Jesse Cain was on his way to his senior prom, preparing for pictures, dancing and celebration with friends when he received a phone call that changed his life.
Cain, freshman sports media announcing major, had toured Waynesburg University just months before and met with Richard Krause, chairperson of the communication department, who encouraged him to consider the university.
In early April, Cain and 10 fellow competitors contended for the coveted Communication Scholarship, a $10,000 financial aid opportunity for outstanding communication students offered through Waynesburg University.
Though confident that he had performed well during the competition, the phone call Cain received right before his senior prom still registered as a bit of a shock.
“[Krause] called me as I was getting ready and confirmed that I had won the scholarship,” he said.
Honored by the accomplishment, the scholarship only further cemented his decision to attend the university.
Cain was impressed by the expertise of the faculty as well as the quality of the curriculum offered by the Department. He was confident that Waynesburg was where he wanted to pursue his education.
“I was going to come whether or not I had won the competition,” he said.
The annual Communication Scholarship Competition is an opportunity for high school seniors interested in the Department of Communication to earn significant financial aid. The competition consists of several tests where students demonstrate their various communication skills within speaking, writing and announcing.
Cain had just discovered his interest for sports announcing his senior year of high school and knew that Waynesburg University would be able to provide him the skills necessary for the workforce after touring the Department.
“Everything aligned,” Cain said. “I knew this was what I was looking for.”
Cain, a passionate athlete, is dedicated to his football career. Waynesburg provided an opportunity for him to continue to play into his college years though he was able to be an athlete at the university, Cain selected Waynesburg for more reasons than just football.
Impressed by friendly faculty and small community within the Department, Cain knew Waynesburg was where he belonged.
“I knew that the family aspect of the Department would be the same as football,” he said.
“I chose to come here because of the Department of Communication.”
Cain is honored to have won the scholarship, though he feels added pressure to perform well inside of the classroom and excel in extracurriculars. He is currently involved with the WCYJ radio station, attends local high school games to shadow the announcers and writes articles for the sports section of the university newspaper, The Yellow Jacket.
The scholarship is not only an outstanding academic achievement for Cain, but alleviates some financial stress.
“It is a huge relief,” he said. “That is a really significant chunk of money that I am able to save.”
