Meet Madeline Potts: 2018 AAF Reno Scholarship Winner!

Meet Madeline Potts, one of this year’s AAF-Reno scholarship winners. Madeline is graduating from the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada with a degree in journalism (emphasis in strategic communications) and a minor in photography.

Madeline: I would like to thank AAF-Reno for your generous scholarship – it has helped me enormously this last year!

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at UNR?

I have so many favorite memories at this university. Just walking through campus and along the quad with all of those ivy-covered buildings is magical to me.

Last year, I had the opportunity to be a part of the Reynolds school Bateman team and it was such an incredible experience, I could only describe it as a crash course in all things PR.

I’ve also had the opportunity to work on campus as a Career Mentor, and I will forever be grateful for that job. Career Mentoring gave me the chance to help students from all around the University get jobs and internships at some amazing companies! It also gave me so much invaluable knowledge that has helped me immensely in my own job hunt.

Last Spring, I also had the incredible opportunity of interning with the Sierra Arts Foundation. They taught me so much about nonprofits and arts in education. I absolutely adore their team, and if you haven’t visited their gallery on Virginia Street yet, you need to ASAP.

Finally, I was able to spend a semester living and working in Disney World! It’s not only the highlight of my college experience but probably my life as well. I got to work with princesses just feet away from Cinderella’s Castle and I couldn’t have asked for a better program. I talk about Disney’s Four Keys at least once a week!

What are your plans after graduation? What career do you want to pursue, and will you be looking to stay in the area or venturing to another city (or country)?

I’ve always wanted to work in entertainment public relations but I’ve also developed a soft spot for nonprofits. So I’m at a point where I don’t really know where I want to end up. I do know that I want to eventually publish a book and travel abroad on a mission trip with Days For Girls (a nonprofit that provides sustainable menstrual products to women in third world countries.)

Right now, I’m planning on taking the plunge and moving to New York after my graduation in December (if someone hires me!). I want to live in a shoebox surrounded by light, succulents, and noise. I can’t wait to explore the city with my camera and wait in line at two in the morning for Dear Evan Hansen tickets. If I had the option to leave the country, I would move to London in a heartbeat.

What are some of your hobbies?

My hobbies include photography and writing. When I’m not working on schoolwork, I’m working on some of my personal writing projects. I also love hiking with my friends and impromptu photo shoots. Oh…and also binge-watching Netflix and Hulu (I’m currently mourning the loss of New Girl.)

If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be, and why? (style points for the creativity of your answer…haha!)

So Delicious: Dark Chocolate Truffle Cashew Milk ice cream. Mostly because it’s my favorite, but also because it’s the most pretentious ice cream ever, and I feel ridiculous buying it. I consider myself a pretty “extra” person so it fits me perfectly.