped not only by the supportive community of peers and mentors but also the incredible opportunities that he took hold of. With the encouragement of others, Aniketh utilized the Student Experience Fund to elevate his voice to a national level.
Renteria is a junior majoring in public relations and minoring in Spanish and human relations, and is very involved on campus– she’s a resident advisor, a Henderson Scholar, in the President’s Community Scholars, in Crimson Club and will be a Gaylord ambassador this upcoming year. She has also received a slew of awards during her time at OU so far, including the Regents Award for Outstanding Juniors.
