The Misericordia University Department of Communications recently hosted 40 students from Jim Thorpe Area High School for a Media Immersion Day held on the campus in Dallas.

The program was designed for high school students interested in learning about graphic design, video production and editing, and journalism. More than 170 students from the region attended.The free workshop enabled the aspiring mass communications professionals to work with and hear from alumni of Misericordia University who are seasoned communications and media relations professionals in northeastern Pennsylvania and from professors in the Department of Communications.They took part in four hands-on workshops including photojournalism, graphic design, newspaper writing and video production. They had the opportunity to practice with a camera in the Misericordia University television studio and meet with the staff of the Highlander student newspaper.The day concluded with a luncheon and panel discussion about careers in the mass media field. Panelists included university alumni Amanda Jamieson, Benco Dental; Gia Mazur, Lackawanna County Convention and Visitor's Bureau; Ann Gownley, WYLN; Ellen Hoffman, eBay Enterprise; Caitlin Rowe, WBRE; Eleni Konstas, Solid Cactus; and Kristen Gazowski, Eye Care Specialists.For more information about the Misericordia University Department of Communications, call Melissa Sgroi, Ed.D., assistant professor and chair of the Department of Communications, at 570-674-6744 or go online to

www.misericordia.edu.