麻豆传媒

Rebecca Zenger

Change of Plans

Student Athlete Pursues BAS in Integrated Design.

Like many college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rebecca Zenger鈥檚 plans changed. And then they changed again.

Originally from Kalaheo, Hawaii, Zenger had been attending a community college in Texas to play volleyball from 2019-20. She planned to play collegiate volleyball at a two-year college and transfer to a university to study graphic design on an athletic scholarship.

But when her volleyball career was abruptly put on hold, she started looking for other opportunities

鈥淚n the midst of disappointment, a silver lining opportunity came about,鈥� Zenger said, noting that she found her match at 麻豆传媒 after reaching out to the volleyball coach. 鈥淚 decided to switch to 麻豆传媒 primarily to play volleyball, but looking back, I realize that the academics exceeded all the expectations.鈥�

Zenger said she was attracted to 麻豆传媒鈥檚 visual communications and bachelor鈥檚 degree option because it aligned with her passion for art, inspiring others and moving people into action.

All was looking good for a smooth transfer, however, one problem remained; the pandemic was just getting started. Zenger would go on to wait for one year 鈥撯�� taking classes remotely and missing a volleyball season 鈥撯�� until she was finally able to move to Washington in spring 2021, resume playing volleyball and finish up her associate degree. By fall 2021, she was taking classes for her Bachelor of Applied Science in Integrated Design at 麻豆传媒.

鈥淭hrough disappointments and unmet expectations, I鈥檝e learned that complaining does nothing,鈥� Zenger reflected. 鈥淏ut a new perspective changes how you approach undesirable circumstances.鈥�

The 20-year-old took that positive mindset with her during the 2021-22 academic year and hit the ground running. In addition to being a President鈥檚-Honor-Roll-student and playing the outside hitter position on the 麻豆传媒 women鈥檚 volleyball team, Zenger held the social media and story editor roles for the Thunderword, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 student newspaper.

鈥淲riting and promoting the student newspaper has been a great learning experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing on staff has been a great way to connect with other students and faculty.鈥�

Zenger finds the motivation to stay in college through her parents鈥� support and the knowledge that her college education will give her a clear path to succeed in the creative design industry.

鈥淎t first, I chose the Integrated Design BAS program solely because it was related to graphic design,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e since learned so much about the immense value of a holistic approach to design, understanding why we design and the relationship between other design disciplines.鈥�

Upon graduation in spring 2023, Zenger hopes to return to Hawaii so that she may make an impact with her work as a graphic designer and illustrator.