In 2012, Oglethorpe University opened its doors to the student communications agency, Pegasus Creative. Under the guidance of the professional staff at University Communications, Pegasus provides student interns with the opportunity to perfect their communication and journalism skills. This year marks its five-year anniversary.
Since their time at Pegasus, many of these interns have used their internship at Pegasus as a launching point for future endeavors.
During his time at Pegasus, Weston Manders ’12 took on the role of Arts Fellow, focusing heavily on promoting arts events around campus.
Pictured during a site visit to CNN are: (back row, left to right) Zach Kevorkian ’13, Weston Manders ’12, Reed Barrickman ’02, Chandler Anderson ’13 and (front) Caitlyn Mitchell ’13, Debbie Aiken ’12, Marisa Manuel ’13, Weatherly Richardson ’13, Rebecca Williams ’13, Mon Baroi ’15
“Pegasus allowed me to nurture my creative passion for storytelling through video editing and production. The team at Pegasus provides a great example of how to work within real life timelines and parameters without sacrificing originality. Under the unique structure at Pegasus, I honed the skills I now use every day,” Manders said.
Since then, he has been working as a freelance video editor and producer. Some of his projects include videos for mtvU, Adobe Creative Cloud, The Atlanta History Center and Oglethorpe University. Manders is also currently pursuing a master’s degree in video production at Georgia State University.
Marisa Manuel ’13 also interned with Pegasus during its first year and gained confidence in her abilities as a writer.
“I came to Pegasus as someone who loved writing but doubted herself, a person who was only beginning to understand that the real world was out there, and that soon, I’d be part of it. Pegasus shot me straight into that reality, and suddenly, I was conducting interviews, attending conferences, and writing blog posts and features articles. Pegasus challenged me in ways I didn’t expect, supported me in all the ways I needed, and helped me grow into the person—the writer—I am today,” Manuel said.
Manuel is currently pursuing a master’s degree in fiction at the University of Memphis, and works as an online editor for the campus literary magazine, The Pinch.
When Twain Carter ’14 joined Pegasus in 2013, his goal was to learn content strategy, a role that Pegasus did not have at the time. Upon becoming part of the team, he worked with Todd Bennett, vice president for marketing and communications, to create that role.“[Todd] literally created a lane for me to explore and learn about the field. He gave me the tools to be successful. Along with Debbie [Aiken] and Renee [Vary Keele’s] guidance, I learned what it took to be a good communicator,” Carter said.
Since Pegasus, Carter has worked full-time in the field, specializing in internal communications and content strategy with companies such as General Electric, Yellow Pages and AT&T. He is also working towards his master’s degree in strategic communications at American University in Washington, D.C.
For Christie Pearce Rhodes ’15, the skills she refined at Pegasus landed her a position as a Communications Consultant with Ken Willis Inc. At KWI, she strategizes and develops content for Chick-fil-A’s corporate employees and more than 2,000 restaurants.
“My employer was so impressed with the amount of concrete experience I came straight out of college with. I’ve never met anyone else who go the same kind of opportunities in college as we had at Pegasus,” Rhodes said.
Mon Baroi ’15 also discovered his interest in marketing, programming, and sales throughout his time at Pegasus.
“I never saw those skills as a career until I started working at Pegasus and realized how much I love the technical aspects of driving traffic and developing software,” Baroi said.
After graduating, Baroi worked in data analysis and integration for a few years before co-founding his own startup, Tianem. He is the Chief Product Officer of the invoice management software aimed at construction companies.
Since its establishment five years ago, Pegasus continues to cultivate talent and inspire students to pursue careers in communication long-term.
Just ask Manders: “For future Pegasus interns, I would say listen to those around you. Those creators sitting at that next desk have something to share and so do you. That interesting line of copy or cool shot composition will set you apart.”
Author Victoria Lindbergh ’18, a French major and Theatre minor, has worked as a digital production assistant at Pegasus Creative for three semesters and counting.
