In February, a group of eight Communication students traveled to sunny Los Angeles to explore career paths in communication fields. As a part of the Career Kickstart professional development program, Career Exploration Trips give Communication students the opportunity to expand their networks in Los Angeles, New York City, D.C., and Seattle, and gives them the opportunity to explore careers that may not be obvious. Trips are little to no cost to students, thanks to the Christopher Rauch Meyer Endowed Fund, established by UW alum Paul Meyer in honor of his son.
In a packed four day itinerary, students met with nine Los Angeles based UW alumni working in screenwriting, television and film production, community engagement, corporate communications, and sports entertainment. Alums shared their experiences on how they navigated post-grad life, their paths through the industry, and offered some advice on how the scene of the industry has changed and how they can stand out.
“It’s easy to get caught up in how intangible the future is and become stuck in tunnel vision on the moment’s most important task. This trip provided me a break from the monotony of everyday life and a chance to more clearly envision a future for myself. Sometimes my mom will say, “you don’t know what you don’t know,” which I find especially pertinent as we approach the workforce. It’s hard or even impossible to have any idea what opportunities are out there for you until you breach a certain industry or meet the right people. Through the LA Career Exploration Trip, I was able to fill in the cracks of the unknown just that much more, and for that I am incredibly grateful.”
– Emily Valentine, Senior
Students met with screenwriter Pete Chiarelli (BA, Comm, 96), founding partner and Chief Operating Officer of Center Drive Media John Bravakis (BA, Comm, 80), sit-com writer Sebastian Jones (BA, Anthropology, 88), and screenwriter and television producer Kriss Turner Towner (BA, Comm, 84).
Students also got to experience the LA sports industry. The trip kicked off with a dinner with Eashan Arun (BA, JPIC, 23), who is a Coordinator of Game Presentation & Production for the LA Rams. Arun was a student on a Career Exploration Trip to LA in 2023. Senior Coordinator of Game Presentation for the LA Chargers, Maddie Kraut (BA, Comm, 22) and Senior Manager for Community Impact & Engagement at the LA Rams David Weingarten (BA, Comm, 14), showed the breadth of jobs available in the sports industry in a group discussion, and led an unforgettable tour of SoFi stadium.
We also took a trip to Irvine, CA to visit alum Darren Langston (BA, Comm, 16) at Rivian. Langston serves as Chief of Staff to the Chief Communications Officer, and was joined in conversation by Communications Project Manager Valeria Robles (USC) for an insightful presentation on their career paths and what led them to Rivian. Langston attended a Career Exploration Trip to New York City during his time as a student.
Junior Rachel Kim said the alums “offered so much encouragement, wisdom, and honest advice about making a career in LA. Through their stories, they proved that plans and dreams can change. Growth and career paths are almost never linear…All the visits genuinely grew my confidence and passion for the entertainment industry in LA and gave me a better idea of what I want to pursue after graduation.”
Career Exploration trips also allow connections to bloom amongst students. Most students on the Career Exploration Trip had never met before. Senior Reese Reddeman said “The best part of this trip wasn’t just the alumni we met or the places we visited, it was the camaraderie that formed within our group. Coming in not knowing anyone ended up being a gift because it pushed all of us to be open and really connect.” Students got the chance to experience LA together, visiting Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “The trip had such an amazing balance of takeaways from alumni and building genuine connections and friendships with our entire group and making memories I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Could not have had a better and more valuable time,” said Kim.
UW Communication will be heading to New York City in Autumn 2026. If you are interested in hosting students on a future career exploration trip (Seattle, LA, New York, or Washington, DC), please fill out the Alumni volunteer interest form.
If you are interested in supporting Career Exploration Trips through the Christopher Rauch Meyer Endowed Fund, you can make a donation on our giving page.