Kat Bratz

Two days into her internship with a local radio station, Kathryn “Kat” Bratz went on the air to report on a plane crash. Bratz, then a student at Missoula College studying Administrative Management, had no prior reporting experience and had never been on the radio. Her experiences between general education courses and her Missoula College curriculum gave her the confidence to meet the challenge head on.

“There’s never a dull moment,” said Bratz a few weeks before graduating this past December.

Bratz is one of the first graduates to capitalize on the Social Media Management Option, within Administrative Management, a new course of study that prepares students to design, create and maintain websites and social media networks. “I really appreciate the business side of things, but I also like the creative part of it,” said Bratz.

In addition to a full course of study and part-time internship with Townsquare Media, Bratz became active in the campus and Missoula communities. While exploring varied academic interests at the mountain campus, she joined Kappa Alpha Theta and volunteered for CASA for Children. At Missoula College, she helped organize the annual Carnivores Classic, co-coached the Hellgate High School girls’ lacrosse team and worked for a local hotel, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

The key to her success? Bratz surrounded herself with people who wanted her to succeed. Missoula College professors, Niki Robinson and Cheryl Galipeau, trained Bratz in the technical skills of Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft programs, while Lynsey Bourke pushed Bratz to explore the emerging field of social media.

“It’s been an opportunity to jump in and try a number of different things that may be rather uncomfortable, but I’m giving it 110 percent,” Bratz stated.

Bratz’s Program Director, Cheryl Galipeau, describes her energy: “Kat was an enthusiastic and talented student from day one. Excellence mattered to her. She had an incredible internship opportunity with Townsquare Media, and was very excited to share her internship experience with her peers and professors. Kat accomplished a great deal personally, academically and professionally.”

Her internship supervisor at Townsquare Media, Billy Jenkins echoes Professor Galipeau, adding, “Kat is the best intern we have had in years.” In fact, Jenkins thought so highly of her that she is employed full-time with Townsquare Media.

February 2016