Nicole-Marie Konopelko
JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE
The University of Kansas Department of Chemistry: Lawrence, Kan.
Social Media and Communications Assistant
NOVEMBER 2020 - PRESENT
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Run all social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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Began first social media faculty video series featuring faculty members’ research on COVID-19, myelin and more.
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Created consistent social media presence, branded graphics announcing news and awards, increasing engagement and reach.
Photo by | Alesha Lawson
Kansas Scholastic Press Association: Lawrence, Kan.
Programming Assistant, Social Media Intern
SEPTEMBER 2019 - DECEMBER 2020
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Doubled Facebook page following within one month.
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Manage Twitter, Facebook and Wordpress pages for non-profit.
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Produce bi-weekly newsletters featuring scholastic publications.
NOTE: If you prefer to view a paper version of my resume, please click here.
The University Daily Kansan: Lawrence, Kan.
News Correspondent, Student Senate Reporter
JULY 2019 - MAY 2020
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Pitched, researched and wrote feature and news articles weekly.
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Covered all matters related to Student Senate, including the Spring Election, University finances and weekly meetings.
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Wrote front-page feature article on blind, award-winning pianist. Article ran as
lead print story and received extra play on website. -
Designed newspaper pages using new, modernized style guide.
The Morning Sun: Pittsburg, Kan.
Freelance Reporter
JUNE 2018 - JULY 2019
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Covered area news and events.
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Wrote sports feature article on Hispanic community soccer league in downtown Pittsburg. Article made it in publication’s end-of-year issue as one of its top stories of 2018.
The Collegio: Pittsburg State University
City Commission Beat Reporter
NOVEMBER 2016 - MARCH 2017
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Wrote weekly recaps on city commission meetings.
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Wrote monthly articles on city government issues such as Pittsburg’s older housing stock and changes in job positions.
The Booster Redux: Pittsburg High School
Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Reporter
JANUARY 2015 - MAY 2019
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Wrote sports feature article on Hispanic community soccer league in downtown Pittsburg. Article made it in publication’s end-of-year issue as one of its top stories of 2018.
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Revamped all social media accounts and created online news presence, leading staff to first ever NSPA “Best of Show” award for news website in school history.
AWARDS
Jim Mielke Humanities, Social, and Behavioral Science Mentorship Fund (JMF) Grant Recipient
The University of Kansas College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
MAY 2020
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Recipient of a grant for over $1,000 to translate "The Breadth of the Russian Soul" ('Широта русской души'), a text about how Russian linguistic phrases and words are shaped by the Russian character. The translation was approved for publication in Vol. 71 of the Russian Language Journal.
Joseph L. Conrad Undergraduate Russian Scholarship Recipient
The University of Kansas Department of Slavic and Eurasian Languages & Literatures
MAY 2021
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Awarded to outstanding juniors studying Russian at the University of Kansas to support the study of the language.
FEBRUARY 2019
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Selected as top student journalist in all KSPA schools for the state of Kansas upon submitting online portfolio.
National High School Student Journalist of the Year Runner-Up
National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA)
APRIL 2019
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State-winning portfolio selected as second best portfolio among 39 portfolios from student journalists nationwide.
National "Feature Story of the Year" Winner
National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA)
NOVEMBER 2019
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In-depth feature article on student’s journey through Kansas foster care chosen as top feature story in nation for 2018-19.
Al Neuharth Free Spirit & Journalism Conference Rep
Freedom Forum Institute
JUNE 16-21, 2018
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Selected by Freedom Forum Institute and Neuharth family to represent the state of Kansas as top student journalist at all-expenses paid Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference at Newseum in Washington, D.C.
State Monthly Contest Awards
Kansas Scholastic Press Association (KSPA)
FEBRUARY 2016 — SEPTEMBER 2018
*Articles selected as top in the state in KSPA's monthly contests, placing as follows:
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First Place, Opinion Writing — "Abusing power" — November 2017 Monthly Contest
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First Place, Features Writing — "A place to finally call one's own" — October 2016 Monthly Contest
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Second Place, News Writing — "Aftermath" — February 2018 Monthly Contest
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Second Place, Features Writing — "A balancing act" — Dec./Jan. 2016-17 Monthly Contest
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Second Place, News Writing — "Meeting the basic needs" — January 2016 Monthly Contest
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Third Place, Features Writing — "Breaking gender roles" — Aug./Sept. 2018 Monthly Contest
Best of Student Newspapers Online
Student Newspapers Online (SNO)
DECEMBER 2018 - MARCH 2019
*Articles published by SNO to showcase the nation's best work in student journalism.
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"Surviving the battle" — December 2018
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"Creating irreversible masterpieces" — March 2019
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"Board of Education begins search for new principal, extends timeline" — March 2019
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"District hires Heardt as new principal, begins replacement process" — March 2019
EDUCATION
The University of Kansas: Lawrence, Kan.
Bachelor of Arts, May 2023
AUGUST 2019 - PRESENT
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Majors: Journalism, Russian.
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John P. Kaiser Scholarship (full-ride) recipient.
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University Honors student.
Pittsburg High School: Pittsburg, Kan.
Class of 2019
AUGUST 2015 - MAY 2019
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2018 Kansas Governor’s Scholar (Top 1% in state).
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2018 Kansas Honor Scholar (Top 10% in state).
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National Honor Society.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
California Scholastic Press Association Workshop
JULY 8-21, 2018
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Wrote articles and produced media under guidance of accomplished reporters, including Variety Magazine, the
Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register.
Boston University Investigative Reporting Summer Workshop
JULY 23 — AUGUST 4, 2017
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Wrote investigative piece on dangers of artificial turf of under guidance of Pulitzer Prize-nominated reporter Jenifer McKim.
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Accepted third place national award for story covering homeless youth within Pittsburg community.
Sharing my thoughts on my favorite freedom provided by the First Amendment — freedom of the press — at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. I was selected as the sole representative from the state of Kansas in 2018 to attend the all-expenses paid conference. Photo courtesy of the Freedom Forum.
Listening to Doug Mills, a photojournalist in the Washington Bureau of The New York Times, give feedback on one of my photo illustrations. Photo courtesy of The Freedom Forum.
In front of a map of Boston, a journalism hub of a city. Photo by Micah Wilcox.
Sharing my thoughts on my favorite freedom provided by the First Amendment — freedom of the press — at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. I was selected as the sole representative from the state of Kansas in 2018 to attend the all-expenses paid conference. Photo courtesy of the Freedom Forum.
SKILLS
AP Style: Editing, Usage
Social Media: Covering events, promoting stories, live-tweeting
Wordpress and Wix: Web design
Adobe InDesign: Page layout, graphic design
Photo and Video: Shooting b-roll and photos of people, events
LANGUAGES
English (native)
Russian (native)
German (beginner)