Carroll College students recently traveled to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to attend the Northwest Communication Association (NWCA) Conference, held April 12–14, where they shared their work and represented Carroll on a regional stage.
Students Stella Claridge, Brooklyn Thompson, Sarah Harper, and Kate Hergert participated in a panel presentation titled “Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going: Podcasting as a ‘Next Gen’ Classroom Assignment,” joined by faculty members Charlotte Jones and Alan Hansen.
During the panel, each student presented on their experiences using podcasting assignments in courses across a variety of academic disciplines, highlighting how the medium can deepen learning, creativity, communication skills, and student engagement.
In addition to presenting, the students took Carroll’s Big Sky, Small World Podcast on the road, setting up at the conference and producing interviews with attendees between sessions. Those conversations will be turned into a podcast episode for the Northwest Communication Association, giving students a unique opportunity to create professional work for a regional organization.
The experience allowed students to share their perspectives, connect with peers and faculty from other institutions, and demonstrate the innovative communication work happening at Carroll College.
“NWCA was so much fun,” said Stella Claridge. “Sharing what we do here at Carroll was very special as well. If I wasn’t graduating, I’d surely go next year!”
The conference reflects Carroll’s commitment to hands-on learning, professional development, and creating opportunities for students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. Through presentations, networking, and live podcast production, Carroll students made a strong impression while showcasing the creativity and energy of the college’s communication program.
