Happiest years of Melvin’s life take place at PCC

“My husband and I always say that if we could go back to anytime one period of time in our life, it would be when we were at PCC,” said Janae Melvin, 2000 Pratt Community College graduate.

While at PCC, Melvin and her husband, who met while they were in college, enjoyed going to as many things as possible, and said that is what helped make their time there so great.

“We had so many opportunities to do things at PCC that we wouldn’t of had anywhere else,” she said. “We got involved in everything, went and watched events like concerts and would go to sporting events. They really were the best years of our lives.”

Melvin majored in communications and journalism while at PCC and then went on to Fort Hays State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in communications and specialized in public relations. She then went to Wichita State University where she earned a Master’s Degree in education and sports information.
 
During high school Melvin had always thought she wanted to major in something in the medical field, but her father told her she should look into sports information.
 
“After he said that, I looked into it and realized he was right,” she said. “I am a sports fanatic and would rather watch ESPN than anything else. I love to write and communicate with people so it combined what I enjoyed.”

While at PCC, Melvin said she learned how to be a leader. While on campus she was Bucky Beaver, editor-in-chief of the Beaver Tale, the college newspaper at the time, and was involved in numerous other activities on campus.

“From small classes to the opportunities I had in clubs and organizations, I grew in myself by stepping up and putting myself out there,” she said.

Once Melvin went on to FHSU, she said she had many opportunities that she never would have had, if she hadn’t gone to PCC. She said PCC gave her the confidence to get an internship in the sports information department and the alumni department at FHSU.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do those things without the confidence I gained at PCC,” she said. “I learned to be comfortable with myself while I was there and that has helped to pave my way.”

Being from Pratt, Melvin said going to PCC was a natural choice. Both of her parents went to PCC and it was close to home.

“It was an easy decision and one I am glad I made,” she said. “I got a lot of good scholarships and a good education.”

According to Melvin another great thing about transferring from PCC was that all of her credit hours transferred. She said the close relationship that PCC and FHSU had made it easy to transfer from one school to the next.

Melvin is in Las Vegas working as a public relations specialist for MGM Resorts International, which consists of 10 hotels including Circus Circus, Excalibur and the Monte Carlo.