Stephen Colwell
512-222-3236
| references.pdf |
Communications Specialist Nov. 2010 - Present
Pflugerville Independent School District
Skills Performed:
- News writing in AP Style for the district website with the goal of keeping parents and community members informed while consistently improving the community’s view of the district and its goals.
- Composed and took candid, landscape and portrait photography for the district website, award banquet programs, videos and local newspapers.
- Showed in-depth understanding of digital photography
- Photo editing and cataloging in Adobe Photoshop
- Worked on and completed multiple video and audio editing platforms (Adobe Final Cut Pro, Adobe Elements, iMovie) to create multimedia projects to meet department needs.
- Demonstrated a strong knowledge of digital videography and video editing.
- Learned Adobe Contribute and HelpDesk to make myself more useful in monitoring and editing the district’s extensive website.
Sports Editor March 2009 – Nov. 2010
Highland Lakes Newspapers (Marble Falls, Texas)
Skills Performed:
- Wrote 15-25 stories per week for the four sports news sections I produced each week.
- Used Adobe InDesign to lay out newspaper sections and Adobe Photoshop to edit photos.
- Managed relationships with more than 35 head coaches and three athletic directors to maintain quality communication and a steady flow of information.
- Co-Hosted a weekly radio show about local sports, primarily football, during the fall season.
Owner of Colwell Photography June 2008 - Present
Austin Area
Skills Performed:
- Built a steady clientele of publications around the greater Austin area who regularly contracted me as a photographer for local sporting events.
- Developed strong photography skills, as well as small business skills such as book keeping, scheduling, invoicing and completing jobs on deadline.
Assistant Sports Editor April 2007 – May 2008
York News Times
Skills Performed:
- Wrote for six daily editions each week at a newspaper with 4,500 circulation.
- Developed a working schedule for three employees that allowed us to effectively cover sporting events for 11 local schools and one junior college.
- Shooting daily photography of both action sports and limited news coverage.
- Laid out newspaper pages in Quark and edited photos in Adobe Photoshop.
Development Officer May 2005 – June 2006
York College
Skills Performed:
- Communicated with more than 1,000 donors to develop closer relationships with the college.
- Wrote fundraising letters on behalf of the development department, athletic teams and other organizations within the college to bring in operating funds.
- Worked with the major gift department to bring in naming gifts for newly built buildings on the campus.
Education
2001-2005 York College - Bachelor of Arts, Speech Communication Theory
Newspaper Awards
- 2010 Texas Press Association Awards: 1st place Sports Coverage in Div. 9 2nd Place Sports Photography in Div. 4
- 2010 Texas Gulf Coast Press Association: 1st place News Photography, 1st place Feature Photography, 1st place Sports Photography, 1st place Sports Coverage
- 2009 Nebraska Press Association: 3rd place Sports Story, 3rd place Sports Action Photo
- 2008 Nebraska Press Association: 3rd place Sports Action Photo Div. 2, Honorable Mention Sports Column Div. 2
Pflugerville Independent School District
Skills Performed:
- News writing in AP Style for the district website with the goal of keeping parents and community members informed while consistently improving the community’s view of the district and its goals.
- Composed and took candid, landscape and portrait photography for the district website, award banquet programs, videos and local newspapers.
- Showed in-depth understanding of digital photography
- Photo editing and cataloging in Adobe Photoshop
- Worked on and completed multiple video and audio editing platforms (Adobe Final Cut Pro, Adobe Elements, iMovie) to create multimedia projects to meet department needs.
- Demonstrated a strong knowledge of digital videography and video editing.
- Learned Adobe Contribute and HelpDesk to make myself more useful in monitoring and editing the district’s extensive website.
Sports Editor March 2009 – Nov. 2010
Highland Lakes Newspapers (Marble Falls, Texas)
Skills Performed:
- Wrote 15-25 stories per week for the four sports news sections I produced each week.
- Used Adobe InDesign to lay out newspaper sections and Adobe Photoshop to edit photos.
- Managed relationships with more than 35 head coaches and three athletic directors to maintain quality communication and a steady flow of information.
- Co-Hosted a weekly radio show about local sports, primarily football, during the fall season.
Owner of Colwell Photography June 2008 - Present
Austin Area
Skills Performed:
- Built a steady clientele of publications around the greater Austin area who regularly contracted me as a photographer for local sporting events.
- Developed strong photography skills, as well as small business skills such as book keeping, scheduling, invoicing and completing jobs on deadline.
Assistant Sports Editor April 2007 – May 2008
York News Times
Skills Performed:
- Wrote for six daily editions each week at a newspaper with 4,500 circulation.
- Developed a working schedule for three employees that allowed us to effectively cover sporting events for 11 local schools and one junior college.
- Shooting daily photography of both action sports and limited news coverage.
- Laid out newspaper pages in Quark and edited photos in Adobe Photoshop.
Development Officer May 2005 – June 2006
York College
Skills Performed:
- Communicated with more than 1,000 donors to develop closer relationships with the college.
- Wrote fundraising letters on behalf of the development department, athletic teams and other organizations within the college to bring in operating funds.
- Worked with the major gift department to bring in naming gifts for newly built buildings on the campus.
Education
2001-2005 York College - Bachelor of Arts, Speech Communication Theory
Newspaper Awards
- 2010 Texas Press Association Awards: 1st place Sports Coverage in Div. 9 2nd Place Sports Photography in Div. 4
- 2010 Texas Gulf Coast Press Association: 1st place News Photography, 1st place Feature Photography, 1st place Sports Photography, 1st place Sports Coverage
- 2009 Nebraska Press Association: 3rd place Sports Story, 3rd place Sports Action Photo
- 2008 Nebraska Press Association: 3rd place Sports Action Photo Div. 2, Honorable Mention Sports Column Div. 2
