Brad Press is alumni ambassador

Brad Press, community relations director at Greenville Independent School District, graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in General Business. Press has been chosen as an alumni ambassador to the University for 2008.Press began as a staff writer for a couple of semesters, then moved up to features editor before becoming sports editor and eventually assistant editor to The East Texan.Press recalled that his fondest memory of being a part of the journalism department was his involvement on campus newspaper.”Back then we did two issues per week, I think they came out on Wednesday and Friday or something like that,” Press said. “So Monday night and Wednesday night were deadline nights, and we did have some late ones. This was, obviously, before I was married and had kids so I didn’t mind working late. Actually I liked it.”Asked whether or not the University prepared him for the real world, Press said, ” There’s nothing that prepares you for the real world better than the real world, but I think my education at least gave me the skills I needed.””I always thought Dr. Bridges (journalism professor) felt you weren’t making a serious effort at your career [in Journalism] if you weren’t working for the school paper or interning somewhere. And you know what, he was right,” Press said. “It’s an old saying, but it’s true-‘You get out of it what you put into it. Going to class, sit around and wait for it to come to you, and it will never come you. But if you make an effort, get that hands-on experience, you’ll do yourself and your career a world of good.'”