Brooke Rubright started her college journey out of state, but after her first year, she knew she wanted to come home. Rubright is originally from Salisbury, Vermont, a small town located about 30 minutes away from Castleton’s main campus.
“I wanted to continue a degree in graphic design and had a really good feeling about the direction Castleton was taking their program in,” she said. “The sense of community I felt while touring the campus and interacting with current professors and students solidified my decision. Castleton University provided me the opportunity to study interests of mine, while being less than an hour from my home.”
Rubright came to Castleton as a graphic design major. During her first semester, she added a second major in Media & Communication, concentrated in Public Relations with a minor in Creative Marketing.
“This is something I had never pictured myself enjoying, but I found that I loved to write and help others share their stories,” she said.
This passion led Rubright to explore a variety of courses, internships, and clubs, including the Castleton Content Lab, a group of students working to assist local organizations with their creative needs. As a junior, Rubright interned with Rutland Economic Development Corp. After a merger with Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce, she was offered a part-time position as the new organization’s communications assistant. Rubright will move into a full-time position at the organization after graduation, focusing on member outreach and development.
She’s also participated in classes, like Professor Dave Blow’s community journalism course, that have provided Rubright the opportunity to have her stories published in local publications like the Addison County Independent and the Rutland Herald.
“The Media & Communication department has been incredibly supportive during my time at Castleton. If I have a question or need advice, I feel confident in going to any one of them, knowing they will have my best interest in mind,” Rubright said. “They are constantly looking out for their students and pushing them to try new things. I feel prepared for the next step of my life as a result of the guidance from those at Castleton University.”