Stepping Up to Spread the News

Stepping Up to Spread the News

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Sharing a passion for local news and Wilkes University, Theresa Karambelas and Kerry Miscavage '95 step up to offer valuable internship experiences at two respected news outlets in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Theresa Karambelas Communicates a Passion for Public Broadcasting

Clayton Karambelas '49 had a passion for Wilkes University that went back to his days as a business administration major at then Wilkes College. His wife, Theresa Karambelas, shared this commitment, just as they shared their business success, love for travel and dedication to philanthropy in the Wyoming Valley.

Tributes to the couple's generosity stand across campus: the grand staircase in the Cohen Science Center, the atrium in the Henry Student Center, the Karambelas Gateway, the digital marquee on the corner of River and South Streets, the pergola on the Fenner Quadrangle and the Karambelas Media and Communication Center.

"For many years, Clayton mentioned that he wanted to do something important for Wilkes," says Theresa Karambelas. Clayton Karambelas passed away in 2021, and though their giving has already transformed the campus, Theresa Karambelas decided the couple's important work of supporting the University wasn't quite finished.

Theresa Karambelas chose to combine support for two of her favorite organizations - Wilkes University and WVIA - and after phone calls to President Greg Cant and Jen Kindler, director of major gifts for WVIA - she set plans in motion. "The enthusiasm was there from the get-go," she says. With gratitude from both organizations, Theresa Karambelas will launch a paid internship program in the WVIA newsroom. "If Clayton were alive, he'd probably love this idea," she says. "It seemed like the perfect thing to do. It's going to be something I can take great personal satisfaction in."

Current plans call for the internship to begin in the spring 2025 semester, with spots available for one or two communication and media studies majors each year. Each student will fill a vital role in the newsroom and gain a broad base of real-world experience in the communications field. Theresa Karambelas has committed to funding the internship for three years, and then she hopes another supporter will pick up the mantle. "I hope that this becomes a very important part of what happens between WVIA and Wilkes."

Julie Sidoni, director of journalism at WVIA, is excited to nurture up-and-coming communications professionals. "Wilkes University is home to talented students and dedicated faculty, not to mention a very impressive media and communication center thanks to the support of Theresa and the late Clayton Karambelas," says Sidoni. "This gift will enable us to expand the education Wilkes University students receive, teaching them in real time what it takes to bring stories to life."

As the internship program's benefactor, Theresa Karambelas wants the program to enrich both organizations. She recognizes the vital role communications play in our society and knows the value of accurate, local news. So, by helping a student gain access to quality journalism education not just in the classroom, but in the industry, Theresa Karambelas hopes the initiative will also serve the surrounding community that means so much to her. "It's not just a WIN-WIN. It's a WIN-WIN-WIN for students, WVIA and Wilkes."

Kerry Miscavage Makes News With an Opportunity in Journalism

Kerry Miscavage '95 has seen some changes in the newsroom and in the media landscape since she started her career as a senior account executive. After working her way up through the ranks, the publisher of the Times Leader Media Group knows what it takes to put a newspaper together. And she wants to make sure Wilkes students with an interest in journalism do, too.

To help prepare students for a career in today's media, Miscavage decided to give back to Wilkes through an internship at the Times Leader. "There's a natural draw to work with my alma mater," says Miscavage. "Plus, we've had great success with Wilkes students in the past."

The internship offers a chance for an English or communication and media studies major to get hands-on experience in a newsroom. The student who lands the position won't be just making copies and running errands. "They're actually doing the work that a journalist would be doing," says Miscavage.

Over the course of the semester, the Times Leader intern will get to focus on elements of news reporting and writing, sports reporting, pagination, graphic design, photography, videography and special projects, including plans for the paper's "Best Of" events. These multifaceted experiences will help prepare the intern for a variety of positions after graduation and help catch the attention of potential employers. "It's more advantageous to have a well-rounded journalist," says Miscavage. "It's a perfect resume builder."

While still searching for a candidate, Miscavage has high hopes for any Wilkes student who joins the Times Leader team. She knows many of the faculty members from communication and media studies, and, as a Wilkes English major, remembers the quality of education she received in Kirby Hall. As the Times Leader has been such a huge part of Miscavage's story, she can't wait to help turn the page for a talented Wilkes student. "It's a wonderful opportunity to learn and soak in how a newsroom operates, from the beginning of the story to publication, the start of a story idea to the very end," says Miscavage.

Each of these internships will give Wilkes students a chance to be part of a local news team and gain professional experience, showing prospective employers that they're ready to tell a quality story. "This is an excellent opportunity for our students to put into practice the knowledge and skills they have learned in classes and co-curriculars," says Evene Estwick, associate professor and chair of communication and media studies. "It's a substantial addition to any student resume as they head into the workforce."