Portfolio

Author

Milan Bish: The Measure You Give

President Ronald Reagan appointed Milan Bish of Grand Island, Nebraska, as U.S. Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean in 1981. The Grenada Intervention occurred in 1983, and Bish continued serving as U.S. Ambassador until 1984. Milan Bish: The Measure You Give was the thesis for my master’s degree in journalism and mass communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and was also published as a book in 2000.

I received UNL’s top fellowship for someone pursuing a master’s degree in journalism (the Gilbert and Martha Hitchcock Fellowship) and worked on my thesis during that period. Gilbert Hitchcock founded the Omaha World-Herald. A link to a downloadable copy of Milan Bish: The Measure You Give will be published soon.

Milan Bish: The Measure You Give

Newspaper Journalist

The Grand Island Independent

I have 13 years of experience as a journalist at The Grand Island Independent. During that time, I worked as a reporter, copy editor, and city editor and covered numerous beats including county government, law enforcement, regional news, agriculture, sports, and business. I attended several Poynter Institute National Writers Workshops, Poynter Institute’s “New Leaders in the Newsroom” seminar, and the American Press Institute’s “City Editors” seminar.

Public Relations

School District Public Relations Coordinator

I have more than eight years of experience as the public relations coordinator for Grand Island Public Schools. I prepared the Public Relations Department budget, agendas and support materials for Public Relations Committee meetings, annual reports, newsletters, brochures, news releases, and photographs. I also coordinated the monthly taping of a show about the school district that aired on the local public cable TV channel and coordinated special events ranging from school dedications to a districtwide student art project.

Below are images showing examples of work including web content, brochures, newsletters, event programs, and school district apparel:

Web Content

Redesigned Website

I provided photos and content for the school district’s redesigned website. My news releases and photos were posted on the website.

News Release Example

 

Photo Album Example

 

Promotional Microsite

I provided photos, text, and the idea to create this promotional site within the school district’s website.

Branding

School District Logos

After I began working for the school district, I served on a committee that selected a new logo for the district. Consistent logos were created for each school, also.

 

School District Apparel

Approximately 1,400 staff members wore purple polo shirts with the school district’s logo to a back-to-school assembly.

Brochures

School District Brochure

This was one of the first brochures I completed for the school district, providing the text, photos, and layout for the brochure.

 

High School Brochure

I provided the text and photos for this brochure, which received an Award of Merit from the National School Public Relations Association.

 

High School Activities Brochure

This brochure was revised to make it more attractive and easier to read.

 

Middle School Brochure

After a new middle school was constructed, this brochure was completed.

Newsletters and Annual Reports

2003-04 Annual Report

Initially, the school district published annual reports, then switched to bi-annual newsletters.

 

2005-06 Annual Report

I provided the text, photos, and initial design for this annual report.

 

2010 Success Press Newsletter

The annual report format was changed to a newsletter, and the National School Public Relations Associations awarded an Honorable Mention for the publication.

Videos

High School Video

I provided the text and photos for a video, which received an Award of Merit from the National School Public Relations Association.

Event Programs

School District Alumni Recognition

I created this program for an alumni recognition event.

 

Building Dedication

As part of coordinating this special event, I created a program.

Photographer

My photographs have been published in The Grand Island Independent and school district publications. While I worked as a reporter at the newspaper, I took photos to accompany my stories if a full-time staff photographer was not available. When I worked as a school district PR coordinator, I took photos at many school events, compiled a photo archive for the school district, and had photos printed in school district publications. Photos that I took at school district activities are publicly displayed at Applebee’s in Grand Island.

Veterans Day Parade

 

Harvest of Harmony Parade

 

Graduation

 

Decorating Veterans Cemetery

 

JROTC Flag Bearer

 

Girls Tennis

 

Boys Tennis

 

Volleyball

 

Boys Basketball

 

Softball

 

Baseball

 

Boys Track

 

Football

 

Girls Track

 

Grant Applications

 

School District Grant Writer

I have more than nine years of experience as the grant development facilitator for Grand Island Public Schools. I generated $6.1 million in grant funding for the school district and prepared 106 successful grant applications. I created and coordinated the school district’s grant development program, including grant application and budget preparation, program implementation and administration, and evaluation. The school district received U.S. Department of Education grants for summer and after-school programs, elementary school social workers, districtwide emergency response training and equipment, mental health program linking school and community resources for students, and expansion of the TeamMates Mentoring Program.