For students who have ever considered media careers, Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 provide firsthand experience with alumni/ae who both walked these halls and work in journalism. These three alumni/ae will be visiting campus before taking part in the Speaker Series on Oct. 22 at the Minneapolis Club.

Catherine McKenzie ‘88 will speak with students during Tutorial in the Lecture Room on Oct. 22.  After school, students can stop by to meet Rebecca Jarvis ‘99.  On Oct. 23, Andrea Scott will visit with the Art Seminar class. Dave Kansas ‘85 will speak on Oct. 22 at the Minneapolis Club during the Speaker Series.

An action shot from @GAA final prep! Hope you’ll join us tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/QQbsPWFJ

— Cat McKenzie (@Catatstic) July 8, 2012

Catherine “Cat” McKenzie ‘88 has worked with ABC, CBS and Sony Television as a digital broadcaster, and she has received multiple awards for various projects she has played a major role in. During her time at SPA, McKenzie acted in plays and musicals including The Superior Residence and sang in Chamber and Summit Singers for the SPA choir. She was also voted “Biggest Mouth” in the senior polls for her class of 1988.

As a writer and editor for the New York Magazine, Andrea Scott’s ‘79 reports have focused mainly on promoting art within the community. As an artist herself, Scott made an appearance in a few of the SPA high school art programs. As an SPA student, Scott took great interest in activities involving music and theater. During her senior year, she participated in Summit Singers, mixed chorus and directed a student play. She also had the role of treasurer for the Social Activities Club and worked with the Boule group, as a voice for the students’ opinions.

The event’s moderator, Rebecca Jarvis ‘99, works for ABC News as Chief Business and Economics Correspondent and she also worked with CBS and CNBC News. Jarvis has covered a wide range of stories and interviews and like the other panelists, she has had a lot of experience working for the media. Jarvis played on the SPA junior varsity tennis team and was a co-editor of The Rubicon. After graduating from college at the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics, Jarvis moved on to covering Business for professional news companies.

Also attending the after-school event at the Minneapolis club, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Kansas ‘85 of the American Public Media Group or APMG has also played a big part in managing the reports on marketing and finances for the Wall Street Journal. Kansas was involved in SPA athletics. In his senior year, Kansas played for three different SPA sports teams and involved himself in other school activities and groups such as the Discipline Committee and the school newspaper, The Rubicon. The senior polls predicted Kansas would be one of the most active alumni for the class of ‘85.

The second annual speaker series event featuring St. Paul Academy alumni/ae, will take place at the Minneapolis Club on Oct. 22. The alumni events committee discussed the idea of having an event to appeal more to a younger group of people or perhaps people about to enter the world of business or media. Geared towards the Alumni Council, the main goal of the Speaker Series event will be to reconnect and reunite SPA’s alumni with their former classmates and peers and to allow them to share a little bit about what their lives have been about after graduating from SPA.

Three alumni panelists along with Rebecca Jarvis (the moderator), will be presenting their professional experiences with different forms of media coverage in the 21st century to provide an insight as to what career paths they chose to take on after leaving SPA.

“After a very successful launch last year, I am excited and I know Alumni Council is excited to build on that success and showcase some really amazing alumni and offer a really great event to the SPA community,” said Jennifer Jung, SPA Alumni/ae Relations and Giving Manager.