PRestige All-Star: Gabriella Miranda

Learn more about Gabriella, one of our committed members within PRestige Agency.

Where are you from?
Patchogue, NY (East end of Long Island)

Major?

I am a public relations major with a minor in American studies.

What made you interested in your major?

I first became interested in public relations when I started working at Good Samaritan Hospital in their public and external affairs department three years ago. I learned the many different aspects of PR in a healthcare setting. I then transferred to Hofstra because of their excellent communications program. I was eager to learn more about what a career in public relations had to offer.

What are you involved in on/off campus?

On campus I am involved with PRSSA and PRestige Agency.

What are you involved with within PRestige?

This past year I joined both Ashton (on campus) and Hilary’s (off campus) teams.  Right now for on-campus we are working with an amazing client, Courtney Hickey, senior Hofstra student who created her own retro-inspired apparel known as Chickey Designs.  For off-campus, we are continuing to work with The Safe Place, currently organizing a flash mob and a media night.

Please describe any past/current internships.

At the end of high school I applied for a summer internship at Good Samaritan Hospital. Luckily that internship turned into my current job, which is extremely rewarding. I currently help out a lot with the marketing, special events, and community relations of the hospital. I have begun applying for internships this summer, and I am so excited to get further experience in the PR industry!

Where do you see yourself after Hofstra?

After Hofstra, I would love to live and work in NYC doing any sort of PR work. I haven’t quite found my niche yet, so I’m keeping my options open!

What advice do you have for anyone else who wants to be an all-star?

The best advice I can give is to get involved with both PRSSA and PRestige Agency. Hofstra offers so many great opportunities within the school of communication so take advantage. If you want hands-on learning experience PRestige is the place to go. You will be able to apply what you have learned in your PR and JRNL classes to the exciting clients they work with. (Plus you will get to meet some great people!)

Enjoy the time you have at Hofstra, apply yourself and pursue your passions!

PRESTIGE ALL-STAR: CHARLSIE STURM

Our first PRestige All-Star of the semester is Charlsie Sturm, a wedding fanatic who refers to herself as a “veteran flower girl.” Read more about Charlsie below!

Where are you from?

Albany, The fine capital of NY!

Major?

I am a public relations major with a speech communications minor.

What made you interested in Public Relations?

I came to Hofstra knowing that I wanted to major in communications. Honestly, I didn’t even know that there could be so many different paths to take. I found public relations after taking Journalism 11, I knew I didn’t want to do that. I also think Professor Frisina sealed the deal for me, PR 100 was such a fun and fast paced class. Once I completed it, I knew I wanted to pursue a public relations career in some capacity.

What are you involved in on/off campus?

I am a Senior Resident Assistant in an all-first year housing complex. I love to blog, whether it be for my own blog or for other blogs.

I know you’re very interested in weddings/wedding planning. What spurred that interest?

As a three time veteran flower girl, I’ve been to a bunch of weddings and they seem to be the same cookie cutter/ mold just tweaked and altered a bit. I thought that it would be fun to put a twist on it. I would look at wedding blogs, and found that there is a rather large niche of alternative wedding bloggers out there. Overall, I think it’s really creative. Each wedding has the chance to be a little piece of artwork. I’d like to think that it would give me a way to make a living creatively.

What is the name of your blog? What are some of the topics you’ve written about?

I have a wedding-inspired blog called Wishin’ and Hopin’, because aren’t we all wishing and hoping for something? While I don’t always post about weddings, it is the main focus. I am in awe of all the amazing things some people come up with, especially the DIY stuff that really gives a wedding that personal touch. I’m also currently in the process of developing a food blog with my boyfriend. I think as long as someone’s blog has a focus and is well-organized it will be an interesting read!

What internship do you have/have you had in the past? Can you tell us a little bit about them?

Right now I’m interning at The Knot, weddings + PR = the best of both worlds. Not in the Miley way though. The environment is so fast paced, the days literally fly by. It’s also a lot different because my first internship, J9PR was at a small boutique fashion and beauty agency on Long Island. They are completely different, which gives me a great outlook on what I like and don’t like.

Where do you see yourself after Hofstra?

Good question. Growing up I was always told that I could do whatever I put my mind to. My parents allowed me to try as many different things as I wanted. I was always doing something, whether it be dance, acting, gymnastics, violin, clarinet, etc. For myself, in order to be happy, I would have to find a job that’s fast paced and allows me to be creative. I plan on moving to LA and hopefully finding a PR job with a wedding planning position on the side.

What advice do you have for anyone else who wants to be an all-star?

Hustle, but not like Jay-Z. In order to shine at an internship you need to be ready to go at all times and ready to work hard. As impossible as this seems, you need to stay one step ahead of the game. Oh also, take the grunt work with a grain of salt, the people dishing out orders were in your position once and eventually you will be in theirs.

Please add anything else you wish to tell!

A little bit of advice- Stay true to yourself and know your ethics going in to a position.

Follow Charlsie and check out her blog here!

PRestige All-Star: Lauren Taylor

Lauren Taylor

Lauren hopes to make it big someday in the film industry. Find out more below!

Where are you from?

I’m originally from California, but I’ve lived most of my life in Austin, Texas.

Major?

I’m a Film Production major with a Mathematics minor.

What is your concentration within your major?

Within film production, I’m concentrating in being an editor (post production). My main responsibilities include piecing together film and working with  sound.

What are you involved in on/off campus?

On campus, I’m an e-board member of HFC, an Resident Assistant in Estabrook hall and I’m a teacher’s assistant for RTVF 27 a beginning level film course. Nothing off campus right now, but I used to volunteer at the Hempstead Boys and Girls Club.

Please describe your past/current internship.

I just finished up an internship at Red Car Productions, a post-house in the city that edited commercials for Gatorade, Lexus and Febreeze. For next semester, I’m applying to IFC, the Daily Show with John Stewert, and Focus Features.

Where do you see yourself after Hofstra?

After Hofstra, my goal is to get a job in the city, at a post house or editing feature films, and be able to live in New York.

What advice do you have for anyone else who wants to be an all-star?

Never accept no as an answer. If you don’t hear back from an internship you really want, don’t be afraid to call or email someone again. Persistence can lead to getting a job or internship you really want. As long as you stay polite, no one will think of it as rude.

PRestige All-Star: Brian Marquis

Brian Marquis

Brian Marquis is a true face of Hofstra University and well-respected by his peers and administrators. We all know him for his contributions to the university, but find out more about his communications experience and trip to Africa below!

Where are you from?

Wallingford, CT

Major?

Video/TV and Film

What made you interested in Hofstra?

Being so close to NYC was important, especially for my industry. But when I came to campus, I learned about all the amazing opportunities I could get involved with. Hofstra offered a lot of co-curricular activities in and outside of my major that I could be a part of.

What are you involved in on/off campus?
On campus, I am the Comptroller for the Student Government Association, a member of HEAT (Hofstra Entertainment Access Television), TNL (Thursday Nite Live), WRHU (Radio Hofstra University), and I am a Student Ambassador in the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Please describe your past/current internships.

My first internship was with YOUniversitytv.com.  The organization is a website dedicated to colleges and universities who provide video tutorials about their campuses.  I was a campus representative and edited video packages about Hofstra University for the site.My second internship was with a radio station on Long Island, KJOY 98.3 and 96.1.  I got to do  production work, work their events, and help out in the office.  I mainly worked their morning show, and sometimes worked during the day.  I really enjoyed working there, the people were really great, and I learned a lot.

We know you took a trip to Africa last winter, can you please tell us about your trip and your documentary?

I went with Christina Myers, a broadcast journalism major.  She had asked me to go with her to volunteer and help her document the trip.  We went through Kids Worldwide, which set us up with Triumph International School and Orphanage in Ghana.  It was an amazing experience.  The people were amazing, everyone is just as interested in you as you are of them.  We taught a few classes, but mostly worked on a play with a group of kids after school.  We wrote the play, made the costumes, and the kids performed it for the entire school. We created a story about Mother Nature, earth, wind, air, water, people, plants, and animals that live in the world. The play focused on how to keep our natural resources clean.

Where do you see yourself after Hofstra?

Eventually running or creating my own network, or WebWork (Web Television Network), or producing some kind of content.  Right after graduation? Living in a card board box in NYC, ideally near Central Park (because it is quieter) and working at a television network, or where ever the wind takes me…

What advice do you have for anyone else who wants to be an all-star?

Set goals, be driven, and be nice to people.

Do you have a Twitter page or blog? If so, what are their URLs?

Twitter: @Producerbtm

Youtube: youtube.com/hutruelife,youtube.com/kodaktheater

Blog: brianmarquis.tumblr.com

PRestige All-Star: Kaitlin Cubria

Kaitlin Cubria

Whether Kaitlin is at her internship in the city or building community in Colonial Square, she is always pushing herself to try new things! Her internship experience is truly remarkable!

Where are you from?
Staten Island, NY

Major?
Public relations, minoring in Journalism and Speech Communication and Rhetorical Studies

What made you interested in your major?
I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up (and I still don’t know), but I knew I wanted a career in the field of communications. I barely knew what public relations was when I entered college, but I saw that the classes involved media, writing, creativity and communication – everything I would look for in a potential career.

What are you involved in on/off campus?
On campus, I am on the e-board for the Ed2010 magazine networking club, the founder of Hofstra’s branch of HerCampus.com and the vice president of the newly founded Hofstra branch of nonprofit, She’s the First. I am also an RA in Colonial Square for the only first-year house, and I work on campus for the Radio, Television and Film department. Off campus, I currently have my dream internship at Seventeen Magazine in the web department!

Please describe your past/current internships.
As previously mentioned, I currently intern for Seventeen Magazine, Web Editorial; double interned this summer for New York magazine Social Media/Public Relations and WPIX11 Public Relations, and last spring I interned for Hearst Magazines Public Relations.

Can you please elaborate on your Seventeen internship for us?
Since it has always been my dream to be a part of Seventeen, I had high expectations for the internship… and it exceeded them! A majority of Seventeen interns will tell you, they treat each intern like a member of their staff. I get first-hand experience in Content Management System, attend exclusive events, interview celebrities and “real people,” write original content for their Style Blog and CosmoGirl’s “Daily Kiss” blog, and even manage and edit the entire blog for their college reality program “Freshman 15!” Ultimately, no day is ever the same. It’s fast paced, and an incredible environment to learn from and work in.

Where do you see yourself after Hofstra?
Definitely living in the city – home is already close, but I still would love to wake up in NYC every morning. I can definitely see myself doing one of two things: entertainment/lifestyle public relations or magazine editorial (print or online). These are extremely competitive industries, but I can’t help what I love.

What advice do you have for anyone else who wants to be an all-star?
Make the most out of your time – even if you cannot intern, join as many clubs on/off campus that are relevant to your career path, write for as many publications as possible to get bylines, network at events and in your classes, and just do whatever it takes to get your name out there in this big competitive industry. If you’re unsure of what you want to do for the rest of your life, don’t be afraid to dip your feet into different forms of communications once you start interning. I’ve dabbled in web, print, television and in-house PR, and I’m still unsure, but I’m definitely learning something from each experience I delve into in the industry.

Do you have a Twitter page or blog? If so, what are their URLs?
Yes, you can follow me at @KCubes. I don’t have my own personal blog anymore, but you can look at Hofstra’s branch of HerCampus, and Seventeen.com’s Style blog and College Blog for my entries.